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IWD vs. XLE: What’s The Difference?

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. IWD is a iShares Large Value fund and XLE is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Equity Energy fund. So, what’s the difference between IWD and XLE? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of IWD is 0.07 percentage points higher than XLE’s (0.19% vs. 0.12%). IWD also has a higher exposure to the financial services sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, IWD has provided higher returns than XLE over the past ten years.

In this article, we’ll compare IWD vs. XLE. We’ll look at annual returns and holdings, as well as at their portfolio growth and performance. Moreover, I’ll also discuss IWD’s and XLE’s risk metrics, industry exposure, and fund composition and examine how these affect their overall returns.

Summary

IWDXLE
NameiShares Russell 1000 Value ETFEnergy Select Sector SPDR Fund
CategoryLarge ValueEquity Energy
IssueriSharesSPDR State Street Global Advisors
AUM54.1B25.55B
Avg. Return11.40%1.28%
Div. Yield1.57%3.92%
Expense Ratio0.19%0.12%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) is a Large Value fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 54.1B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 11.40% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.57% with an expense ratio of 0.19%.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) is a Equity Energy fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 25.55B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 1.28% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 3.92% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.

IWD’s dividend yield is 2.35% lower than that of XLE (1.57% vs. 3.92%). Also, IWD yielded on average 10.12% more per year over the past decade (11.40% vs. 1.28%). The expense ratio of IWD is 0.07 percentage points higher than XLE’s (0.19% vs. 0.12%).

Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

IWD vs. XLE - Industry Exposure

IWDXLE
Technology10.28%0.0%
Industrials11.77%0.0%
Energy4.76%100.0%
Communication Services8.67%0.0%
Utilities4.88%0.0%
Healthcare17.78%0.0%
Consumer Defensive7.76%0.0%
Real Estate4.94%0.0%
Financial Services20.43%0.0%
Consumer Cyclical5.62%0.0%
Basic Materials3.1%0.0%

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 20.43%. This is followed by Healthcare and Industrials at 17.78% and 11.77% respectively. Energy (4.76%), Utilities (4.88%), and Real Estate (4.94%) only make up 14.58% of the fund’s total assets.

IWD’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Cyclical, Consumer Defensive, Communication Services, Technology, and Industrials stocks at 5.62%, 7.76%, 8.67%, 10.28%, and 11.77%.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) has the most exposure to the Energy sector at 100.0%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.

XLE’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.

IWD is 20.43% more exposed to the Financial Services sector than XLE (20.43% vs 0.0%). IWD’s exposure to Healthcare and Industrials stocks is 17.78% higher and 11.77% higher respectively (17.78% vs. 0.0% and 11.77% vs. 0.0%). In total, Energy, Utilities, and Real Estate also make up 85.42% less of the fund’s holdings compared to XLE (14.58% vs. 100.00%).

Holdings

IWD - Holdings

IWD HoldingsWeight
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B2.58%
JPMorgan Chase & Co2.25%
Johnson & Johnson2.24%
UnitedHealth Group Inc1.78%
Procter & Gamble Co1.71%
The Walt Disney Co1.5%
Bank of America Corp1.43%
Comcast Corp Class A1.33%
Exxon Mobil Corp1.2%
Pfizer Inc1.18%

IWD’s Top Holdings are Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group Inc, and Procter & Gamble Co at 2.58%, 2.25%, 2.24%, 1.78%, and 1.71%.

The Walt Disney Co (1.5%), Bank of America Corp (1.43%), and Comcast Corp Class A (1.33%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Exxon Mobil Corp and Pfizer Inc are also represented in the IWD’s holdings at 1.2% and 1.18%.

XLE - Holdings

XLE HoldingsWeight
Exxon Mobil Corp23.7%
Chevron Corp20.03%
ConocoPhillips4.64%
EOG Resources Inc4.46%
Schlumberger Ltd4.43%
Marathon Petroleum Corp4.17%
Pioneer Natural Resources Co4.08%
Phillips 664.07%
Kinder Morgan Inc Class P3.85%
Williams Companies Inc3.5%

XLE’s Top Holdings are Exxon Mobil Corp, Chevron Corp, ConocoPhillips, EOG Resources Inc, and Schlumberger Ltd at 23.7%, 20.03%, 4.64%, 4.46%, and 4.43%.

Marathon Petroleum Corp (4.17%), Pioneer Natural Resources Co (4.08%), and Phillips 66 (4.07%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Kinder Morgan Inc Class P and Williams Companies Inc are also represented in the XLE’s holdings at 3.85% and 3.5%.

Risk Analysis

IWDXLE
Mean Return1.030.32
R-squared92.3861.84
Std. Deviation14.3527.52
Alpha-3.23-11.98
Beta1.021.54
Sharpe Ratio0.810.12
Treynor Ratio11.06-0.4

The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) has a Treynor Ratio of 11.06 with a Beta of 1.02 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.81. Its Mean Return is 1.03 while IWD’s R-squared is 92.38. Furthermore, the fund has a Alpha of -3.23 and a Standard Deviation of 14.35.

The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) has a Treynor Ratio of -0.4 with a Standard Deviation of 27.52 and a Mean Return of 0.32. Its Sharpe Ratio is 0.12 while XLE’s R-squared is 61.84. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 1.54 and a Alpha of -11.98.

IWD’s Mean Return is 0.71 points higher than that of XLE and its R-squared is 30.54 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 14.35, IWD is slightly less volatile than XLE. The Alpha and Beta of IWD are 8.75 points higher and 0.52 points lower than XLE’s Alpha and Beta.

Performance

Annual Returns

IWD vs. XLE - Annual Returns

YearIWDXLE
20202.67%-32.56%
201926.34%11.87%
2018-8.4%-18.1%
201713.47%-1.01%
201617.09%27.95%
2015-3.95%-21.47%
201413.21%-8.61%
201332.18%26.16%
201217.28%5.17%
20110.21%2.98%
201015.3%21.7%

IWD had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.18%. IWD’s worst year over the past decade yielded -8.4% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2017, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 13.21%, 13.47%, and 15.3% respectively.

The year 2016 was the strongest year for XLE, returning 27.95% on an annual basis. The poorest year for XLE in the last ten years was 2020, with a yield of -32.56%. Most years the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund has given investors modest returns, such as in 2017, 2011, and 2012, when gains were -1.01%, 2.98%, and 5.17% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

IWD vs. XLE - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
IWD$10,000$30,74611.40%
XLE$10,000$9,3391.28%

A $10,000 investment in IWD would have resulted in a final balance of $30,746. This is a profit of $20,746 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.40%.

With a $10,000 investment in XLE, the end total would have been $9,339. This equates to a $-661 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.28%.

IWD’s CAGR is 10.12 percentage points higher than that of XLE and as a result, would have yielded $21,407 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, IWD outperformed XLE by 10.12% annually.


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