XLE vs XLK: which ETF is right for you?

State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) compared on cost, size, returns, holdings and sector mix.

XLK has $72.3 billion more in assets than XLE

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has significantly more assets than the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE). XLK's larger size may provide more liquidity and stability.

  • XLK has $118.67 billion in assets; XLE has $46.37 billion.
  • Both ETFs have the same expense ratio of 0.08%.
  • XLE has a yield of 2.18%; XLK has a yield of 0.47%.
  • XLE's one-year return is 63.4%; XLK's is 20.04%.
XLE

may suit investors looking for exposure to the energy sector with high recent returns.

XLK

may suit investors seeking technology sector exposure with a focus on larger, established companies.

Summary written from the figures below by an AI model. Past returns do not predict future results; this is educational, not advice.

Side-by-side

XLE
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF
XLK
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Expense ratio0.080%●0.080%
Fund size (assets)$46.4B$118.7B●
Dividend yield2.18%●0.47%
Return YTD59.61%●25.14%
Return 1 year63.40%●20.04%
3 years (annualised)21.76%30.65%●
5 years (annualised)23.73%●18.18%
10 years (annualised)11.85%23.69%●
Volatility (5y std dev)26.2%24.2%●
Beta vs market (5y)0.431.34●
IssuerState Street Investment ManagementState Street Investment Management
Launched1998-12-161998-12-16

● marks the best value in a row (lowest cost or volatility, highest return, yield or size). Returns as of 2026-11-05; past performance does not predict future results.

What the fees cost you

A simple illustration: the same $0M growing at an assumed 7% a year before fees. Only the expense ratios differ. This is not a forecast.

XLEfee 0.080%
$38,122
XLKfee 0.080%
$38,122

Top holdings and overlap

XLE
  • XOMExxonMobil Holdings Corp24.3%
  • CVXChevron Corp18.3%
  • COPConocoPhillips7.3%
  • MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp4.6%
  • PSXPhillips 664.5%
  • VLOValero Energy Corp4.3%
  • WMBWilliams Companies Inc4.1%
  • EOGEOG Resources Inc4.1%
  • SLBSLB Ltd3.7%
  • TRGPTarga Resources Corp3.2%
XLK
  • AAPLApple Inc15.3%
  • NVDANVIDIA Corp15.1%
  • MSFTMicrosoft Corp11.8%
  • AVGOBroadcom Inc4.7%
  • AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc4.5%
  • MUMicron Technology Inc4.0%
  • PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc Ordinary Shares - Class A2.6%
  • CSCOCisco Systems Inc2.5%
  • INTCIntel Corp2.0%
  • AMATApplied Materials Inc1.9%

Sector mix

XLE
  • Energy100.0%
XLK
  • Technology100.0%

Common questions

Which has lower fees, XLE or XLK?

XLE has the lower expense ratio at 0.080% a year, against 0.080% for XLK. On $10,000 that is about $0 a year in fees.

Which is bigger, XLE or XLK?

XLK manages about $118.7 billion in assets, compared with $46.4 billion for XLE.

Do XLE and XLK hold the same stocks?

Their top holdings differ, so the two funds are exposed to different parts of the market. Compare the holdings and sector tables above.

Compare any ETFs

Pick up to four funds and see fees, overlap and the cost of fees over time.

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Fund data comes from public fund filings and market data and is refreshed daily; returns are total returns and past performance does not predict future results. This page is educational and is not investment advice. Check the fund's official documents before investing.