Head-to-head · ETF vs ETF
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
ETF·NYSE
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF XLF
$58.29
▲ 0.52%
86 / 100 AI score
vs
ETF·NYSE
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF XLK
$168.91
▼ 1.15%
47 / 100 AI score
XLF vs XLK: the verdict
How XLF and XLK compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
XLF
XLF
XLK
86/100
AI score
47/100
+10.0%
1-year change
+14.3%
21.9%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
45.1%
61.0
RSI (14-day)
36.3
The verdict
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) comes out ahead on CleaRank's model, scoring 86/100 (Strong Buy) against 47/100 (Hold) for State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). The widest gap is momentum: for XLF, the 14-day RSI of 61.0 is in the bullish zone and the MACD line is positive. For XLK, the 14-day RSI of 36.3 is in the bearish zone and the MACD line is negative.
Key difference
The trend also favours XLF: the price is 8.21% above its 200-day average and 4.23% above its 50-day average, and the 50-day average is 3.82% above the 200-day.
Outlook
XLF's uptrend holds while it stays above its 50-day average at $55.92 and its 200-day at $53.87. XLK would need to regain its 50-day average at $187.80 and its 200-day at $170.44 to turn its downtrend.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
-20%-10%0%+10%+6.5%-15%
Nov '26
-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+0.8%-9.2%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-5%0%+5%+10%+15%+13%-3.6%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-10%0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+14%+10%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
0%+50%+100%+61%+28%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: XLF gained 10.0% and XLK gained 14.3%, a gap of 4.3 points in XLK's favour.
Key metrics
Size and recent performance for each.
Size and market performance
XLF
XLK
$51.0B
Size (net assets / market cap)
$127.3B
29.9M
Volume (shares, last session)
10.4M
86%
Position in 52-week range
55%
+4.2%
Price against 50-day average
-10.1%
Reading
Each fund carries an expense ratio of 0.08%, so a $10,000 holding costs $8.00 a year in either one. The difference is scale: XLK holds $127.3B in net assets, while XLF holds $51.0B, making XLK the larger fund.
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
XLF
XLK
86/100
AI score
47/100
61.0
RSI (14-day)
36.3
+4.2%
Price against 50-day average
-10.1%
+8.2%
Price against 200-day average
-0.9%
Technicals
XLF is in an uptrend, trading 4.23% above its 50-day average and 8.21% above its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 61.0, in the bullish zone, with the MACD line positive. XLK is in a downtrend, trading 10.06% below its 50-day average and 0.90% below its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 36.3, in the bearish zone, with the MACD line negative. XLF sits higher in its 52-week range, at 86% against 55% for XLK.
Sentiment
XLF rose 6.50% over the past month and rose 0.85% over three months. XLK fell 15.03% over the past month and fell 9.23% over three months.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
XLF
XLK
21.9%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
45.1%
0.49
Sharpe ratio
0.77
Risk
XLK usually swings more within a day, with a typical daily move of 2.34% against 1.15% for XLF. Looking back over the price history, XLF's worst fall was 42.9%, running from February 2020 to March 2020. XLK's worst fall was 33.1%, from December 2021 to October 2022. Because the measures point in different directions, neither fund is clearly the riskier one.
ProTips
- For XLF, watch the 52-week high at $60.04 above the price and the 20-day EMA at $56.80 below it.
- For XLK, watch the 200-day SMA at $170.44 above the price and the 52-week low at $126.68 below it.
XLF vs XLK: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$20K$40K$60K$65.3K$46.5K$24.6K$19.8K
202620282030203220342035
XLF
XLK
$8,444
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$9,279
$19,808
Base case, 2035 (median)
$24,618
$46,468
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$65,316
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in XLF grows to about $19,800 and $10,000 in XLK grows to about $24,600 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts. XLK's upside column reaches an extreme multiple of the starting amount; treat it as a statistical tail, not a likely outcome.
XLF vs XLK: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, XLF or XLK?+
On CleaRank's model XLF scores higher, 86/100 (Strong Buy) against 47/100 (Hold) for XLK. This describes the data on this page and is not a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, XLF or XLK?+
XLK has done better: its price rose 14.31% over the past year, while XLF rose 10.04%.
Which is cheaper to own, XLF or XLK?+
The expense ratio is 0.08% for both funds.
Which pays more income, XLF or XLK?+
XLF pays the higher yield, at 1.55% against 0.43% for XLK. Yield is the payout divided by the price, so it moves whenever either of those two moves.
Which is riskier, XLF or XLK?+
Neither is clearly riskier: the measures point different ways. Average daily move: 1.15% for XLF, 2.34% for XLK. Worst fall in the price history: 42.9% for XLF, 33.1% for XLK.
Which has stronger momentum right now, XLF or XLK?+
XLF has the higher 14-day RSI, 61.0 (bullish) against 36.3 (bearish) for XLK. The MACD line is positive for XLF and negative for XLK. Readings above 70 or below 30 mark stretched momentum.
Which fund is larger, XLF or XLK?+
XLK is the bigger fund, with $127.3B in net assets compared with $51.0B for XLF.
How would $10,000 have grown in XLF or XLK?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $30,565 today in XLF and $88,555 in XLK.
Which is closer to its 52-week high, XLF or XLK?+
XLF is closer: it trades 2.91% below its 52-week high of $60.04, against 16.90% below $203.25 for XLK.