Benchmark research · Financial Sector
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed XLF (Financial Sector)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of XLF (State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF), we screened XLF against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against XLF live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top XLF: The Financial Sector benchmark was not easy to top. Of 957 eligible ETFs, 181 (19%) consistently outperformed it, and 73 were all-weather performers. Of 1,502 eligible stocks, 357 (24%) consistently outperformed, and 134 were all-weather performers. All-weather investments outperformed in every long-term timeframe and all but one short-term timeframe.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: BRK-B cleared the consistency bar with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. JPM outperformed in 3 of 3 long-term periods but only 2 of 5 short-term periods, while MS and GS each managed 3 of 3 long-term periods and 1 of 5 short-term periods, so they fell short overall. IYF, a financial-sector ETF, also fell short, with 0 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
- Top ETFs: Broad-market funds led the top ETF group, with 8 of the top ETFs in that category. WTV, FNDX, FVAL, and RWL each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods. Energy and commodities funds also appeared among the leaders, including CRAK and BNO.
- Top stocks: 357 stocks made the consistency cut. Healthcare names NTRA, LLY, and CORT, along with energy stock CVI, stood out among the top stocks shown; each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over the past 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 20.9%, moderately higher than XLF's 18.3%, though 7 of 15 were less volatile. All 15 had higher Sharpe ratios than XLF. The top stocks were much bumpier, with median volatility of 47.0%, but all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios than XLF.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against XLF, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| XLF State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.3% | −0.2% | +6.6% | +2.7% | +7.2% | +81.3% | +50.9% | +241% | 18.3% | 0.54 |
| JPM Fell shortJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 2/5 short3/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3%1.3× XLF | 0.78 |
| MS Fell shortMorgan Stanley | 1/5 short3/3 long | −12.5% | −14.0% | −4.4% | +0.8% | +13.9% | +170% | +110% | +627% | 28.8%1.6× XLF | 0.66 |
| GS Fell shortThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −7.8% | −15.7% | −5.2% | −1.8% | +18.2% | +215% | +145% | +521% | 28.6%1.6× XLF | 0.77 |
| BRK-B Made the listBerkshire Hathaway Inc. | 5/5 short2/3 long | +7.5% | +9.9% | +14.3% | +8.6% | +9.3% | +60.7% | +87.8% | +274% | 17.1%0.9× XLF | 0.82 |
| C Fell shortCitigroup Inc. | 2/5 short2/3 long | −9.3% | −4.3% | −7.0% | +4.8% | +26.0% | +238% | +102% | +234% | 29.4%1.6× XLF | 0.63 |
| BAC Fell shortBank of America Corporation | 0/5 short2/3 long | −12.6% | −15.8% | −5.2% | −8.0% | −0.6% | +107% | +21.6% | +282% | 26.6%1.5× XLF | 0.28 |
| IYF Fell shortiShares U.S. Financials ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | −2.1% | −2.3% | +3.5% | +1.0% | +7.1% | +87.3% | +57.9% | +239% | 18.9%1.0× XLF | 0.58 |
| WFC Fell shortWells Fargo & Company | 0/5 short2/3 long | −5.0% | −4.3% | +1.4% | −12.3% | −2.4% | +119% | +85.0% | +141% | 29.5%1.6× XLF | 0.57 |
| KBE Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Bank ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −2.6% | −6.8% | +0.4% | +7.0% | +15.3% | +99.4% | +30.0% | +140% | 26.9%1.5× XLF | 0.33 |
| KRE Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −1.9% | −6.4% | +1.1% | +10.1% | +19.4% | +95.8% | +11.7% | +111% | 29.4%1.6× XLF | 0.22 |
| BX Fell shortBlackstone Inc. | 0/5 short1/3 long | −12.7% | −9.8% | −12.8% | −28.3% | −28.4% | +28.6% | +2.1% | +628% | 39.8%2.2× XLF | 0.21 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed XLF
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed XLF in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | XLF State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.3% | −0.2% | +6.6% | +2.7% | +7.2% | +81.3% | +50.9% | +241% | 18.3% | 0.54 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.0× XLF | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.1× XLF | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 3 | WTV Broad MarketWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.7% | +2.6% | +8.9% | +15.2% | +19.6% | +87.8% | +87.6% | +303% | 17.0%0.9× XLF | 0.83 | 0.12% | $3.2B |
| 4 | FNDX Broad MarketSchwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +4.7% | +11.9% | +20.5% | +25.4% | +88.2% | +88.6% | +291% | 14.9%0.8× XLF | 0.93 | 0.25% | $28B |
| 5 | FVAL Broad MarketFidelity Value Factor ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.3% | +4.8% | +11.3% | +15.4% | +21.0% | +85.9% | +79.4% | +291% | 16.4%0.9× XLF | 0.80 | 0.15% | $1.4B |
| 6 | RWL Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +4.5% | +11.7% | +18.4% | +22.9% | +84.0% | +90.2% | +287% | 14.4%0.8× XLF | 0.97 | 0.39% | $10B |
| 7 | FNDB Broad MarketSchwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.3% | +3.9% | +10.8% | +19.7% | +24.5% | +85.8% | +84.4% | +284% | 15.1%0.8× XLF | 0.89 | 0.25% | $1.5B |
| 8 | VLU Broad MarketState Street SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.9% | +3.2% | +8.5% | +17.9% | +22.7% | +85.1% | +79.7% | +275% | 15.2%0.8× XLF | 0.85 | 0.12% | $781M |
| 9 | PRF Broad MarketInvesco RAFI US 1000 ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.2% | +4.2% | +11.7% | +20.2% | +25.5% | +90.1% | +84.3% | +270% | 15.0%0.8× XLF | 0.90 | 0.34% | $10B |
| 10 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6%1.7× XLF | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 11 | BBP HealthcareVirtus Biotech ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +0.6% | +9.8% | +21.3% | +32.8% | +44.2% | +125% | +110% | +249% | 26.8%1.5× XLF | 0.69 | 0.34% | $126M |
| 12 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.5× XLF | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 13 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.4× XLF | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 14 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.4× XLF | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 15 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.4× XLF | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed XLF
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | XLF State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (benchmark) | — | −0.3% | −0.2% | +6.6% | +2.7% | +7.2% | +81.3% | +50.9% | +241% | 18.3% | 0.54 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%3.1× XLF | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%1.8× XLF | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%4.2× XLF | 0.81 | $13B |
| 4 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.1× XLF | 1.10 | $14B |
| 5 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%2.9× XLF | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%1.8× XLF | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%2.4× XLF | 0.71 | $30B |
| 8 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.2× XLF | 0.79 | $14B |
| 9 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7%2.7× XLF | 1.10 | $11B |
| 10 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%3.4× XLF | 0.77 | $6.9B |
What stands out
The strongest ETF results were not limited to one corner of the market. Broad-market funds made up 8 of the top ETFs, while technology, commodities, energy, alternatives, and healthcare funds also appeared. That spread suggests the results were not confined to financial companies. The standout ETFs held their lead across both short- and long-term periods, while BRK-B was a notable popular alternative that qualified without being all-weather.
The stock leaders were concentrated in healthcare and energy, with several healthcare companies among the top names. Their records extended across all listed timeframes, but the risk figures show the cost of that performance: the top stocks had roughly double or more the benchmark's volatility. Their higher Sharpe ratios indicate that, over the measured period, their extra return was more than enough to offset that added risk on this measure. The top ETFs offered a less extreme ride, and all had higher Sharpe ratios than XLF.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than XLF's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of XLF's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.