# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed XLF (Financial Sector)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-xlf
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

XLF (State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform XLF in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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](https://easycompare.io/research/jpm): JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3% | 0.78 |
| [MS](https://easycompare.io/research/ms): Morgan Stanley | Fell short | 1/5 short, 3/3 long | −12.5% | −14.0% | −4.4% | +0.8% | +13.9% | +170% | +110% | +627% | 28.8% | 0.66 |
| [GS](https://easycompare.io/research/gs): The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | Fell short | 1/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.8% | −15.7% | −5.2% | −1.8% | +18.2% | +215% | +145% | +521% | 28.6% | 0.77 |
| [BRK-B](https://easycompare.io/research/brk-b): Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +7.5% | +9.9% | +14.3% | +8.6% | +9.3% | +60.7% | +87.8% | +274% | 17.1% | 0.82 |
| [C](https://easycompare.io/research/c): Citigroup Inc. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 2/3 long | −9.3% | −4.3% | −7.0% | +4.8% | +26.0% | +238% | +102% | +234% | 29.4% | 0.63 |
| [BAC](https://easycompare.io/research/bac): Bank of America Corporation | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | −12.6% | −15.8% | −5.2% | −8.0% | −0.6% | +107% | +21.6% | +282% | 26.6% | 0.28 |
| IYF: iShares U.S. Financials ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.1% | −2.3% | +3.5% | +1.0% | +7.1% | +87.3% | +57.9% | +239% | 18.9% | 0.58 |
| [WFC](https://easycompare.io/research/wfc): Wells Fargo & Company | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | −5.0% | −4.3% | +1.4% | −12.3% | −2.4% | +119% | +85.0% | +141% | 29.5% | 0.57 |
| KBE: State Street SPDR S&P Bank ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −2.6% | −6.8% | +0.4% | +7.0% | +15.3% | +99.4% | +30.0% | +140% | 26.9% | 0.33 |
| KRE: State Street SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −1.9% | −6.4% | +1.1% | +10.1% | +19.4% | +95.8% | +11.7% | +111% | 29.4% | 0.22 |
| [BX](https://easycompare.io/research/bx): Blackstone Inc. | Fell short | 0/5 short, 1/3 long | −12.7% | −9.8% | −12.8% | −28.3% | −28.4% | +28.6% | +2.1% | +628% | 39.8% | 0.21 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed XLF

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9% | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| WTV: WisdomTree U.S. Value Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.7% | +2.6% | +8.9% | +15.2% | +19.6% | +87.8% | +87.6% | +303% | 17.0% | 0.83 | 0.12% | $3.2B |
| FNDX: Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.6% | +4.7% | +11.9% | +20.5% | +25.4% | +88.2% | +88.6% | +291% | 14.9% | 0.93 | 0.25% | $28B |
| FVAL: Fidelity Value Factor ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.3% | +4.8% | +11.3% | +15.4% | +21.0% | +85.9% | +79.4% | +291% | 16.4% | 0.80 | 0.15% | $1.4B |
| RWL: Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +4.5% | +11.7% | +18.4% | +22.9% | +84.0% | +90.2% | +287% | 14.4% | 0.97 | 0.39% | $10B |
| FNDB: Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.3% | +3.9% | +10.8% | +19.7% | +24.5% | +85.8% | +84.4% | +284% | 15.1% | 0.89 | 0.25% | $1.5B |
| VLU: State Street SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.9% | +3.2% | +8.5% | +17.9% | +22.7% | +85.1% | +79.7% | +275% | 15.2% | 0.85 | 0.12% | $781M |
| PRF: Invesco RAFI US 1000 ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.2% | +4.2% | +11.7% | +20.2% | +25.5% | +90.1% | +84.3% | +270% | 15.0% | 0.90 | 0.34% | $10B |
| DBE: Invesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6% | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| BBP: Virtus Biotech ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.6% | +9.8% | +21.3% | +32.8% | +44.2% | +125% | +110% | +249% | 26.8% | 0.69 | 0.34% | $126M |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1% | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed XLF

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7% | 1.10 | $11B |
| ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9% | 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.

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## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-xlf
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt