# How SLB compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

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

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on SLB alone. It places SLB (Slb N.V.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where SLB stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: SLB's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

## Key findings

- **Right now:** The slide is SLB's own: it is 41.6% below its high, against 1.3% for the S&P 500. Over the past 6 months, SLB fell 3.3% while the S&P 500 rose 9.1%.
- **Stock or market?:** SLB rose 8.3% over the past 3 months, 5.7 points ahead of the oilfield services ETF OIH (VanEck Oil Services ETF), which rose 2.6%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its oilfield services peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: WHD (Cactus) rose 16.7%, while FTI (TechnipFMC) fell 4.3%.
- **Past 1 to 3 years:** SLB has run far ahead of the market, rising 53.2% over the past year against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100. Even so, the last two calendar years both went the same way: SLB rose 3.3% in 2025, against 15.8% for the S&P 500 and 17.9% for the Nasdaq 100.
- **Long term:** SLB turned $10,000 into $7,870 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. SLB's 10-year loss of 21.3% puts it behind 87% of the stocks worth at least $300 million with that much history. The S&P 500 returned 321%.
- **In a crash:** Across seven sell-offs, SLB has typically fallen 1.8 times as far as the S&P 500. In the Covid crash, SLB fell 64.9%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. That was more than BKR (Baker Hughes, 55.2%) but less than HAL (Halliburton, 79.1%).
- **Diversification:** Against the S&P 500, SLB has a correlation of 0.32 over 5 years, less closely than 66% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is some diversification, but not a hedge. SLB's link to the S&P 500 has loosened: a correlation of 0.32 over the past 5 years, down from 0.76 in the 5 years before.
- **Better options**
  - **Popular alternatives:** XOM (Exxonmobil), CVX (Chevron) and COP (ConocoPhillips) earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. XOM returned 27.1% a year at 26.5% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%.
  - **Nearby categories and themes:** PSX (Phillips 66, oil & gas) and TTE (TotalEnergies, integrated oil & gas) earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. PSX returned 33.2% a year at 32.9% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%.
  - **Whole market:** 694 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them AAPL (Apple), GOOG (Alphabet) and MSFT (Microsoft).

## How much would $10,000 in SLB have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in SLB over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of SLB over the same span and SLB's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period.

- $10,000 invested in SLB at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $21,770 by September 2026, less than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Seven of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of SLB, and EOG finished highest, at $380,118.

## SLB at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout.

- SLB is still 41.6% below its all-time high.
- SLB's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 87.8%, from June 2014 to March 2020. It has not yet climbed back to that peak.
- Over 29 full calendar years, SLB's best was 2022, when it returned 81.1%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 56.5%. It lost money in 12 of those years.

- Type: Stock, Energy (Oil & Gas Equipment & Services)
- Trading since: October 17, 1986
- Market value: $74B
- Volatility (5 years): 37.5%; Sharpe ratio: 0.44
- Worst decline ever: −87.8%, from June 30, 2014 to March 18, 2020; not yet back at its high

| Period | SLB total return |
| --- | --- |
| 1 month | −3.4% |
| 3 months | +8.3% |
| 6 months | −3.3% |
| year to date | +26.4% |
| 1 year | +53.2% |
| 3 years | −7.2% |
| 5 years | +60.7% |
| 10 years | −21.3% |

## SLB against the whole market

Where SLB ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

### How does SLB rank among all stocks?

This section ranks SLB on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history.

- SLB's 10-year return ranks in the bottom 13% of the 2,202 stocks worth at least $300 million with 10 years of history.
- SLB's 1-year return ranks in the top 15% of the 3,287 stocks worth at least $300 million with 1 year of history.

| Measure | SLB | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year return | +53.2% | 506 of 3,287 (top 16%) |
| 3-year return | −7.2% | 2,437 of 3,017 (top 81%) |
| 5-year return | +60.7% | 988 of 2,893 (top 35%) |
| 10-year return | −21.3% | 1,919 of 2,202 (top 88%) |
| Volatility, 5 years | 37.5% | 1,305 of 2,893 (top 46%) |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.44 | 1,109 of 2,893 (top 39%) |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −84.5% | 1,776 of 2,187 (top 82%) |

### What has beaten SLB on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer).

- 397 stocks and 297 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than SLB over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 19% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half SLB's swings, CAH has the best return for its risk: 42.1% a year at 24.7% volatility, 34% less than SLB's 37.5%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.55 against 0.44 for SLB. MPC earned the most, 51.2% a year, while still swinging less than SLB (33.4% against 37.5%).
- Among SLB's popular alternatives, XOM, CVX and BKR are in the region. XOM earned 27.1% a year against 9.9% a year for SLB, at 26.5% volatility, 29% less than SLB's 37.5%.

### Is there a better investment than SLB?

The table below lists investments that beat SLB over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes.

- Among SLB's popular alternatives, XOM, CVX and COP earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. XOM returned 27.1% a year at 26.5% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, PSX (oil & gas) and TTE (integrated oil & gas) earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. PSX returned 33.2% a year at 32.9% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%.
- Across the whole market, 694 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them AAPL, GOOG and MSFT.

The 15 strongest of 694 investments that beat SLB over the past 5 years, out of 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million.

| Investment | Group | Annual return (5 years) | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline (10 years) | 10Y return | Correlation with SLB | Better on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SLB: Slb N.V. (this page) |  | +9.9% | 37.5% | 0.44 | −84.5% | −21.3% |  |  |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | Health Care Distribution | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.14 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [MSFT](https://easycompare.io/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | Software | +12.5% | 28.2% | 0.56 | −37.1% | +946% | -0.01 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | Pharmaceuticals | +40.7% | 32.8% | 1.21 | −34.5% | +1,807% | -0.07 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [BRK-B](https://easycompare.io/research/brk-b): Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Insurance | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.33 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [V](https://easycompare.io/research/v): Visa Inc. | Payment Processing | +12.8% | 22.9% | 0.64 | −36.4% | +429% | 0.38 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [KO](https://easycompare.io/research/ko): The Coca-Cola Company | Food & Beverages | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.30 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [MA](https://easycompare.io/research/ma): Mastercard Incorporated | Payment Processing | +12.4% | 23.8% | 0.61 | −41.0% | +541% | 0.40 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [MRK](https://easycompare.io/research/mrk): Merck & Co., Inc. | Pharmaceuticals | +16.3% | 24.8% | 0.74 | −43.4% | +241% | 0.33 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [AMGN](https://easycompare.io/research/amgn): Amgen Inc. | Biotechnology | +19.6% | 24.9% | 0.85 | −24.9% | +266% | 0.41 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [TD](https://easycompare.io/research/td): The Toronto-Dominion Bank | Banks | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.39 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [ADI](https://easycompare.io/research/adi): Analog Devices, Inc. | Semiconductors | +19.5% | 34.1% | 0.69 | −33.6% | +652% | 0.18 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [COR](https://easycompare.io/research/cor): Cencora, Inc. | Health Care Distribution | +24.2% | 22.8% | 1.07 | −32.4% | +406% | 0.37 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [CME](https://easycompare.io/research/cme): CME Group Inc. | Capital Markets | +11.2% | 20.8% | 0.62 | −37.4% | +319% | 0.16 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [MSI](https://easycompare.io/research/msi): Motorola Solutions, Inc. | Communications Equipment | +14.8% | 23.6% | 0.71 | −32.8% | +625% | 0.23 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [EMR](https://easycompare.io/research/emr): Emerson Electric Co. | Industrial Machinery | +12.7% | 27.7% | 0.57 | −50.8% | +309% | 0.44 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |

## SLB against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against SLB, compared period by period and year by year.

### How do SLB's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings.

- 12 of the 21 popular alternatives earned less than SLB over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Five of the 21 popular alternatives, led by XOM, BKR and CVX, were both more rewarding and calmer than SLB over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, SLB returned 10.0% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (37.5% against 17.1%).

### Has SLB consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares SLB with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years.

- Eight of the 21 popular alternatives, led by COP, XOM and CVX, outperformed SLB in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- COP, XOM and CVX outperformed SLB in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- XOM, CVX and BKR earned more for the risk they took than SLB (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.

| Investment | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return | 10Y return | Periods ahead of SLB | Verdict | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SLB: Slb N.V. (this page) | +53.2% | −7.2% | +60.7% | −21.3% |  |  | 0.44 |
| [COP](https://easycompare.io/research/cop): ConocoPhillips | +72.9% | +28.5% | +131% | +379% | 5/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.68 |
| [XOM](https://easycompare.io/research/xom): Exxonmobil Holdings Corporation | +62.4% | +76.7% | +232% | +214% | 5/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 1.04 |
| [CVX](https://easycompare.io/research/cvx): Chevron Corporation | +51.9% | +53.4% | +144% | +238% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.84 |
| [EOG](https://easycompare.io/research/eog): EOG Resources, Inc. | +53.1% | +31.9% | +115% | +131% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.64 |
| FTI: TechnipFMC plc | +89.4% | +241% | +769% | +178% | 3/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | consistent | 1.26 |
| OII: Oceaneering International, Inc. | +87.1% | +76.8% | +184% | +66.9% | 3/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | consistent | 0.67 |
| HP: Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | +66.7% | +1.9% | +33.1% | −8.6% | 4/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.36 |
| DNOW: Dnow Inc. | +10.3% | +38.5% | +67.4% | −28.1% | 3/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.46 |
| [BKR](https://easycompare.io/research/bkr): Baker Hughes Company | +22.1% | +70.1% | +146% | +248% | 0/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.70 |
| PTEN: Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. | +110% | −4.2% | +44.3% | −40.4% | 5/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.41 |
| WHD: Cactus, Inc. | +69.4% | +28.0% | +46.0% | — | 4/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.39 |
| HAL: Halliburton Company | +51.5% | −14.7% | +39.8% | −17.1% | 1/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.37 |
| NOV: NOV Inc. | +51.9% | +1.8% | +35.1% | −42.2% | 1/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.35 |
| OIS: Oil States International, Inc. | +39.6% | +8.8% | +19.6% | −73.8% | 1/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.35 |
| WFRD: Weatherford International plc | +23.7% | −12.0% | +195% | — | 0/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.69 |
| RIG: Transocean Ltd. | +76.9% | −18.7% | +42.0% | −45.0% | 5/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.42 |
| NBR: Nabors Industries Ltd. | +95.1% | −32.7% | −36.4% | −86.6% | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.19 |
| RES: RPC, Inc. | +43.6% | −23.8% | +25.7% | −60.8% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.34 |
| CLB: Core Laboratories N.V. | −14.8% | −56.2% | −65.6% | −89.5% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.14 |
| LBRT: Liberty Energy Inc. | +6.2% | −15.7% | +14.7% | — | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.33 |
| PUMP: ProPetro Holding Corp. | +31.8% | −28.6% | −25.6% | — | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.20 |

### How did SLB do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where SLB ranked among its popular alternatives each year.

- SLB finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 13 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Among its popular alternatives, WFRD came out ahead of SLB most often, in four of the six years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, SLB finished in the top quarter in three of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in three. In 2025, it ranked 10 of 22.

| Year | SLB | SPY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2025 | +3.3% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | −24.5% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | −0.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | +81.1% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +39.6% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | −43.8% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +17.8% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −44.7% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | −18.5% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +23.5% | +12.0% |

## Risk and diversification

How SLB has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

### What were SLB's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high.

- In all four of SLB's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: SLB fell 87.8% from June 2014 to March 2020, while the S&P 500 rose 36.7%.
- The slowest recovery came after SLB fell 68.0% from October 2007 to February 2009; it did not regain that peak until May 2014, five years later.

| Decline | Peak | Low | Back at the high | SPY over the same dates | Market event |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| −87.8% | June 30, 2014 | March 18, 2020 | not yet | +36.7% | 2015 China and oil sell-off |
| −68.0% | October 16, 2007 | February 23, 2009 | May 29, 2014 | −50.0% | 2008 financial crisis |
| −59.8% | August 28, 2000 | October 9, 2002 | July 22, 2005 | −47.0% | dot-com bust |
| −55.6% | November 5, 1997 | December 4, 1998 | May 15, 2000 | +27.2% |  |
| −42.5% | August 3, 1987 | December 11, 1987 | December 1, 1989 | — |  |

### How did SLB do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far SLB, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000.

- SLB fell further than the S&P 500 in all ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when SLB fell 64.9% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.
- Among its popular alternatives, XOM held up best, falling less than SLB in all ten crashes they both traded through.

| Crash | Dates | SLB fall | SPY fall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dot-com bust | March 10, 2000 to October 9, 2002 | −59.8% | −47.5% |
| Global financial crisis | October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 | −68.0% | −55.2% |
| Flash crash | May 6, 2010 to May 7, 2010 | −3.8% | −1.5% |
| Euro debt crisis | July 22, 2011 to October 3, 2011 | −38.9% | −17.9% |
| China devaluation & oil rout | August 10, 2015 to February 11, 2016 | −27.1% | −12.8% |
| Volmageddon | February 2, 2018 to February 9, 2018 | −10.9% | −6.5% |
| Q4 2018 selloff | September 21, 2018 to December 24, 2018 | −43.6% | −19.3% |
| COVID crash | February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020 | −64.9% | −33.7% |
| 2022 bear market | January 4, 2022 to October 12, 2022 | −36.8% | −24.5% |
| SVB / regional bank stress | March 8, 2023 to March 13, 2023 | −8.8% | −3.4% |

### How closely does SLB move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell.

- Nine of the 17 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than SLB's 0.49, led by COP, XOM and CVX.
- COP took just 92% of the S&P 500's losses, against 212% for SLB, while still keeping 94% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, SLB captured 104% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 212% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.54. It amplified the market's moves in both directions.

Measured over the past 10 years of monthly returns against SPY.

| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Beta |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SLB: Slb N.V. (this page) | 104% | 212% | 1.54 |
| [COP](https://easycompare.io/research/cop): ConocoPhillips | 94.0% | 92.0% | 0.91 |
| [XOM](https://easycompare.io/research/xom): Exxonmobil Holdings Corporation | 78.0% | 83.0% | 0.76 |
| [CVX](https://easycompare.io/research/cvx): Chevron Corporation | 86.0% | 94.0% | 0.89 |
| [EOG](https://easycompare.io/research/eog): EOG Resources, Inc. | 92.0% | 135% | 1.17 |
| FTI: TechnipFMC plc | 109% | 137% | 1.45 |
| OII: Oceaneering International, Inc. | 162% | 272% | 2.29 |
| HP: Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | 108% | 214% | 1.43 |
| DNOW: Dnow Inc. | 75.0% | 168% | 1.43 |
| [BKR](https://easycompare.io/research/bkr): Baker Hughes Company | 127% | 160% | 1.37 |
| PTEN: Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. | 113% | 248% | 1.89 |
| HAL: Halliburton Company | 113% | 225% | 1.75 |
| NOV: NOV Inc. | 96.0% | 220% | 1.59 |
| OIS: Oil States International, Inc. | 134% | 338% | 2.46 |
| RIG: Transocean Ltd. | 149% | 322% | 2.44 |
| NBR: Nabors Industries Ltd. | 125% | 357% | 2.28 |
| RES: RPC, Inc. | 56.0% | 172% | 1.38 |
| CLB: Core Laboratories N.V. | 95.0% | 329% | 2.14 |

### What diversifies SLB?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions).

- Moving a fifth of the money in SLB into GLD would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 18% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+12.9% for SLB alone, +15.4% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and SMH have moved largely independently of SLB over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.49 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- MCK made money in eight of the 12 calendar years in which SLB lost money.

| Investment | Correlation with SLB | 5Y return | Volatility | Sharpe | Rose in SLB's 12 down years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LVHI: Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.49 | +119% | 11.1% | 1.48 | 3 of 12 |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.28 | +225% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 6 of 12 |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.04 | +323% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 6 of 12 |
| DBEF: Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.35 | +85.0% | 13.8% | 0.96 | 6 of 12 |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | 0.17 | +126% | 18.9% | 0.96 | 6 of 12 |
| SPMO: Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.22 | +136% | 20.8% | 0.93 | 4 of 12 |
| VLUE: iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 0.49 | +109% | 18.4% | 0.90 | 4 of 12 |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 0.10 | +153% | 24.2% | 0.89 | 6 of 12 |

## Common questions

### What was SLB's worst drawdown?

SLB's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 87.8%, from June 2014 to March 2020. It has not yet climbed back to that peak.

### What were SLB's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, SLB's best year was 2022, when it returned 81.1%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -56.5%.

### Is there a better investment than SLB?

Among SLB's popular alternatives, XOM, CVX and COP earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. XOM returned 27.1% a year at 26.5% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, PSX (oil & gas) and TTE (integrated oil & gas) earned more than SLB with less volatility over the past 5 years. PSX returned 33.2% a year at 32.9% volatility, against 9.9% a year at 37.5%.

### Is SLB more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. SLB's volatility over the past 5 years was 37.5%, 2.2 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SLB's return lands within 37.5% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

### What is SLB's Sharpe ratio?

SLB's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.44, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SLB earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

### How correlated is SLB with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, SLB's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.32 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SLB instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SLB holding.

### What are the best alternatives to SLB?

Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, eight outperformed SLB in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: COP, XOM and CVX.

### Did SLB outperform the S&P 500?

SLB finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 13 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +3.3%, against +17.7% for the index.

### How did SLB do in stock market crashes?

SLB fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in none of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in ten. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when SLB fell 64.9% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

### What diversifies SLB?

These had a low correlation with SLB over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.49), DXJ (correlation 0.28) and SMH (correlation 0.04); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.14), CLS (correlation 0.18) and FIX (correlation 0.15). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

## More research

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## Explore further

- Full page with charts: https://easycompare.io/research/slb
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt
- Compare the entire market against SLB live: https://betterthanspy.com/?b=SLB&utm_source=easycompare&utm_medium=research