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Relative Intelligence · Banks

How Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on SMFG alone. It places SMFG (Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.) against 19 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 SMFG stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: SMFG's full trading record, from January 2006 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against SMFG →Chart SMFG vs. 19 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in SMFG have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in SMFG over the past 20 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of SMFG over the same span and SMFG's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Note: SMFG began trading on January 27, 2006, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust. It covers the most recent 20 years of SMFG's record, starting at the end of September 2006.

Choose a period

From the end of September 2006 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,220 of the 1,663 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SMFG; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$1,000$2,000$5,000$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,0002006200920122015201820212024$1,000$10,000$100,00020062011201620212026
  • JPM$117,399+1,074% total · +13.1% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$82,294+723% total · +11.1% a year
  • CM$77,923+679% total · +10.8% a year
  • BBVA$35,487+255% total · +6.5% a year
  • SAN$32,387+224% total · +6.1% a year
  • HSBC$30,976+210% total · +5.8% a year
  • SMFG$26,278+163% total · +4.9% a year
  • ING$16,825+68.3% total · +2.6% a year
  • BCS$9,451−5.5% total · −0.3% a year
  • LYG$4,699−53.0% total · −3.7% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 158 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of SMFG; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000202120222023202420252026$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000202120222023202420252026
  • MPC$71,516+615% total · +48.2% a year
  • PBR-A$67,821+578% total · +46.6% a year
  • TRGP$61,030+510% total · +43.6% a year
  • BBVA$57,750+478% total · +42.0% a year
  • LLY$52,411+424% total · +39.3% a year
  • CAH$49,682+397% total · +37.8% a year
  • MFG$46,041+360% total · +35.7% a year
  • SMFG$44,827+348% total · +35.0% a year
  • JPM$22,905+129% total · +18.0% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
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SMFG 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. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

Note: SMFG began trading on January 27, 2006, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust.

The company

Market value
$94B
Industry
Banks - Diversified
Price history from
January 2006

Returns

Past 1 year
+53.5%total return
Past 3 years
+181%+41.2% a year
Past 5 years
+327%+33.7% a year
Past 10 years
+474%+19.1% a year
Best calendar year
+54.8%2024
Worst calendar year
−43.6%2008
Losing years
7 of 19full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
29.4%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
1.14return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−76.8%Apr 2006 to Mar 2009
From its all-time high
−10.8%below the peak

SMFG against the whole market

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

How does SMFG rank among all stocks?

This section ranks SMFG on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how SMFG stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureSMFGRankStanding
1-year return+53.5%504 of 3,287top 15%
3-year return+181%462 of 3,017top 15%
5-year return+327%141 of 2,893top 5%
10-year return+474%330 of 2,202top 15%
Volatility, 5 years29.4%666 of 2,893top 23%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years1.1437 of 2,893top 1%
Worst decline, past 10 years−47.6%363 of 2,187top 17%

What has beaten SMFG 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). SMFG sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than SMFG with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to SMFG. 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than SMFGSMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%VIRT: +20.8% a year, volatility 33.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%FTXL: +27.4% a year, volatility 38.8%SMFGSPY (S&P 500)VIRTMCKCAHLLYTRGPMPCPBR-ASMHFTXL15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than SMFGSMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%VIRT: +20.8% a year, volatility 33.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%TRGP: +41.8% a year, volatility 31.7%MPC: +51.2% a year, volatility 33.4%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%SMH: +33.4% a year, volatility 36.9%FTXL: +27.4% a year, volatility 38.8%SMFGSPY (S&P 500)VIRTMCKCAHLLYTRGPMPCSMHFTXL
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market

Is there a better investment than SMFG?

Investments that beat SMFG over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat SMFG 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. It checks SMFG's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than SMFG follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than SMFG's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× SMFG's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than SMFG's.

Screen the whole market against SMFG for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 10 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with SMFG?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · this page
+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.280.09%
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 1 shownEverything else in Banks and the categories next to it (Regional Banks, Capital Markets, Payment Processing, Asset Management), plus SMFG's specific themes. 1 of 124 passed at least one test.
VIRTVirtu Financial, Inc. · Capital Markets
Higher return in most periods+20.8%33.8%0.73−56.2%+545%0.08—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 34 of 3,490 passed at least one test.
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.26—
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.11—
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.14—
TRGPTarga Resources Corp. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+41.8%31.7%1.27−90.8%+829%0.32—
MPCMarathon Petroleum Corporation · Oil & Gas
On the frontierHigher return in most periods+51.2%33.4%1.41−79.7%+1,387%0.16—
PBR-APetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
On the frontierHigher return in most periods+51.8%37.5%1.31−71.7%+768%0.10—
SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF · Semiconductors
Higher return in most periods+33.4%36.9%0.97−45.3%+1,665%0.230.35%
FTXLFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF · Technology
Higher return in most periods+27.4%38.8%0.82−43.9%+1,077%0.220.60%
What these numbers mean for SMFG
Annual return
SMFG returned 33.7% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $42,700. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
SMFG's volatility over the past 5 years was 29.4%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SMFG's return lands within 29.4% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
SMFG's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 1.14, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SMFG earned more 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. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
SMFG's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 47.6%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 47.6% fall takes a 90.9% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, SMFG's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.28 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 SMFG instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SMFG holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 2 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than SMFG with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. Best first; funds that hold the same thing are listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with SMFGExpense
1
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.26—
2
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.11—

SMFG against its popular alternatives

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

How do SMFG'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. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at SMFG, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than SMFG with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilitySMFG: 33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MFG: 33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%ING: 24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%SAN: 31.6% a year, volatility 33.9%BCS: 18.5% a year, volatility 34.1%LYG: 20.3% a year, volatility 32.1%DB: 22.1% a year, volatility 37.4%MUFG: 33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%UBS: 25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%NMR: 17.1% a year, volatility 29.9%BBVA: 38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%JPM: 17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%CM: 19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%HSBC: 33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%TD: 15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%BNS: 12.8% a year, volatility 19.9%BMO: 13.6% a year, volatility 21.4%IX: 17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%EWJ: 9.3% a year, volatility 18.8%RY: 17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%SMFGSPY (S&P 500)MFGINGSANBCSLYGDBMUFGUBSNMRBBVAJPMCMHSBCTDBMOIXEWJRY15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilitySMFG: 33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MFG: 33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%ING: 24.7% a year, volatility 31.1%SAN: 31.6% a year, volatility 33.9%BCS: 18.5% a year, volatility 34.1%LYG: 20.3% a year, volatility 32.1%DB: 22.1% a year, volatility 37.4%MUFG: 33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%UBS: 25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%NMR: 17.1% a year, volatility 29.9%BBVA: 38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%JPM: 17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%CM: 19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%HSBC: 33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%TD: 15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%BNS: 12.8% a year, volatility 19.9%BMO: 13.6% a year, volatility 21.4%IX: 17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%EWJ: 9.3% a year, volatility 18.8%RY: 17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%SMFGSPY (S&P 500)INGSANBCSLYGDBMUFGUBSNMRBBVAJPMCMHSBCTDEWJRY
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.+38.7%33.3%
SMFG This pageSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.+33.7%29.4%
MFG Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.+33.6%30.6%
MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.+33.2%29.4%
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc+33.1%25.9%
SAN Banco Santander, S.A.+31.6%33.9%
UBS UBS Group AG+25.4%30.4%
ING ING Groep N.V.+24.7%31.1%
DB Deutsche Bank AG+22.1%37.4%
LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc+20.3%32.1%
CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce+19.2%21.6%
BCS Barclays PLC+18.5%34.1%
IX ORIX Corporation+17.9%25.4%
JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co.+17.3%24.3%
RY Royal Bank of Canada+17.3%18.2%
NMR Nomura Holdings, Inc.+17.1%29.9%
TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank+15.8%20.0%
BMO Bank of Montreal+13.6%21.4%
BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia+12.8%19.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF+9.3%18.8%
Open these 21 in EasyCompare

Has SMFG consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares SMFG with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than SMFG helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than SMFG over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (this page)—−7.9%−1.3%+15.9%+28.3%+53.5%+181%+327%+474%29.4%1.14−47.6%—$94B—
BBVA Banks - DiversifiedBanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.1/5 short3/3 long−10.4%+3.1%+11.7%+11.3%+35.2%+281%+413%+542%33.3%1.16−69.6%—$142B—
JPM Banks - DiversifiedJPMorgan Chase & Co.2/5 short1/3 long−4.3%−0.6%+6.8%+5.0%+13.0%+150%+122%+537%24.3%0.78−43.6%—$891B—
MFG Banks - RegionalMizuho Financial Group, Inc.2/5 short1/3 long−10.6%+0.7%+15.2%+33.7%+53.1%+216%+326%+345%30.6%1.10−45.7%—$121B—
CM Banks - DiversifiedCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce1/5 short1/3 long−2.0%−3.3%+4.3%+25.8%+44.4%+261%+141%+395%21.6%0.93−47.3%—$103B—
ING Banks - DiversifiedING Groep N.V.1/5 short1/3 long−10.7%+2.4%+14.0%+18.9%+42.5%+209%+201%+339%31.1%0.87−74.4%—$94B—
SAN Banks - DiversifiedBanco Santander, S.A.0/5 short1/3 long−10.2%−1.4%+4.5%+9.8%+35.9%+305%+295%+332%33.9%0.99−73.8%—$194B—
HSBC Banks - DiversifiedHSBC Holdings plc0/5 short1/3 long−10.1%−5.9%+2.3%+19.8%+47.7%+201%+318%+319%25.9%1.24−62.3%—$324B—
BCS Banks - DiversifiedBarclays PLC0/5 short1/3 long−11.7%−17.1%−6.2%−13.3%+15.1%+242%+134%+238%34.1%0.67−66.0%—$75B—
LYG Banks - RegionalLloyds Banking Group plc0/5 short1/3 long−8.1%−6.7%−2.5%+1.7%+22.4%+207%+152%+213%32.1%0.74−66.5%—$80B—
DB Banks - RegionalDeutsche Bank AG0/5 short1/3 long−17.1%−8.6%−1.6%−17.0%−3.1%+244%+171%+165%37.4%0.72−72.7%—$60B—
MUFG Banks - DiversifiedMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.4/5 short0/3 long−6.9%+1.8%+19.6%+36.5%+41.3%+184%+319%+483%29.4%1.13−54.9%—$244B—
TD Banks - DiversifiedThe Toronto-Dominion Bank4/5 short0/3 long−0.9%+2.1%+16.3%+33.1%+57.5%+141%+109%+310%20.0%0.84−42.0%—$206B—
BNS Banks - DiversifiedThe Bank of Nova Scotia3/5 short0/3 long−2.3%+6.9%+22.4%+28.9%+50.0%+162%+83.1%+187%19.9%0.71−46.9%—$112B—
BMO Banks - DiversifiedBank of Montreal2/5 short0/3 long−5.5%−5.3%+10.8%+29.7%+37.6%+146%+89.4%+295%21.4%0.71−51.0%—$116B—
IX Financial - Credit ServicesORIX Corporation2/5 short0/3 long−6.2%−2.9%+16.7%+27.9%+50.8%+128%+128%+284%25.4%0.78−42.5%—$41B—
EWJ InternationaliShares MSCI Japan ETF2/5 short0/3 long−2.6%+5.5%+7.4%+18.0%+19.2%+79.1%+55.6%+132%18.8%0.57−33.1%0.49%$23B—
RY Banks - DiversifiedRoyal Bank of Canada1/5 short0/3 long−3.5%−4.8%+12.0%+18.9%+39.2%+173%+122%+352%18.2%0.97−40.0%—$276B—
UBS Banks - DiversifiedUBS Group AG0/5 short0/3 long−7.5%−8.3%+10.6%+2.9%+26.3%+116%+210%+374%30.4%0.90−59.8%—$145B—
NMR Financial - Capital MarketsNomura Holdings, Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−10.0%−2.8%+7.5%+8.0%+28.2%+162%+120%+179%29.9%0.68−54.0%—$27B—
Open these 20 in EasyCompare

How did SMFG do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2007, along with where SMFG ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with SMFG and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Note: SMFG began trading on January 27, 2006, so the table starts with 2007, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of SMFG; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places SMFG among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of SMFG2025202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007
SMFG This pageSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.—+38.0%+54.8%+25.7%+24.5%+18.6%−10.9%+19.4%−22.2%+18.0%+5.2%+7.7%−28.7%+47.2%+38.4%−19.2%+30.0%−28.6%−43.6%−27.1%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 4 of 1918 of 202 of 2010 of 202 of 2015 of 2013 of 2010 of 2011 of 2013 of 2012 of 207 of 2019 of 204 of 207 of 209 of 202 of 2019 of 208 of 2017 of 20
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF11 of 19+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%
BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.9 of 19+154%+14.2%+62.5%+10.0%+22.2%−6.4%+10.9%−35.0%+31.3%−1.5%−19.3%−20.6%+39.6%+18.2%−10.8%−39.7%+53.1%−45.6%+4.6%
JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co.12 of 19+37.3%+44.3%+30.6%−12.6%+27.8%−5.5%+47.3%−6.6%+26.8%+34.5%+8.4%+9.9%+36.7%+36.2%−19.9%+2.3%+34.4%−25.1%−6.9%
MFG Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.6 of 19+54.5%+47.8%+26.2%+17.2%+4.9%−12.8%+7.3%−14.1%+4.9%−7.2%+23.0%−19.3%+22.2%+43.0%−23.4%+10.1%−35.1%−38.1%−33.1%
CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce13 of 19+49.0%+37.9%+26.5%−26.8%+44.7%+9.3%+20.3%−19.8%+23.5%+29.8%−19.6%+4.8%+11.0%+16.8%−3.3%+27.1%+64.3%−37.9%−12.0%
ING ING Groep N.V.9 of 19+91.3%+12.2%+32.0%−4.4%+55.4%−21.6%+20.6%−39.4%+36.7%+11.1%+6.4%−7.4%+47.6%+32.5%−26.8%−0.2%−11.7%−69.6%−8.2%
SAN Banco Santander, S.A.7 of 19+165%+14.9%+46.4%−6.8%+10.2%−19.6%−2.2%−28.5%+33.3%+12.3%−37.9%−0.4%+27.4%+22.8%−20.2%−30.2%+91.8%−52.3%+20.2%
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc11 of 19+67.9%+34.5%+39.3%+7.8%+20.8%−31.7%+1.5%−16.1%+35.9%+9.9%−11.5%−10.2%+8.5%+45.9%−22.2%−7.5%+22.2%−38.0%−4.0%
BCS Barclays PLC7 of 19+96.5%+76.2%+6.0%−21.9%+31.6%−12.8%+31.9%−29.3%+0.5%−12.8%−11.4%−14.9%+16.1%+61.7%−31.9%−4.7%+80.0%−73.6%−27.2%
LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc9 of 19+104%+20.2%+14.5%−9.7%+34.6%−36.5%+36.9%−28.4%+26.8%−25.9%−4.4%−12.7%+66.1%+104%−61.7%+25.4%−27.5%−77.5%−11.6%
DB Deutsche Bank AG4 of 19+133%+29.4%+21.4%−5.9%+14.7%+40.1%−2.9%−56.7%+6.4%−25.0%−17.7%−36.4%+10.9%+19.7%−26.1%−20.1%+75.4%−65.5%−0.6%
MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.10 of 19+40.0%+39.7%+32.7%+26.2%+27.9%−13.7%+15.8%−31.3%+20.7%+2.5%+15.2%−14.6%+26.0%+33.1%−19.9%+13.3%−19.1%−32.3%−24.2%
TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank10 of 19+85.3%−13.4%+4.5%−12.2%+41.3%+5.6%+17.5%−12.1%+22.9%+30.9%−14.9%+5.0%+16.1%+16.8%+4.1%+22.7%+85.4%−46.8%+20.4%
BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia10 of 19+45.1%+17.5%+6.0%−28.8%+40.6%+1.7%+17.5%−19.2%+20.5%+43.7%−25.1%−4.2%+11.5%+21.0%−9.6%+27.1%+82.6%−44.4%+16.6%
BMO Bank of Montreal10 of 19+39.6%+3.0%+14.6%−12.4%+46.9%+3.3%+23.9%−14.9%+15.4%+32.9%−16.8%+10.4%+13.7%+17.3%−0.3%+13.7%+121%−51.9%−0.4%
IX ORIX Corporation12 of 19+43.4%+17.6%+20.1%−17.8%+36.9%−1.9%+22.4%−12.5%+12.1%+14.1%+16.4%−28.6%+58.9%+39.6%−14.8%+43.7%+22.8%−66.0%−42.0%
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF9 of 19+25.8%+7.0%+20.3%−17.7%+1.1%+15.4%+19.3%−14.1%+24.2%+2.8%+9.2%−6.2%+26.0%+9.2%−14.8%+13.6%+3.1%−27.0%−5.5%
RY Royal Bank of Canada12 of 19+46.3%+23.8%+12.2%−8.0%+34.1%+8.4%+20.2%−12.9%+23.9%+31.8%−19.3%+6.7%+16.0%+23.3%+1.2%+1.4%+89.3%−39.4%+10.7%
UBS UBS Group AG8 of 19+57.6%+0.7%+69.8%+7.4%+29.4%+19.5%+7.1%−29.9%+17.4%−14.4%+18.1%−10.2%+23.3%+34.3%−28.2%+6.2%+8.5%−68.9%−21.5%
NMR Nomura Holdings, Inc.8 of 19+53.9%+33.9%+24.9%−10.4%−15.5%+8.8%+44.5%−34.4%+1.5%+9.3%+1.1%−26.0%+35.1%+99.5%−52.2%−12.5%−10.6%−49.0%−9.7%
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Risk and diversification

How SMFG 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 SMFG's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents SMFG's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2006, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Note: SMFG began trading on January 27, 2006, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.

Green means SMFG fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringSMFG fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2008 financial crisis−76.8%−44.5%Apr 2006Mar 20092.9 yearsMar 202415 years
No named crash−25.7%−10.6%Mar 2025Apr 20251 monthAug 20254 months
No named crash−21.4%−5.2%Jul 2024Aug 20241 monthNov 20243 months
No named crash−20.1%−7.0%Feb 2026Mar 20261 monthJun 20263 months
No named crash−11.1%−0.9%Jan 2006Feb 20061 monthApr 20062 months

How did SMFG do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far SMFG, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Note: SMFG began trading on January 27, 2006, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than SMFG.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
SMFG This pageSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.—−9.2%−24.7%−32.2%−23.2%−4.5%−44.2%−19.8%−2.2%−70.9%Not yet trading
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF6 of 9−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.2 of 9−10.9%−39.6%−47.9%−22.7%−5.4%−41.0%−32.7%0.0%−75.7%−55.9%
JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co.5 of 9−5.4%−37.9%−42.5%−21.3%−5.6%−22.0%−32.1%−0.1%−67.7%−74.0%
MFG Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.6 of 9−9.7%−24.1%−29.6%−18.1%−4.2%−34.9%−17.7%−1.0%−72.2%—
CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce5 of 9−7.0%−36.2%−43.6%−22.2%−5.9%−25.3%−12.9%0.0%−71.8%−39.8%
ING ING Groep N.V.1 of 9−10.7%−43.4%−56.9%−24.1%−5.8%−35.4%−47.4%−3.6%−93.0%−66.4%
SAN Banco Santander, S.A.2 of 9−11.4%−41.0%−48.1%−19.0%−6.0%−44.7%−33.2%−0.9%−76.1%−58.4%
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc5 of 9−7.3%−31.8%−20.5%−13.1%−4.6%−30.8%−25.1%0.0%−73.8%−41.4%
BCS Barclays PLC0 of 9−10.2%−48.1%−57.1%−22.9%−4.1%−50.6%−44.9%−4.8%−93.9%−38.4%
LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc2 of 9−7.8%−40.5%−53.4%−23.3%−4.3%−34.6%−41.6%−4.5%−94.8%—
DB Deutsche Bank AG1 of 9−11.6%−54.2%−48.6%−36.3%−9.3%−54.8%−46.8%0.0%−82.7%−64.9%
MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.2 of 9−9.5%−33.4%−33.0%−27.0%−6.7%−45.1%−20.7%−0.3%−65.5%−65.1%
TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank5 of 9−6.7%−29.0%−41.0%−20.9%−5.5%−18.1%−19.6%0.0%−63.4%−44.1%
BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia5 of 9−4.6%−35.4%−43.0%−17.7%−6.1%−24.3%−19.8%0.0%−63.8%−23.6%
BMO Bank of Montreal5 of 9−5.5%−30.5%−49.4%−23.5%−6.2%−18.9%−16.4%0.0%−68.5%−26.5%
IX ORIX Corporation3 of 9−5.1%−35.0%−39.1%−19.6%−7.2%−20.7%−31.9%−3.0%−91.8%−66.0%
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF7 of 9−2.3%−27.6%−24.8%−18.4%−6.2%−20.8%−15.2%−0.8%−51.6%−56.7%
RY Royal Bank of Canada5 of 9−3.8%−26.0%−40.0%−17.1%−5.7%−23.1%−21.8%0.0%−63.1%−21.6%
UBS UBS Group AG2 of 9−9.5%−32.5%−42.3%−28.5%−8.2%−36.7%−39.7%−0.9%−87.5%—
NMR Nomura Holdings, Inc.4 of 9−6.2%−31.1%−29.2%−28.0%−7.7%−40.5%−30.3%0.0%−77.6%−56.9%
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How closely does SMFG 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. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares SMFG with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than SMFG's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
SMFG This pageSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc.84%43%1.940.65
MUFG Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.84%42%2.010.66
MFG Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.75%42%1.810.54
HSBC HSBC Holdings plc79%53%1.490.58
BBVA Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A.121%97%1.251.11
JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co.117%103%1.141.09
IX ORIX Corporation84%75%1.110.86
RY Royal Bank of Canada97%88%1.110.88
SAN Banco Santander, S.A.101%92%1.101.02
TD The Toronto-Dominion Bank89%80%1.100.88
CM Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce108%106%1.021.07
NMR Nomura Holdings, Inc.81%82%0.990.76
UBS UBS Group AG116%120%0.971.18
BMO Bank of Montreal104%112%0.931.12
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF65%71%0.920.67
ING ING Groep N.V.136%155%0.881.36
BCS Barclays PLC113%131%0.861.26
DB Deutsche Bank AG102%118%0.861.21
LYG Lloyds Banking Group plc106%130%0.821.20
BNS The Bank of Nova Scotia97%120%0.811.05
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What diversifies SMFG?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with SMFG's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing SMFG with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which SMFG lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% SMFG and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202020182014201120092008200780/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (this page)1.00+327%1.14−10.9%−22.2%−28.7%−19.2%−28.6%−43.6%−27.1%23.9%+35.0%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.38+225%1.34+3.9%−19.8%+8.1%−16.1%+2.0%−20.8%−7.4%20.3%+33.8%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.33+101%1.04−13.4%−8.7%+23.8%————20.3%+31.4%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.37+83.3%1.00−6.5%−3.0%+12.6%————20.3%+30.6%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.23+323%0.97+55.5%−9.1%+30.2%+6.8%+60.5%−44.7%+6.0%21.8%+36.9%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.43+85.0%0.96+2.1%−9.5%+3.4%————20.2%+30.9%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.15+126%0.96+24.8%−1.9%−2.2%+9.6%+24.0%+4.9%+30.4%20.0%+32.2%
SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF0.21+136%0.93+28.2%−0.9%—————20.4%+33.0%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.21+177%0.93−32.7%−18.2%−8.7%+2.8%+21.8%−39.0%+36.8%20.9%+33.5%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202020182014201120092008200780/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
SMFG Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (this page)1.00+327%1.14−10.9%−22.2%−28.7%−19.2%−28.6%−43.6%−27.1%23.9%+35.0%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.11+479%1.55+10.1%−24.5%+23.0%+8.1%−4.4%−39.6%−9.8%20.4%+36.7%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.18+3,143%1.47−2.4%−16.3%+12.9%−24.4%+105%−20.5%−25.7%24.1%+51.1%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.09+1,636%1.46+6.7%+0.8%−10.4%−17.0%+17.8%−15.2%+2.1%21.9%+46.8%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.26+413%1.44+27.1%−28.4%+29.3%+11.8%+62.9%−40.4%+29.7%21.0%+35.8%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.16+690%1.41−27.4%−8.2%+0.4%————21.2%+39.0%
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Common questions

What was SMFG's worst drawdown?

SMFG's deepest decline since it began trading in 2006 was 76.8%, from April 2006 to March 2009. It took about 15 years from the low to climb back to its old high. Because SMFG launched in January 2006, that record does not include the dot-com bust.

What were SMFG's best and worst years?

Over 19 full calendar years, SMFG's best year was 2024, when it returned 54.8%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -43.6%.

Is there a better investment than SMFG?

Looking beyond its popular alternatives, VIRT (capital markets) was ahead of SMFG in most short and long periods. Few investments have done better on both counts: only two of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than SMFG with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them MCK and CAH.

Is SMFG more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. SMFG's volatility over the past 5 years was 29.4%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SMFG's return lands within 29.4% 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 SMFG's Sharpe ratio?

SMFG's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 1.14, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SMFG earned more 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 SMFG with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, SMFG's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.28 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 SMFG instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SMFG holding.

What are the best alternatives to SMFG?

None of the 19 popular alternatives we compared outperformed SMFG in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, which says more about SMFG's strength than about its alternatives.

Did SMFG outperform the S&P 500?

SMFG finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in seven of 19 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +38.1%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did SMFG do in stock market crashes?

SMFG fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in two of the nine major crashes it has traded through, and further in six. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when SMFG fell 44.2% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.

What diversifies SMFG?

These had a low correlation with SMFG over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.38), EMLP (correlation 0.33) and HDV (correlation 0.37); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.11), CLS (correlation 0.18) and FIX (correlation 0.09). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to SMFG