RSP vs XLE
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF vs State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, RSP or XLE?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
XLE has a lower expense ratio. RSP led over 3Y and the full window, XLE over 1Y and 5Y. RSP is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.1%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | RSP | XLE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $96.1B | $39.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.46% | 2.37% |
| Holdings | 1,533 | 48 |
| YTD Return | +10.05% | +40.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.81% | +46.11%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.61%Best | +15.99% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +22.34%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5%Best | 25.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -60.9%Best | -76.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,064 | $27,406Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.2%Best | 74.1% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Apr 24, 2003 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2003 to Oct 2, 2026 (23.4 years).
RSP vs XLE growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 23.4 years both funds cover.
RSP vs XLE Performance
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year RSP returned +11.81% while XLE returned +46.11%. Year to date, RSP is up 10.05% versus a gain of 40.34% for XLE.
Over three years, RSP compounded at +16.61% per year against +15.99% for XLE; over five years the annualized figures are +8.54% and +22.34% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, RSP has the edge at +9.82% annualized vs +8.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.7% compared with 16.5% for RSP. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -60.9% for RSP and -76.7% for XLE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RSP charges 0.20% per year while XLE charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $8 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RSP currently yields 1.46% against 2.37% for XLE.
Holdings Overlap
4.5% of RSP's money is in holdings XLE also owns. 99.5% of XLE's money is in holdings RSP also owns.
Most of XLE is already inside RSP. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
21 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in RSP and 22 in XLE, against full books of 1,533 and 48.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for XLE that do not appear in our book for RSP (0.5% of the fund), and 479 for RSP that do not appear in XLE (94.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RSP | Weight in XLE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.21% | 20.16% | 19.95% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.22% | 15.22% | 15.00% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.22% | 6.35% | 6.13% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 0.29% | 5.66% | 5.37% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.28% | 5.52% | 5.24% |
| VLOValero Energy | 0.29% | 5.43% | 5.14% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 0.20% | 4.48% | 4.28% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 0.20% | 4.14% | 3.94% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.20% | 3.61% | 3.41% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 0.21% | 3.54% | 3.33% |
99.5% of XLE is already inside RSP.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RSP or XLE?
RSP has an expense ratio of 0.20% while XLE charges 0.08%. XLE is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RSP or XLE?
Over the past year RSP returned +11.81% vs +46.11% for XLE, so XLE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), RSP annualized +9.82% vs +8.66% for XLE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RSP or XLE?
XLE has been the more volatile fund at 25.7% annualized versus 16.5% for RSP. Worst drawdown: RSP -60.9% vs XLE -76.7%.
Should I hold both RSP and XLE?
RSP and XLE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RSP and XLE?
99.5% of XLE's money is in holdings RSP also owns. 99.5% of XLE's is in holdings RSP also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in RSP and 22 in XLE.
Which pays a higher dividend, RSP or XLE?
RSP yields 1.46% while XLE yields 2.37%, so XLE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLE better than RSP?
XLE has a lower expense ratio. RSP led over 3Y and the full window, XLE over 1Y and 5Y. RSP is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.