(XLE) Energy Sector SPDR Fund - Ratings and Ratios

The Energy Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLE) seeks to mirror the performance of its underlying energy index by employing a near-full replication strategy-investing at least 95 % of assets in the index’s constituent securities. The index is defined by GICS® as “Energy” and comprises companies operating in oil, gas and consumable fuels, as well as energy equipment and services. Because the fund holds a concentrated basket of sector-specific stocks, it is classified as non-diversified under SEC regulations.

As of the most recent quarterly filing (Q3 2024), XLE carries an expense ratio of 0.12 % and manages roughly $45 billion in net assets, placing it among the largest U.S. energy-focused ETFs. Its top five holdings-Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Schlumberger, and EOG Resources-account for about 55 % of total exposure, illustrating the non-diversified nature of the vehicle. The fund’s dividend yield hovers near 3.6 % (annualized, based on the last 12 months), and its price has historically tracked Brent crude with a beta of ~0.85, meaning a 10 % move in Brent typically translates to an 8.5 % move in XLE. Key macro drivers include OPEC production decisions, U.S. shale output trends, and seasonal demand shifts tied to heating-oil consumption; each can swing the fund’s performance by several percentage points in a single quarter.

For a deeper, data-driven comparison of XLE’s risk-adjusted returns versus alternative energy ETFs, the ValueRay platform offers a transparent analytics dashboard you may find useful.