VDEvsXLEETF Comparison
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Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) and State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) belong to the same industry segment: US Energy. VDE's top 3 sector exposures are Energy, Finance and Non-Energy Materials. In contrast, XLE's top sector exposures are Energy and Finance. VDE is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.09%, versus 0.08% for XLE. VDE is up 40.84% year-to-date (YTD) with +$691M in YTD flows. XLE performs worse with 40.7% YTD performance, and +$2.53B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VDE and XLE below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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VDE vs XLE performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 08/25/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VDE XLE | +6.45%+6.35% | +7.74%+8.05% | +40.84%+40.70% | +45.11%+44.82% | +56.53%+56.01% | +210.27%+205.07% |
| Flows | VDE XLE | -$30M-$1.05B | -$134M-$2.51B | +$691M+$2.53B | +$397M+$1.76B | -$742M-$8.21B | -$1.15B-$11.22B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VDE XLE | +23.12%+23.04% | +21.64%+21.78% | +21.82%+21.71% | +26.22%+25.69% |
| Max drawdown | VDE XLE | -9.37%-9.46% | -15.05%-15.01% | -21.42%-20.14% | -26.53%-26.10% |
| Max drawdown duration | VDE XLE | 46d46d | 138d138d | 404d404d | 146d145d |
Trading data
VDE | XLE | |
Last sale 8/26/2026 at 1:30 PM | $175.94 | $62.43 |
| Previous close 08/25/2026 | $175.13 | $62.06 |
| Consolidated volume 08/25/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of July 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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VDE | XLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 8/26/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VDE | XLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $175.94 | $62.43 |
| 1D performance | +0.46% | +0.60% |
| AuM | $10.55 B | $40.14 B |
| E/R | 0.09% | 0.08% |
Characteristics
VDE | XLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Vanguard | State Street Investment Management |
| Benchmark | MSCI US IMI Energy 25/50 Index | S&P Energy Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 110 | 20 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 23, 2004 | December 16, 1998 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VDE
USA
76.37%
Other
23.63%
XLE
USA
79.18%
Other
20.82%
Sectors
VDE
Energy
75.04%
Other
24.96%
XLE
Energy
77.73%
Other
22.27%
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Diversification
VDE
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
75.92%
XLE
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
71.77%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
VDE
US30233Q1085
21.94%
Chevron Corp.
14.31%
ConocoPhillips
5.81%
Valero Energy Corp.
3.75%
Marathon Petroleum Corp.
3.73%
The Williams Cos., Inc.
3.41%
Phillips 66
3.35%
EOG Resources, Inc.
3.18%
SLB Ltd.
2.96%
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
2.45%
Baker Hughes Co.
2.34%
Targa Resources Corp.
2.28%
ONEOK, Inc.
2.24%
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
2.19%
Devon Energy Corp.
2.00%
XLE
Chevron Corp.
15.29%
ConocoPhillips
6.09%
Marathon Petroleum Corp.
4.94%
Phillips 66
4.92%
Valero Energy Corp.
4.76%
EOG Resources, Inc.
4.56%
SLB Ltd.
4.33%
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
3.88%
The Williams Cos., Inc.
3.87%
Baker Hughes Co.
3.73%
Targa Resources Corp.
3.61%
ONEOK, Inc.
3.52%
Devon Energy Corp.
3.24%
Occidental Petroleum Corp.
2.58%
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
2.45%
Frequently asked questions about VDE and XLE
How have the VDE and XLE ETFs performed in 2026?
As of August 25, 2026, VDE is up 40.84% year-to-date (YTD), while XLE has returned 40.7%. That puts VDE better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VDE or XLE?
Year-to-date, the VDE ETF saw +$691M in flows, compared to +$2.53B for XLE.
Which ETF is more volatile: VDE or XLE?
Over the past year, VDE had a volatility of 21.64%, while XLE experienced 21.78%.
Which ETF is bigger: VDE or XLE?
As of August 25, 2026, VDE holds $10.55 B in assets under management (AUM), while XLE manages $40.14 B.
What sectors do the VDE and XLE ETFs invest in?
VDE leans toward sectors like Energy. Meanwhile, XLE focuses on Energy.
What are the top holdings of the VDE ETF and XLE ETF?
VDE top holdings include US30233Q1085, Chevron Corp. and ConocoPhillips. XLE holds in its top three: Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips and Marathon Petroleum Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: VDE or XLE?
VDE holds 111 securities with 75.92% of its assets in the top 15. XLE has 20 securities and a top 15 weight of 71.77%.
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