ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VDE.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XLE.
Tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index.
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
09/23/2004
12/16/1998
Beta
-0.01
-0.02
Last dividend
$1.0321
$0.3849
Ex-dividend date
06/24/2026
09/21/2026
Bottom lineVDE and XLE are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: XLE is cheaper at 0.09% vs 0.10%.
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
Want to go deeper?
Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
VDE has outpaced XLE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 33.76% total return against 33.23%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLE has compounded at 9.40% a year, ahead of VDE at 9.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Sep 2004” measures every fund from September 29, 2004 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
VDE (Vanguard Energy ETF) and XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
XLE offers the higher yield at 2.70% vs 2.57% for VDE. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
XLE is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.09% compared to 0.10%.
They track different benchmarks: VDE is linked to MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index while XLE tracks Energy Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XLE is the larger fund by assets ($39.1B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, VDE would generate roughly $21.42/month, while XLE would produce $22.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
VDE yield2.57%
XLE yield2.70%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.08
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, VDE would cost approximately $100 in fees vs $90 for XLE (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
VDE ER0.10%
XLE ER0.09%
Strategy & risk
VDE tracks MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index, while XLE tracks Energy Select Sector Index with an oil approach.
VDE beta-0.01
XLE beta-0.02
Fund details
VDE is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/23/2004) with $9.85B in assets. XLE is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $39.1B in assets.
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.
Frequently asked questions
Is VDE or XLE better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. XLE currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between VDE and XLE?
VDE (Vanguard Energy ETF) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index, while XLE (State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF) tracks Energy Select Sector Index with an oil approach. They are issued by Vanguard and State Street respectively.
Can I hold both VDE and XLE?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, VDE or XLE?
VDE has an expense ratio of 0.10% while XLE charges 0.09%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in VDE vs XLE generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in VDE would generate roughly $21.42 per month ($257.00 annually). The same in XLE would produce about $22.50 per month ($270.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, VDE or XLE?
VDE has outpaced XLE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 33.76% total return against 33.23%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLE has compounded at 9.40% a year, ahead of VDE at 9.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.
