XLC vs VOX Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
XLC and VOX both target communication services sector exposure but take different paths to get there — XLC via the Communication Services Select Sector Index, and VOX via the MSCI US Investable Market Communication Services Index. The practical differences come down to issuer, cost structure, and the specific index rules each fund follows, since both are pursuing a similar investment outcome.
XLC vs VOX is largely a question of which issuer and index methodology you trust more for communication services sector exposure — the underlying investment case is similar, so cost, liquidity, and tracking precision tend to be the deciding factors.
XLC holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VOX has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+4.80% vs -1.36% for XLC).
- want concentrated exposure to digital advertising and media giants
- prefer State Street's approach and fund lineup
- value direct exposure to the dominant digital ad platforms
- are comfortable with heavily concentrated in just two mega-cap names
- want broader communication-sector exposure at low cost
- prefer Vanguard's approach and fund lineup
- value lower expense ratio than the SPDR sector fund
- are comfortable with thinner liquidity than XLC
| Metric | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 25.6 | 24.7 |
| Latest closei | $112.44 | $193.19 |
| 1M returni | -1.07% | -0.14% |
| 3M returni | +0.14% | +0.88% |
| 6M returni | -4.82% | -2.08% |
| 1Y returni | -1.36% | +4.80% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $9.99K (-0.1%) started 2025-10-15 | $10.59K (+5.9%) started 2025-10-15 |
| 5Y ago | $15.58K (+55.8%) started 2021-10-15 | $15.04K (+50.4%) started 2021-10-15 |
| 10Y ago | $26.57K (+165.7%) started 2018-06-19 | $28.17K (+181.7%) started 2016-10-17 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.09% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $22.53B | $6.3B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.24% | 0.98% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.50 | 17.58 |
| Betai | 1.00 | 1.08 |
| 52-week change | -1.36% | 4.80% |
| Metric | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | -1.36% | +4.80% |
| 6M returni | -4.82% | -2.08% |
| 3M returni | +0.14% | +0.88% |
| 1M returni | -1.07% | -0.14% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | -0.28 | 0.10 |
| Betai | 1.00 | 1.08 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.24% | 0.98% |
| 5Y CAGR | +8.10% | +7.37% |
Over the past year, XLC and VOX have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.96), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | -1.36% | +4.80% |
| CAGRi | -1.36% | +4.80% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.09% | 18.17% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | -0.28 | 0.10 | |
| Sortino ratioi | -0.40 | 0.15 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.73% | 13.56% | |
| Current drawdowni | 5.51% | 2.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.31% | 3.96% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.17% | 4.88% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.50% | 3.52% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 6.45% | 6.81% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +47.61% | +42.71% |
| CAGRi | +8.10% | +7.37% | |
| Volatilityi | 21.03% | 21.58% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.26 | 0.23 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.37 | 0.33 | |
| Max drawdowni | 44.20% | 44.84% | |
| Current drawdowni | 5.51% | 2.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 12.15% | 14.31% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 17.48% | 19.59% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.69% | 6.13% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 11.04% | 10.95% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +144.16% | +141.11% |
| CAGRi | +11.32% | +9.21% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.09% | 21.09% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.39 | 0.31 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.55 | 0.43 | |
| Max drawdowni | 46.65% | 46.76% | |
| Current drawdowni | 5.51% | 2.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.43% | 12.18% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 15.84% | 16.74% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.28% | 11.42% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 16.41% | 16.87% |
| Category | XLC | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF | Vanguard Communication Services Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.09% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $22.53B | $6.3B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.24% | 0.98% |
- Direct exposure to the dominant digital ad platforms
- Low expense ratio for sector-level exposure
- Solid liquidity among sector SPDR funds
- Lower expense ratio than the SPDR sector fund
- Slightly more diversified beyond the top two mega-caps
- Vanguard's indexing efficiency
- Heavily concentrated in just two mega-cap names
- Advertising spend is cyclical and sensitive to economic slowdowns
- Includes legacy telecom names with slower growth
- Thinner liquidity than XLC
- Still top-heavy in the same mega-cap ad platforms
- Sector concentration risk regardless of index provider
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