XLK vs FTEC Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
XLK and FTEC both target technology sector exposure but take different paths to get there — XLK via the Technology Select Sector Index, and FTEC via the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology 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.
XLK vs FTEC is largely a question of which issuer and index methodology you trust more for technology sector exposure — the underlying investment case is similar, so cost, liquidity, and tracking precision tend to be the deciding factors.
XLK holds the edge across 5 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. XLK has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+16.48% vs +15.36% for FTEC).
- want pure GICS-classified technology sector exposure with maximum liquidity
- prefer State Street's approach and fund lineup
- value deepest liquidity and options market of any tech sector ETF
- are comfortable with extremely concentrated in a handful of mega-cap names
- want broader-based technology sector exposure at ultra-low cost
- prefer Fidelity's approach and fund lineup
- value one of the lowest expense ratios among tech sector ETFs
- are comfortable with less liquid and no meaningful options market versus XLK
| Metric | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 29.6 | 29.5 |
| Latest closei | $174.22 | $271.58 |
| 1M returni | -12.81% | -11.34% |
| 3M returni | -2.03% | -1.03% |
| 6M returni | +7.76% | +8.69% |
| 1Y returni | +16.48% | +15.36% |
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 | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.66K (+16.6%) started 2025-11-03 | $11.55K (+15.5%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $22.93K (+129.3%) started 2021-11-03 | $22.29K (+122.9%) started 2021-11-03 |
| 10Y ago | $92.88K (+828.8%) started 2016-11-03 | $91.17K (+811.7%) started 2016-11-03 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $127.3B | $22.15B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.43% | 0.37% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 28.53 | 28.37 |
| Betai | 1.38 | 1.38 |
| 52-week change | 16.48% | 15.36% |
| Metric | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +16.48% | +15.36% |
| 6M returni | +7.76% | +8.69% |
| 3M returni | -2.03% | -1.03% |
| 1M returni | -12.81% | -11.34% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| Betai | 1.38 | 1.38 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.43% | 0.37% |
| 5Y CAGR | +17.19% | +16.62% |
Over the past year, XLK and FTEC have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.99), 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 | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +16.00% | +14.96% |
| CAGRi | +16.06% | +15.01% | |
| Volatilityi | 27.31% | 25.57% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.52 | 0.50 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.73 | 0.71 | |
| Max drawdowni | 15.86% | 15.76% | |
| Current drawdowni | 13.75% | 12.38% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 5.28% | 5.26% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 6.30% | 6.25% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.66% | 6.17% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 9.99% | 9.32% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +120.92% | +115.60% |
| CAGRi | +17.19% | +16.62% | |
| Volatilityi | 26.21% | 26.23% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.57 | 0.55 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.82 | 0.79 | |
| Max drawdowni | 33.56% | 34.95% | |
| Current drawdowni | 13.75% | 12.38% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 8.66% | 9.28% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 12.26% | 13.16% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.82% | 7.23% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 13.59% | 14.03% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +734.27% | +733.70% |
| CAGRi | +23.64% | +23.63% | |
| Volatilityi | 25.19% | 25.22% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.79 | 0.79 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.13 | 1.13 | |
| Max drawdowni | 33.56% | 34.95% | |
| Current drawdowni | 13.75% | 12.38% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.05% | 6.40% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.64% | 10.26% | |
| Max daily dropi | 13.81% | 13.84% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 17.04% | 17.95% |
| Category | XLK | FTEC |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $127.3B | $22.15B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.43% | 0.37% |
- Deepest liquidity and options market of any tech sector ETF
- Low expense ratio for a sector fund
- Direct exposure to the largest US tech companies
- One of the lowest expense ratios among tech sector ETFs
- Includes more mid-cap tech names than the narrower XLK
- Fidelity's zero-commission trading for Fidelity account holders
- Extremely concentrated in a handful of mega-cap names
- GICS classification excludes some tech-adjacent names like Amazon or Meta
- High sensitivity to rate expectations and AI-spending sentiment
- Less liquid and no meaningful options market versus XLK
- Still concentrated in the same mega-cap leaders at the top
- Sector-fund concentration risk applies equally to both
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