XLE vs VDE: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETFVanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
XLE vs VDE at a glance
This page compares State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) with Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares (VDE) using prices and distributions through September 25, 2026. The numbers update automatically after each trading session.
With dividends reinvested, XLE has led over the last 12 months at +39.99% versus +38.82% for VDE. XLE currently yields 2.45% (trailing 12-month) against 2.35% for VDE. Across five years the total-return gap is +190.26% for XLE vs +185.71% for VDE.
XLE leads on both current yield and 1-year total return. Yields and returns move with markets, so check the longer periods below before drawing conclusions.
| Metric | XLE | VDE |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $62.04 | $173.71 |
| Dividend yield | 2.45% (TTM) | 2.35% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $1.52 (4 payments) | $4.08 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | State Street | Vanguard |
| Inception | — | — |
Performance: XLE vs VDE
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| XLE | VDE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21, 2026 | $0.380 | Sep 23, 2026 | $1.05 |
| Jun 22, 2026 | $0.385 | Jun 24, 2026 | $1.03 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | $0.385 | Mar 24, 2026 | $0.969 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | $0.373 | Dec 17, 2025 | $1.03 |
| Sep 22, 2025 | $0.3745 | Sep 24, 2025 | $1.00 |
| Jun 23, 2025 | $0.359 | Jun 26, 2025 | $0.933 |
| Mar 24, 2025 | $0.358 | Mar 25, 2025 | $0.949 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | $0.350 | Dec 18, 2024 | $0.966 |
| Sep 23, 2024 | $0.3635 | Sep 27, 2024 | $1.05 |
| Jun 24, 2024 | $0.3575 | Jun 28, 2024 | $0.948 |
| Mar 18, 2024 | $0.367 | Mar 22, 2024 | $0.956 |
| Dec 18, 2023 | $0.401 | Dec 19, 2023 | $1.06 |
XLE vs VDE: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, XLE or VDE?
As of September 25, 2026, XLE yields 2.45% (trailing 12-month) and VDE yields 2.35% (trailing 12-month), so XLE currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, XLE or VDE?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, XLE returned +39.99% and VDE returned +38.82%. Over five years, XLE returned +190.26% and VDE returned +185.71%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in XLE vs VDE be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $13,999 in XLE and $13,882 in VDE.
How often do XLE and VDE pay dividends?
XLE pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and VDE pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is XLE or VDE the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
Related comparisons
More side-by-side comparisons with XLE and VDE.
Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.