Before you continue
The information displayed on The Common Catalyst is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and should not be relied upon as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or financial product.
By continuing, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own financial decisions and should consult a qualified professional when appropriate.
Section
The current state of financial markets across every major asset class.
Before you continue
The information displayed on The Common Catalyst is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and should not be relied upon as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or financial product.
By continuing, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own financial decisions and should consult a qualified professional when appropriate.
Section
The current state of financial markets across every major asset class.
Before you continue
The information displayed on The Common Catalyst is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and should not be relied upon as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or financial product.
By continuing, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own financial decisions and should consult a qualified professional when appropriate.
Section
The current state of financial markets across every major asset class.
U.S. equity leadership
Follow market leadership across the business cycle, compare growth with downside risk, and translate the signal into a diversified sector framework.
Sector in focus · XLU
Falling yields, regulated earnings, and power-demand growth often improve relative appeal.
1Y profile
-8.0%
Total return
16.7%
Volatility
-15.0%
Max drawdown
-0.49
Risk / reward
Primary risks
High capital intensity makes the group sensitive to rates and financing costs.
Performance leader · 1Y
Energy
XLE
Lowest realized risk
Consumer Staples
Annualized volatility
Breadth
8 of 11
Sectors positive in period
Relative performance
Total return, rebased to 0% at the start of the selected period
ETF total-return proxies. Click any legend item to add or remove that sector. As of 9/23/2026.
Return and downside
| Rank / sector | Return | Ann. growth | Volatility | Max drawdown | Risk / reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Energy XLE | +44.3% | +45.1% | 23.1% | -14.3% | 1.95 |
2 Technology XLK | +37.9% | +38.6% | 23.4% | -13.3% | 1.65 |
3 Health Care XLV | +18.5% | +18.8% | 15.7% | -10.2% | 1.20 |
4 Materials XLB | +13.9% | +14.2% | 17.4% | -12.0% | 0.81 |
5 Industrials XLI | +11.4% | +11.6% | 13.8% | -9.9% | 0.84 |
6 Consumer Staples XLP | +8.5% | +8.7% | 13.1% | -9.7% | 0.66 |
7 Financials XLF | +3.1% | +3.2% | 13.6% | -13.8% | 0.23 |
8 Real Estate XLRE | +2.9% | +3.0% | 15.2% | -8.2% | 0.20 |
9 Communication Services XLC | -2.1% | -2.1% | 15.4% | -11.1% | -0.14 |
10 Consumer Discretionary XLY | -6.2% | -6.3% | 19.0% | -14.9% | -0.33 |
11 Utilities XLU | -8.0% | -8.2% | 16.7% | -15.0% | -0.49 |