ETF Versus

JNK vs XLC

State Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF vs State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

JNK State Street

State Street SPDR Bloomberg High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to below-investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds offering higher yields. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.40%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 6.66%. Launched in 2007, the fund has a 19-year track record.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.40% Yield: 6.66% Since: 2007-12-04
XLC State Street

State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLC) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to us sector - communication securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.25%. Launched in 2018, the fund has a 8-year track record.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.09% Yield: 1.25% Since: 2018-06-19

Quick Verdict

XLC is significantly cheaper at 0.09% vs 0.40% expense ratio, saving you approximately $607 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, XLC has significantly outperformed with a 15.0% return vs 0.6%. Income investors may prefer JNK for its higher yield (6.7% vs 1.3%).

Key Metrics

Metric JNK XLC
Expense Ratio 0.40% 0.09%
Dividend Yield 6.7% 1.3%
Fund Family State Street State Street
Category US High Yield Bond US Sector - Communication

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

60 80 100 120 140 160 2021-04 2022-06 2023-10 2024-12 2026-04
JNK -12.0%
XLC +46.3%

Performance Comparison

Period JNK XLC Difference
1 Month -0.76% -5.56% +4.80%
3 Months -1.55% -4.70% +3.15%
6 Months -1.81% -4.39% +2.58%
YTD -1.55% -4.70% +3.15%
1 Year +0.56% +15.02% -14.46%
3 Years +3.73% +91.38% -87.65%
5 Years -11.96% +46.29% -58.25%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period JNK Fees XLC Fees You Save
$10,000 10 years $786 $179 $607
$10,000 20 years $3,334 $771 $2,563
$10,000 30 years $10,601 $2,486 $8,115
$50,000 10 years $3,932 $896 $3,036
$50,000 30 years $53,003 $12,428 $40,575
$100,000 30 years $106,005 $24,855 $81,150

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric JNK XLC
Annualized Volatility 7.7% 20.7%
Max Drawdown -20.6% -47.2%
Sharpe Ratio -0.88 0.26

Dividend Comparison

Metric JNK XLC
Annual Dividend (per share) $6.37 $1.40
Dividend Yield 6.66% 1.25%
Distribution Frequency Monthly Quarterly

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose XLC if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose XLC if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose JNK if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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