ALAI vs XLFI

ALAI vs XLFI

Which is better, ALAI or XLFI?

ALAI has been ahead.

XLFI has a lower expense ratio. ALAI led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: XLFIHigher Returns: ALAI

MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricALAIXLFI
Expense Ratio0.58%0.35%Best
AUM$1.6B$9M
Dividend Yield1.16%11.99%
Holdings724
YTD Return+23.19%Best+1.07%
1Y Return+22.58%Best+3.90%
Volatility (annualized)26.3%11.1%Best
Max Drawdown-19.5%-11.9%Best
$10,000 over 1.2 years$13,949Best$10,679
Fund FamilyAlgerState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionApr 4, 2024Jul 29, 2025

Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).

ALAI vs XLFI growth

Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.2 years both funds cover.

Compare ALAI against instead:ALAI vs SPYALAI vs QQQALAI vs VOOALAI vs VTIXLFI against:XLFI vs VXUS

ALAI vs XLFI Performance

Alger AI Enablers & Adopters ETF (ALAI) is an ETF from Alger and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLFI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ALAI returned +22.58% while XLFI returned +3.90%. Year to date, ALAI is up 23.19% versus a gain of 1.07% for XLFI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

ALAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.3% compared with 11.1% for XLFI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -19.5% for ALAI and -11.9% for XLFI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.13. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ALAI charges 0.58% per year while XLFI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $35 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ALAI currently yields 1.16% against 11.99% for XLFI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 1 holding in ALAI and 2 in XLFI, totalling 2.2% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in ALAI and 2 in XLFI, against full books of 72 and 4.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of ALAI and XLFI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

ALAIXLFI

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ALAI or XLFI?

ALAI has an expense ratio of 0.58% while XLFI charges 0.35%. XLFI is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ALAI or XLFI?

Over the past year ALAI returned +22.58% vs +3.90% for XLFI, so ALAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ALAI annualized +31.96% vs +5.63% for XLFI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ALAI or XLFI?

ALAI has been the more volatile fund at 26.3% annualized versus 11.1% for XLFI. Worst drawdown: ALAI -19.5% vs XLFI -11.9%.

Should I hold both ALAI and XLFI?

ALAI and XLFI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.13, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, ALAI or XLFI?

ALAI yields 1.16% while XLFI yields 11.99%, so XLFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is XLFI better than ALAI?

XLFI has a lower expense ratio. ALAI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.