BetterThanSPY

Relative Intelligence · Electric Utilities

Updated · refreshed every trading day

How WEC Energy Group (WEC) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

The short answer

Returns
+8.8% a year over the past 5 years, against +11.7% for the S&P 500. $10,000 grew to $27,900 over 10 years, against $42,000 in SPY. Details ↓
Risk
More volatile than the S&P 500: volatility 19.1% against 17.2%; worst decline in 10 years −32.3% against −33.7%. Details ↓
Better options
None of its 24 popular alternatives earned more with less volatility over the past 5 years. Details ↓
Track record
WEC beat the S&P 500 in 14 of 29 full calendar years, and fell less than it in 10 of 10 major crashes. Details ↓

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on WEC alone. It places WEC (WEC Energy Group, Inc.) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where WEC stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: WEC's full trading record, from October 1986 through October 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of November 2, 2026.

Data as of November 2, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against WEC →Chart WEC vs. 24 alternatives →

This page answers the following questions about WEC

Key findings

Not AI-generated

These key findings are generated by our proprietary relative intelligence engine, directly from the data on this page.

How much would $10,000 in WEC have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in WEC over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of WEC over the same span and WEC's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of October 1997 to the end of October 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 254 of the 1,050 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of WEC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$10,000$100,000$1M$10M199720022007201220172022$10,000$100,000$1M$10M19972004201120182025
  • AAPL$27M+270,510% total · +31.3% a year
  • AMZN$9M+94,460% total · +26.7% a year
  • MSFT$526,184+5,162% total · +14.6% a year
  • NEE$328,276+3,183% total · +12.8% a year
  • ETR$278,069+2,681% total · +12.1% a year
  • WEC$248,556+2,386% total · +11.7% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$135,020+1,250% total · +9.4% a year
  • PNW$104,626+946% total · +8.4% a year
  • AEP$97,603+876% total · +8.2% a year
  • EVRG$90,925+809% total · +7.9% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

From the end of October 2021 to the end of October 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,436 of the 3,626 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of WEC; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,000202120222023202420252026$0$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000202120222023202420252026
  • PWR$51,569+416% total · +38.8% a year
  • ETR$25,458+155% total · +20.5% a year
  • ATO$21,180+112% total · +16.2% a year
  • PNW$20,509+105% total · +15.4% a year
  • AEP$18,399+84.0% total · +13.0% a year
  • SO$18,049+80.5% total · +12.5% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$17,593+75.9% total · +12.0% a year
  • EVRG$16,452+64.5% total · +10.5% a year
  • IDA$16,150+61.5% total · +10.1% a year
  • WEC$15,285+52.8% total · +8.9% a year
Change the dates or add tickers to this chart in EasyCompare

WEC at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$38B
Industry
Regulated Electric
Price history from
October 1986

Returns

Past 1 year
+9.3%total return
Past 3 years
+55.2%+15.8% a year
Past 5 years
+52.5%+8.8% a year
Past 10 years
+179%+10.8% a year
Best calendar year
+37.0%2019
Worst calendar year
−34.8%1999
Losing years
4 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
19.1%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.54return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−45.0%Oct 1998 to Mar 2000
From its all-time high
At its highwithin 1%

WEC against the whole market

Where WEC ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does WEC rank among all stocks?

This section ranks WEC on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how WEC stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureWECRankStanding
1-year return+9.3%1,711 of 3,272bottom 49%
3-year return+55.2%1,454 of 2,999top 48%
5-year return+52.5%1,074 of 2,886top 37%
10-year return+179%997 of 2,186top 46%
Volatility, 5 years19.1%68 of 2,886top 2%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.54814 of 2,886top 28%
Worst decline, past 10 years−32.3%35 of 2,183top 2%

What has beaten WEC on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). WEC sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than WEC with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to WEC; faint dots are 85 more of the 208 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,627 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%16.0%18.0%20.0%22.0%24.0%6.0%8.0%10.0%12.0%14.0%16.0%18.0%20.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than WECBKLC: +12.8% a year, volatility 17.3%QDPL: +10.9% a year, volatility 15.0%QVML: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.6%FTQI: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.8%JNJ: +13.4% a year, volatility 18.0%SIXA: +12.9% a year, volatility 12.7%KO: +14.6% a year, volatility 16.9%VIG: +10.5% a year, volatility 14.1%SCHD: +10.5% a year, volatility 14.4%VYM: +11.6% a year, volatility 13.8%QUAL: +10.6% a year, volatility 17.3%VOE: +10.0% a year, volatility 15.8%FNDF: +13.6% a year, volatility 16.3%VYMI: +13.3% a year, volatility 14.8%ACWI: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.3%HDV: +13.4% a year, volatility 13.0%MGV: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.4%DGRW: +11.2% a year, volatility 14.0%SPHQ: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%AVDE: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.4%RWL: +13.5% a year, volatility 14.4%FDVV: +13.3% a year, volatility 14.6%FDL: +14.8% a year, volatility 14.5%DBEF: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.8%BBCA: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%JQUA: +13.0% a year, volatility 15.7%DIVO: +10.5% a year, volatility 11.9%GCOW: +14.5% a year, volatility 13.6%SIXH: +10.8% a year, volatility 10.3%DSI: +10.4% a year, volatility 18.2%WTV: +13.5% a year, volatility 17.0%EWU: +11.7% a year, volatility 16.4%DEM: +9.8% a year, volatility 15.5%HDEF: +13.0% a year, volatility 14.2%PWV: +13.6% a year, volatility 14.2%HFXI: +11.1% a year, volatility 15.3%DHS: +12.6% a year, volatility 13.9%DSTL: +11.4% a year, volatility 16.2%RDIV: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.4%RODM: +10.7% a year, volatility 13.5%DDWM: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.4%FNDB: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.1%FGD: +12.0% a year, volatility 14.8%ILCV: +12.4% a year, volatility 14.1%IHE: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.8%SDOG: +11.3% a year, volatility 15.3%PKW: +10.4% a year, volatility 17.3%AUSF: +14.1% a year, volatility 13.6%FVAL: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.4%FEX: +10.0% a year, volatility 16.5%VFMF: +14.0% a year, volatility 17.6%FTXH: +11.9% a year, volatility 16.9%PPH: +11.5% a year, volatility 15.9%IQDF: +11.0% a year, volatility 15.8%HLAL: +12.2% a year, volatility 18.1%ROUS: +11.8% a year, volatility 14.4%DGT: +13.9% a year, volatility 15.0%FYLD: +13.1% a year, volatility 16.0%DBEU: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.4%IDOG: +14.2% a year, volatility 15.6%IXG: +12.6% a year, volatility 17.2%DJD: +12.3% a year, volatility 13.4%FIVA: +13.0% a year, volatility 16.4%PJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 16.6%IPKW: +11.3% a year, volatility 17.0%FSEP: +9.8% a year, volatility 10.9%FFLC: +15.3% a year, volatility 16.8%INFL: +11.7% a year, volatility 17.8%QSPT: +10.9% a year, volatility 14.9%IGLD: +11.4% a year, volatility 16.2%XLI: +11.7% a year, volatility 17.6%AVDV: +13.6% a year, volatility 17.4%COWZ: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.6%EMLP: +15.8% a year, volatility 14.4%IFRA: +12.1% a year, volatility 17.8%FTGC: +12.3% a year, volatility 15.6%MLPA: +16.1% a year, volatility 17.2%ICOW: +10.8% a year, volatility 16.8%RLY: +10.0% a year, volatility 13.3%HEDJ: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.9%RAAX: +11.2% a year, volatility 15.7%EDIV: +11.4% a year, volatility 13.8%EXI: +10.5% a year, volatility 17.3%FXU: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.7%VUSE: +10.6% a year, volatility 17.2%WEC: +8.8% a year, volatility 19.1%SPY (S&P 500): +11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%PNW: +15.5% a year, volatility 19.9%EVRG: +10.6% a year, volatility 19.0%SO: +12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%ATO: +16.1% a year, volatility 18.4%AEP: +12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%ED: +13.0% a year, volatility 18.9%FTS: +10.0% a year, volatility 16.5%OGE: +12.4% a year, volatility 18.8%NWE: +11.8% a year, volatility 21.6%NI: +16.3% a year, volatility 20.3%CNP: +13.0% a year, volatility 19.7%TXNM: +7.9% a year, volatility 14.9%DFAC: +10.8% a year, volatility 17.0%FJUL: +11.0% a year, volatility 11.0%DFIV: +15.0% a year, volatility 16.4%AVLV: +13.7% a year, volatility 16.9%JAVA: +11.5% a year, volatility 14.5%NVS: +18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%BRK-A: +13.9% a year, volatility 17.2%SCHY: +9.7% a year, volatility 13.3%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%EPD: +19.0% a year, volatility 17.1%WECSPY (S&P 500)PNWEVRGSOATOAEPEDFTSOGENWENITXNMDFACFJULDFIVAVLVJAVANVSBRK-ASCHYLVHIEPD7.5%10.0%12.5%15.0%17.5%20.0%22.5%5.0%7.5%10.0%12.5%15.0%17.5%20.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than WECBKLC: +12.8% a year, volatility 17.3%QDPL: +10.9% a year, volatility 15.0%QVML: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.6%FTQI: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.8%JNJ: +13.4% a year, volatility 18.0%SIXA: +12.9% a year, volatility 12.7%KO: +14.6% a year, volatility 16.9%VIG: +10.5% a year, volatility 14.1%SCHD: +10.5% a year, volatility 14.4%VYM: +11.6% a year, volatility 13.8%QUAL: +10.6% a year, volatility 17.3%VOE: +10.0% a year, volatility 15.8%FNDF: +13.6% a year, volatility 16.3%VYMI: +13.3% a year, volatility 14.8%ACWI: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.3%HDV: +13.4% a year, volatility 13.0%MGV: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.4%DGRW: +11.2% a year, volatility 14.0%SPHQ: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%AVDE: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.4%RWL: +13.5% a year, volatility 14.4%FDVV: +13.3% a year, volatility 14.6%FDL: +14.8% a year, volatility 14.5%DBEF: +12.8% a year, volatility 13.8%BBCA: +11.5% a year, volatility 16.7%JQUA: +13.0% a year, volatility 15.7%DIVO: +10.5% a year, volatility 11.9%GCOW: +14.5% a year, volatility 13.6%SIXH: +10.8% a year, volatility 10.3%DSI: +10.4% a year, volatility 18.2%WTV: +13.5% a year, volatility 17.0%EWU: +11.7% a year, volatility 16.4%DEM: +9.8% a year, volatility 15.5%HDEF: +13.0% a year, volatility 14.2%PWV: +13.6% a year, volatility 14.2%HFXI: +11.1% a year, volatility 15.3%DHS: +12.6% a year, volatility 13.9%DSTL: +11.4% a year, volatility 16.2%RDIV: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.4%RODM: +10.7% a year, volatility 13.5%DDWM: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.4%FNDB: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.1%FGD: +12.0% a year, volatility 14.8%ILCV: +12.4% a year, volatility 14.1%IHE: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.8%SDOG: +11.3% a year, volatility 15.3%PKW: +10.4% a year, volatility 17.3%AUSF: +14.1% a year, volatility 13.6%FVAL: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.4%FEX: +10.0% a year, volatility 16.5%VFMF: +14.0% a year, volatility 17.6%FTXH: +11.9% a year, volatility 16.9%PPH: +11.5% a year, volatility 15.9%IQDF: +11.0% a year, volatility 15.8%HLAL: +12.2% a year, volatility 18.1%ROUS: +11.8% a year, volatility 14.4%DGT: +13.9% a year, volatility 15.0%FYLD: +13.1% a year, volatility 16.0%DBEU: +11.0% a year, volatility 14.4%IDOG: +14.2% a year, volatility 15.6%IXG: +12.6% a year, volatility 17.2%DJD: +12.3% a year, volatility 13.4%FIVA: +13.0% a year, volatility 16.4%PJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 16.6%IPKW: +11.3% a year, volatility 17.0%FSEP: +9.8% a year, volatility 10.9%FFLC: +15.3% a year, volatility 16.8%INFL: +11.7% a year, volatility 17.8%QSPT: +10.9% a year, volatility 14.9%IGLD: +11.4% a year, volatility 16.2%XLI: +11.7% a year, volatility 17.6%AVDV: +13.6% a year, volatility 17.4%COWZ: +11.4% a year, volatility 17.6%EMLP: +15.8% a year, volatility 14.4%IFRA: +12.1% a year, volatility 17.8%FTGC: +12.3% a year, volatility 15.6%MLPA: +16.1% a year, volatility 17.2%ICOW: +10.8% a year, volatility 16.8%RLY: +10.0% a year, volatility 13.3%HEDJ: +9.9% a year, volatility 16.9%RAAX: +11.2% a year, volatility 15.7%EDIV: +11.4% a year, volatility 13.8%EXI: +10.5% a year, volatility 17.3%FXU: +12.1% a year, volatility 16.7%VUSE: +10.6% a year, volatility 17.2%WEC: +8.8% a year, volatility 19.1%SPY (S&P 500): +11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%PNW: +15.5% a year, volatility 19.9%EVRG: +10.6% a year, volatility 19.0%SO: +12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%ATO: +16.1% a year, volatility 18.4%AEP: +12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%ED: +13.0% a year, volatility 18.9%FTS: +10.0% a year, volatility 16.5%OGE: +12.4% a year, volatility 18.8%NWE: +11.8% a year, volatility 21.6%NI: +16.3% a year, volatility 20.3%CNP: +13.0% a year, volatility 19.7%TXNM: +7.9% a year, volatility 14.9%DFAC: +10.8% a year, volatility 17.0%FJUL: +11.0% a year, volatility 11.0%DFIV: +15.0% a year, volatility 16.4%AVLV: +13.7% a year, volatility 16.9%JAVA: +11.5% a year, volatility 14.5%NVS: +18.5% a year, volatility 20.7%BRK-A: +13.9% a year, volatility 17.2%SCHY: +9.7% a year, volatility 13.3%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%EPD: +19.0% a year, volatility 17.1%WECSPY (S&P 500)PNWEVRGSOATOAEPEDFTSNITXNMDFACFJULDFIVAVLVJAVANVSBRK-ASCHYLVHIEPD
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than WEC?

Investments that beat WEC over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat WEC over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks WEC's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than WEC follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than WEC's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× WEC's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than WEC's.

Screen the whole market against WEC for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with WEC?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
WECWEC Energy Group, Inc. · this page
+8.8%19.1%0.54−32.3%+179%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+11.7%17.2%0.73−33.7%+320%0.350.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against WEC. 6 of 24 passed at least one test.
PNWPinnacle West Capital Corporation · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+15.5%19.9%0.83−39.3%+111%0.84—
EVRGEvergy, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Higher return in most periods+10.6%19.0%0.63−38.8%+118%0.81—
SOThe Southern Company · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+12.7%18.9%0.73−38.4%+184%0.80—
ATOAtmos Energy Corporation · Gas Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+16.1%18.4%0.91−32.9%+212%0.77—
AEPAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+12.8%20.2%0.70−32.9%+193%0.83—
EDConsolidated Edison, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+13.0%18.9%0.74−30.9%+125%0.87—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Electric Utilities and the categories next to it (Independent Power Producers, Diversified Utilities, Engineering & Construction, Gas Utilities), plus WEC's specific themes. 6 of 69 passed at least one test.
FTSFortis Inc. · Electric Utilities
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+10.0%16.5%0.66−34.3%+168%0.84—
OGEOGE Energy Corp. · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher return in most periods+12.4%18.8%0.72−48.9%+156%0.88—
NWENorthwestern Energy Group Inc · Electric Utilities
Higher return in most periods+11.8%21.6%0.63−39.3%+117%0.60—
NINiSource Inc · Gas Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+16.3%20.3%0.85−30.9%+179%0.87—
CNPCenterPoint Energy, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Higher return, similar volatility+13.0%19.7%0.72−59.8%+163%0.75—
TXNMTXNM Energy, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Similar return, lower volatility+7.9%14.9%0.59−46.4%+152%0.31—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 535 of 3,540 passed at least one test.
DFACDimensional - US Core Equity 2 ETF · US Total Market
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+10.8%17.0%0.69−23.1%—0.400.21%
FJULFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July · US Equity Buffer
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+11.0%11.0%1.01−13.1%—0.350.85%
DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Large-Cap Value
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+15.0%16.4%0.94−25.4%—0.480.27%
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+13.7%16.9%0.85−19.5%—0.460.15%
JAVAJPMorgan Active Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+11.5%14.5%0.83−16.5%—0.540.44%
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+18.5%20.7%0.93−26.8%+265%0.57—
BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods+13.9%17.2%0.85−30.4%+288%0.55—
SCHYSchwab International Dividend Equity ETF · International Dividend Equity
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+9.7%13.3%0.77−24.0%—0.570.08%
What these numbers mean for WEC
Annual return
WEC returned 8.8% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 11.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $15,300. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
WEC's volatility over the past 5 years was 19.1%, 1.1 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, WEC's return lands within 19.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
WEC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.54, against 0.73 for the S&P 500, so WEC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
WEC's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 32.3%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 32.3% fall takes a 47.7% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, WEC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.35 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against WEC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a WEC holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 208 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than WEC with less volatility

Out of 3,627 tested over 5 years. The strongest 94 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with WECExpense
1
DFACDimensional - US Core Equity 2 ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+10.8%17.0%0.69−23.1%—0.400.21%
2
FJULFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - July · US Equity Buffer
Whole market+11.0%11.0%1.01−13.1%—0.350.85%
3
DFIVDimensional - International Value ETF · International Large-Cap Value
Whole market+15.0%16.4%0.94−25.4%—0.480.27%
4
AVLVAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+13.7%16.9%0.85−19.5%—0.460.15%
5
JAVAJPMorgan Active Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+11.5%14.5%0.83−16.5%—0.540.44%
6
BKLCBNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.8%17.3%0.79−26.2%—0.330.00%
7
BRK-ABerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.9%17.2%0.85−30.4%+288%0.55—
8
QDPLPacer Metaurus US Large Cap Dividend Multiplier 400 ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.9%15.0%0.76−22.6%—0.320.60%
9
QVMLInvesco S&P 500 QVM Multi-factor ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+12.1%16.6%0.78−23.5%—0.360.11%
10
FTQIFirst Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF · Nasdaq Options Income
Whole market+11.0%14.8%0.78−19.5%+121%0.280.75%
11
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+13.4%18.0%0.80−27.4%+209%0.50—
12
SIXAETC 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.9%12.7%1.03−18.4%—0.570.31%
13
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+204%0.570.40%
14
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Nonalcoholic Beverages
Whole market+14.6%16.9%0.90−37.0%+211%0.60—
15
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · Dividend Growth
Whole market+10.5%14.1%0.78−31.7%+267%0.580.04%
16
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.5%14.4%0.77−33.4%+264%0.590.06%
17
VYMVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+11.6%13.8%0.87−35.2%+216%0.600.04%
18
QUALiShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+10.6%17.3%0.67−34.1%+293%0.400.15%
19
VOEVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF · Mid-Cap Value
Whole market+10.0%15.8%0.69−43.2%+196%0.610.05%
20
FNDFSchwab Fundamental International Large Company Index ETF · International Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+13.6%16.3%0.87−40.2%+199%0.470.25%
21
VYMIVanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+13.3%14.8%0.92−40.0%+178%0.480.07%
22
ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+9.9%16.3%0.67−33.5%+228%0.400.32%
23
HDViShares Core High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+13.4%13.0%1.03−37.0%+184%0.690.08%
24
MGVVanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.8%13.4%0.97−35.4%+254%0.600.05%
25
DGRWWisdomTree U.S. Quality Dividend Growth Fund · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+11.2%14.0%0.83−32.0%+280%0.480.28%
26
SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+11.5%16.7%0.74−31.6%+297%0.440.20%
27
AVDEAvantis International Equity ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+9.9%16.4%0.66−37.0%—0.480.23%
28
RWLInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+13.5%14.4%0.96−36.1%+296%0.530.39%
29
FDVVFidelity High Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+13.3%14.6%0.93−40.2%+264%0.520.15%
30
FDLFirst Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+14.8%14.5%1.03−41.4%+216%0.650.43%
31
DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity
Whole market+12.8%13.8%0.94−32.5%+215%0.440.35%
32
BBCAJPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF · International Equity
Whole market+11.5%16.7%0.74−42.8%—0.540.19%
33
JQUAJPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+13.0%15.7%0.86−32.9%—0.440.12%
34
DIVOAmplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF · Covered Call Income
Whole market+10.5%11.9%0.91−30.0%—0.560.56%
35
GCOWPacer Global Cash Cows Dividend ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+14.5%13.6%1.07−37.6%+175%0.590.60%
36
SIXHETC 6 Meridian Hedged Equity Index Option ETF · Hedged Equity
Whole market+10.8%10.3%1.05−11.7%—0.570.31%
37
FTSFortis Inc. · Electric Utilities
Same or nearby category+10.0%16.5%0.66−34.3%+168%0.84—
38
DSIiShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF · US ESG Equity
Whole market+10.4%18.2%0.64−34.1%+317%0.300.25%
39
WTVWisdomTree U.S. Value Fund · US Value Equity
Whole market+13.5%17.0%0.84−42.2%+312%0.450.12%
40
EWUiShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF · International Equity
Whole market+11.7%16.4%0.76−43.3%+136%0.550.50%
41
DEMWisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund · International Equity
Whole market+9.8%15.5%0.68−37.8%+128%0.330.63%
42
HDEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+13.0%14.2%0.94−36.4%+137%0.600.09%
43
PWVInvesco Large Cap Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+13.6%14.2%0.98−37.6%+230%0.560.55%
44
HFXINYLI FTSE International Equity Currency Neutral ETF · International Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+11.1%15.3%0.77−32.4%+184%0.430.19%
45
DHSWisdomTree U.S. High Dividend Fund · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+12.6%13.9%0.93−37.4%+173%0.660.38%
46
DSTLDistillate U.S. Fundamental Stability & Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+11.4%16.2%0.75−33.1%—0.510.39%
47
RDIVInvesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+13.4%17.4%0.81−50.0%+201%0.550.39%
48
RODMHartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+10.7%13.5%0.82−36.0%+145%0.570.29%
49
DDWMWisdomTree Dynamic International Equity Fund · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+12.1%13.4%0.92−35.0%+154%0.520.40%
50
FNDBSchwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+12.9%15.1%0.89−38.1%+291%0.520.25%
51
FGDFirst Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund · Global Equity
Whole market+12.0%14.8%0.85−44.8%+164%0.480.55%
52
ILCViShares Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.4%14.1%0.91−35.5%+224%0.530.04%
53
IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.8%16.8%0.80−29.6%+176%0.450.37%
54
SDOGALPS Sector Dividend Dogs ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+11.3%15.3%0.78−43.6%+176%0.620.36%
55
PKWInvesco BuyBack Achievers ETF · US Buyback Equity
Whole market+10.4%17.3%0.66−40.9%+267%0.460.63%
56
AUSFGlobal X - Adaptive U.S. Factor ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+14.1%13.6%1.04−44.2%—0.530.27%
57
FVALFidelity Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.1%16.4%0.78−37.3%+291%0.390.15%
58
FEXFirst Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund · Multifactor Equity
Whole market+10.0%16.5%0.66−39.5%+246%0.520.57%
59
VFMFVanguard U.S. Multifactor ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+14.0%17.6%0.83−41.3%—0.420.18%
60
FTXHFirst Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.9%16.9%0.75−32.1%+175%0.440.60%
61
PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.5%15.9%0.77−29.7%+175%0.480.36%
62
IQDFNorthern Trust International Quality Dividend ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+11.0%15.8%0.74−39.8%+143%0.430.49%
63
EPDEnterprise Products Partners L.P. · Oil & Gas Midstream
Whole market+19.0%17.1%1.11−58.1%+205%0.47—
64
HLALWahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF · Faith-Based Equity
Whole market+12.2%18.1%0.73−33.6%—0.250.50%
65
ROUSHartford Multifactor US Equity ETF · US Multifactor Equity
Whole market+11.8%14.4%0.85−35.5%+239%0.550.19%
66
DGTState Street SPDR Global Dow ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+13.9%15.0%0.94−34.4%+270%0.530.50%
67
FYLDCambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+13.1%16.0%0.85−44.6%+205%0.460.59%
68
DBEUXtrackers MSCI Europe Hedged Equity ETF · European Equity
Whole market+11.0%14.4%0.80−34.5%+190%0.490.46%
69
IDOGALPS International Sector Dividend Dogs ETF · International Dividend Equity
Whole market+14.2%15.6%0.93−37.3%+186%0.490.50%
70
IXGiShares Global Financials ETF · Financial Sector Equity
Whole market+12.6%17.2%0.78−43.5%+229%0.430.38%
71
DJDInvesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF · High Dividend Yield
Whole market+12.3%13.4%0.94−34.7%+235%0.650.07%
72
FIVAFidelity International Value Factor ETF · International Large-Cap Value
Whole market+13.0%16.4%0.83−39.7%—0.480.18%
73
PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.2%16.6%0.72−34.0%+154%0.400.58%
74
IPKWInvesco International BuyBack Achievers ETF · International Equity
Whole market+11.3%17.0%0.72−47.3%+200%0.420.55%
75
FSEPFT Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - September · S&P 500 Buffer
Whole market+9.8%10.9%0.92−13.8%—0.340.85%
76
FFLCFidelity Fundamental Large Cap Core ETF · Active Core Equity
Whole market+15.3%16.8%0.93−19.7%—0.320.38%
77
INFLHorizon Kinetics Inflation Beneficiaries ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+11.7%17.8%0.71−21.3%—0.590.85%
78
QSPTFT Vest Nasdaq-100 Buffer ETF - September · Nasdaq-100 Buffer
Whole market+10.9%14.9%0.77−22.6%—0.180.90%
79
IGLDFT Vest Gold Strategy Target Income ETF · Gold
Whole market+11.4%16.2%0.75−26.1%—0.220.85%
80
XLIState Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF · US Industrials
Whole market+11.7%17.6%0.72−42.3%+256%0.520.08%
81
AVDVAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF · International Equity
Whole market+13.6%17.4%0.82−43.0%—0.390.36%
82
COWZPacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+11.4%17.6%0.70−38.7%—0.450.49%
83
EMLPFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund · Energy Infrastructure
Whole market+15.8%14.4%1.09−43.6%+169%0.750.95%
84
IFRAiShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF · Infrastructure Equity
Whole market+12.1%17.8%0.73−41.0%—0.620.30%
85
FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Broad Commodities
Whole market+12.3%15.6%0.83−35.9%+126%0.170.98%
86
MLPAGlobal X - MLP ETF · Energy Equity
Whole market+16.1%17.2%0.96−74.3%+91.5%0.380.77%
87
ICOWPacer Developed Markets International Cash Cows 100 ETF · International Large-Cap Value
Whole market+10.8%16.8%0.70−43.5%—0.480.65%
88
RLYState Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF · Inflation Protection
Whole market+10.0%13.3%0.79−34.2%+131%0.560.50%
89
HEDJWisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund · European Equity
Whole market+9.9%16.9%0.64−38.2%+170%0.410.58%
90
RAAXVanEck Real Assets ETF · Real Assets
Whole market+11.2%15.7%0.76−33.9%—0.570.55%
91
EDIVState Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF · International Equity
Whole market+11.4%13.8%0.85−40.7%+122%0.380.49%
92
EXIiShares Global Industrials ETF · Global Industrials
Whole market+10.5%17.3%0.67−39.6%+211%0.500.38%
93
FXUFirst Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund · Utilities Equity
Whole market+12.1%16.7%0.78−34.8%+154%0.880.61%
94
VUSEVident U.S. Equity Strategy ETF · US Equity
Whole market+10.6%17.2%0.68−43.9%+214%0.370.50%

WEC against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against WEC, compared period by period and year by year.

How do WEC's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at WEC, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than WEC with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityWEC: 8.8% a year, volatility 19.1%SPY (S&P 500): 11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%EVRG: 10.6% a year, volatility 19.0%ATO: 16.1% a year, volatility 18.4%SO: 12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%ED: 13.0% a year, volatility 18.9%D: 2.3% a year, volatility 22.8%LNT: 8.5% a year, volatility 19.9%NEE: 2.6% a year, volatility 26.9%AWK: −1.5% a year, volatility 23.2%AES: −6.3% a year, volatility 37.3%FE: 8.3% a year, volatility 19.4%EXC: 7.7% a year, volatility 20.9%XEL: 7.5% a year, volatility 20.9%PEG: 6.6% a year, volatility 20.6%ES: 0.2% a year, volatility 24.0%POR: 2.4% a year, volatility 20.9%PNW: 15.5% a year, volatility 19.9%PWR: 39.0% a year, volatility 37.5%ETR: 20.3% a year, volatility 22.5%AEP: 12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%IDA: 10.0% a year, volatility 19.3%DUK: 8.7% a year, volatility 18.1%PPL: 8.0% a year, volatility 19.0%DTE: 7.2% a year, volatility 19.1%CMS: 6.5% a year, volatility 19.1%WECSPY (S&P 500)ATODNEEAWKAESFEEXCPEGPORPNWPWRETRIDADUKCMS15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityWEC: 8.8% a year, volatility 19.1%SPY (S&P 500): 11.7% a year, volatility 17.2%EVRG: 10.6% a year, volatility 19.0%ATO: 16.1% a year, volatility 18.4%SO: 12.7% a year, volatility 18.9%ED: 13.0% a year, volatility 18.9%D: 2.3% a year, volatility 22.8%LNT: 8.5% a year, volatility 19.9%NEE: 2.6% a year, volatility 26.9%AWK: −1.5% a year, volatility 23.2%AES: −6.3% a year, volatility 37.3%FE: 8.3% a year, volatility 19.4%EXC: 7.7% a year, volatility 20.9%XEL: 7.5% a year, volatility 20.9%PEG: 6.6% a year, volatility 20.6%ES: 0.2% a year, volatility 24.0%POR: 2.4% a year, volatility 20.9%PNW: 15.5% a year, volatility 19.9%PWR: 39.0% a year, volatility 37.5%ETR: 20.3% a year, volatility 22.5%AEP: 12.8% a year, volatility 20.2%IDA: 10.0% a year, volatility 19.3%DUK: 8.7% a year, volatility 18.1%PPL: 8.0% a year, volatility 19.0%DTE: 7.2% a year, volatility 19.1%CMS: 6.5% a year, volatility 19.1%WECSPY (S&P 500)ATODLNTNEEAWKAESPEGESPORPWRETR
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.+39.0%37.5%
ETR Entergy Corporation+20.3%22.5%
ATO Atmos Energy Corporation+16.1%18.4%
PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation+15.5%19.9%
ED Consolidated Edison, Inc.+13.0%18.9%
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc.+12.8%20.2%
SO The Southern Company+12.7%18.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+11.7%17.2%
EVRG Evergy, Inc.+10.6%19.0%
IDA IDACORP, Inc.+10.0%19.3%
WEC This pageWEC Energy Group, Inc.+8.8%19.1%
DUK Duke Energy Corporation+8.7%18.1%
LNT Alliant Energy Corporation+8.5%19.9%
FE FirstEnergy Corp.+8.3%19.4%
PPL PPL Corporation+8.0%19.0%
EXC Exelon Corporation+7.7%20.9%
XEL Xcel Energy Inc.+7.5%20.9%
DTE DTE Energy Company+7.2%19.1%
PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated+6.6%20.6%
CMS CMS Energy Corporation+6.5%19.1%
NEE NextEra Energy, Inc.+2.6%26.9%
POR Portland General Electric Company+2.4%20.9%
D Dominion Energy, Inc.+2.3%22.8%
ES Eversource Energy+0.2%24.0%
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc.−1.5%23.2%
AES The AES Corporation−6.3%37.3%
Open these 26 in EasyCompare

Has WEC consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares WEC with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than WEC helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than WEC over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. (this page)—+15.1%+7.9%+2.1%+12.6%+9.3%+55.2%+52.5%+179%19.1%0.54−32.3%—$38B—
EVRG QualifiedEvergy, Inc.3/5 short2/3 long+9.3%+4.9%+7.2%+21.4%+15.9%+91.7%+65.3%+118%19.0%0.63−38.8%—$20B—
PNW QualifiedPinnacle West Capital Corporation3/5 short2/3 long+11.5%+6.1%+6.0%+24.8%+23.0%+59.4%+106%+111%19.9%0.83−39.3%—$13B—
PWR Engineering & ConstructionQuanta Services, Inc.2/5 short3/3 long−8.2%−8.7%−18.0%+41.4%+37.9%+256%+419%+2,124%37.5%1.07−45.5%—$94B—
ETR Regulated ElectricEntergy Corporation2/5 short3/3 long+8.9%+2.3%−5.0%+19.2%+16.3%+145%+152%+348%22.5%0.94−42.0%—$52B—
AEP Regulated ElectricAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc.2/5 short3/3 long+9.0%+2.3%−1.8%+15.1%+12.1%+83.3%+82.9%+193%20.2%0.70−32.9%—$71B—
ATO Regulated GasAtmos Energy Corporation0/5 short3/3 long+11.1%+1.6%−5.9%+4.9%+3.5%+68.6%+111%+212%18.4%0.91−32.9%—$30B—
IDA Regulated ElectricIDACORP, Inc.2/5 short2/3 long+10.7%+2.9%+1.5%+17.7%+16.4%+60.4%+60.9%+157%19.3%0.59−34.3%—$8.7B—
SO Regulated ElectricThe Southern Company0/5 short2/3 long+13.0%+2.6%+0.2%+11.2%+4.9%+49.6%+81.7%+184%18.9%0.73−38.4%—$109B—
ED Regulated ElectricConsolidated Edison, Inc.4/5 short1/3 long+14.6%+10.7%+9.9%+21.4%+26.7%+45.5%+84.2%+125%18.9%0.74−30.9%—$44B—
D Regulated ElectricDominion Energy, Inc.3/5 short1/3 long+10.5%−0.5%+9.8%+17.9%+20.7%+89.9%+12.3%+40.9%22.8%0.22−52.2%—$60B—
LNT Regulated ElectricAlliant Energy Corporation2/5 short1/3 long+14.4%+3.2%+0.6%+14.8%+13.3%+60.4%+50.6%+170%19.9%0.51−33.6%—$19B—
NEE Regulated ElectricNextEra Energy, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long+10.7%−1.0%−9.6%+7.4%+7.0%+55.1%+13.9%+255%26.9%0.23−45.0%—$178B—
DUK Regulated ElectricDuke Energy Corporation0/5 short1/3 long+12.5%+4.2%+2.5%+12.2%+7.4%+59.9%+51.9%+147%18.1%0.56−37.4%—$100B—
PPL Regulated ElectricPPL Corporation0/5 short1/3 long+10.2%+3.5%−2.8%+5.4%+2.5%+59.1%+47.0%+64.8%19.0%0.50−48.7%—$27B—
AWK Regulated WaterAmerican Water Works Company, Inc.4/5 short0/3 long+13.2%+13.0%+17.8%+15.5%+20.2%+27.4%−7.1%+148%23.2%0.05−37.1%—$29B—
AES Diversified UtilitiesThe AES Corporation2/5 short0/3 long+1.1%+2.5%+6.8%+5.4%+14.7%+11.4%−27.7%+90.3%37.3%0.01−63.4%—$11B—
FE Regulated ElectricFirstEnergy Corp.1/5 short0/3 long+9.9%−0.7%+3.9%+8.4%+7.6%+47.6%+48.6%+116%19.4%0.51−47.7%—$28B—
EXC Regulated ElectricExelon Corporation0/5 short0/3 long+14.0%+2.8%+1.6%+8.7%+4.2%+27.8%+44.7%+181%20.9%0.46−40.0%—$48B—
XEL Regulated ElectricXcel Energy Inc.0/5 short0/3 long+11.1%+2.9%−0.7%+8.7%+0.7%+43.7%+43.9%+164%20.9%0.46−34.4%—$51B—
PEG Regulated ElectricPublic Service Enterprise Group Incorporated0/5 short0/3 long+9.3%−2.0%−5.9%−5.8%−5.4%+29.4%+37.6%+157%20.6%0.41−40.8%—$37B—
DTE Regulated ElectricDTE Energy Company0/5 short0/3 long+9.2%−3.3%−5.8%+6.8%+5.0%+52.4%+41.8%+139%19.1%0.46−42.4%—$28B—
CMS Regulated ElectricCMS Energy Corporation0/5 short0/3 long+11.0%−0.6%−5.0%+2.8%+0.7%+38.9%+36.7%+131%19.1%0.42−29.6%—$22B—
ES Regulated ElectricEversource Energy0/5 short0/3 long+7.8%−2.2%+2.5%+5.7%−2.1%+47.2%+0.9%+85.1%24.0%0.13−41.7%—$26B—
POR Regulated ElectricPortland General Electric Company0/5 short0/3 long+2.2%−8.2%−5.0%−2.9%+1.3%+25.1%+12.6%+56.5%20.9%0.22−45.0%—$5.4B—
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How did WEC do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where WEC ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with WEC and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of WEC; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places WEC among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of WEC20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
WEC This pageWEC Energy Group, Inc.—+16.0%+16.1%−7.0%−0.5%+8.6%+2.5%+37.0%+7.9%+17.1%+18.2%+0.8%+32.0%+16.1%+8.9%+22.9%+21.7%+22.5%−11.8%+5.0%+24.2%+18.7%+3.4%+36.8%+15.6%+3.7%+25.4%−34.8%+15.4%+13.5%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 7 of 2911 of 2514 of 2514 of 2516 of 2520 of 258 of 256 of 259 of 259 of 2515 of 259 of 2511 of 259 of 2510 of 2510 of 255 of 256 of 253 of 2417 of 2415 of 236 of 2322 of 238 of 235 of 235 of 2319 of 2322 of 2311 of 2219 of 22
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF13 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
EVRG Evergy, Inc.13 of 29+22.4%+23.4%−13.3%−4.9%+28.0%−11.7%+18.4%+10.9%−3.5%+36.8%+6.9%+33.2%+17.5%+4.2%+20.3%+22.2%+13.0%−16.5%+4.1%+26.1%−2.0%+17.3%+115%−37.2%−26.4%+58.7%−44.3%−18.3%+48.3%
PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation11 of 29+8.9%+23.4%−1.2%+13.0%−7.8%−7.7%+9.1%+3.6%+12.7%+25.4%−2.0%+34.5%+7.9%+10.4%+21.9%+19.7%+21.7%−19.4%−12.3%+28.5%−2.6%+16.1%+23.5%−14.6%−9.1%+62.1%−25.4%+2.9%+38.5%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.15 of 27+33.7%+46.6%+51.7%+24.6%+59.5%+77.8%+35.8%−22.9%+12.2%+72.1%−28.7%−10.1%+15.7%+26.7%+8.1%−4.4%+5.3%−24.6%+33.5%+49.3%+64.7%+9.5%+109%−77.3%−52.1%+71.0%+28.0%——
ETR Entergy Corporation15 of 29+25.4%+55.9%−6.1%+3.5%+17.1%−13.7%+44.3%+10.6%+15.9%+12.6%−18.2%+44.8%+4.3%−8.3%+8.4%−9.7%+2.4%−28.3%+32.5%+38.4%+4.6%+22.0%+29.3%+20.3%−4.6%+71.4%−14.0%+9.7%+16.7%
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc.11 of 29+29.4%+18.2%−11.0%+10.4%+10.7%−9.0%+30.5%+5.4%+19.9%+11.9%−0.4%+35.1%+14.2%+8.2%+20.7%+8.6%+10.4%−25.5%+13.0%+19.7%+12.3%+17.5%+19.2%−32.8%−1.3%+54.8%−27.3%−4.1%+32.6%
ATO Atmos Energy Corporation18 of 29+23.1%+23.4%+6.2%+9.6%+12.7%−12.7%+23.2%+10.4%+18.4%+20.5%+16.3%+26.5%+33.8%+9.8%+11.4%+11.3%+30.7%−11.2%−8.2%+27.5%0.0%+18.2%+9.5%+15.6%−8.3%+26.5%−33.7%+10.6%+32.0%
IDA IDACORP, Inc.11 of 29+19.2%+14.9%−6.0%−2.1%+21.5%−7.5%+17.7%+4.5%+16.4%+21.8%+5.9%+31.8%+23.4%+5.6%+18.3%+19.9%+13.5%−13.0%−5.7%+36.5%−0.3%+6.4%+28.9%−35.0%−13.2%+91.7%−21.4%+1.5%+28.2%
SO The Southern Company15 of 29+9.5%+21.7%+2.2%+8.2%+16.4%+0.6%+51.6%−3.8%+2.4%+9.9%−0.1%+25.3%+0.5%−3.5%+26.9%+20.7%−4.9%+0.1%+9.8%+11.7%+7.6%+16.1%+11.7%+17.6%+32.5%+48.5%−14.9%+18.0%+21.3%
ED Consolidated Edison, Inc.13 of 29+15.1%+1.6%−1.1%+15.7%+22.9%−17.0%+22.6%−6.6%+17.2%+18.9%+1.4%+24.9%+3.8%−6.7%+30.9%+14.9%+23.8%−15.7%+6.6%+9.2%+11.3%+7.3%+6.3%+11.8%+10.9%+19.0%−31.4%+35.0%+50.5%
D Dominion Energy, Inc.9 of 29+14.0%+20.4%−19.2%−19.1%+8.1%−5.3%+21.5%−7.6%+9.9%+17.7%−8.7%+23.0%+29.8%+1.6%+29.4%+14.8%+14.4%−21.6%+16.5%+12.6%+18.2%+10.5%+21.3%−4.5%−6.5%+80.2%−11.0%+16.7%+18.5%
LNT Alliant Energy Corporation14 of 29+13.5%+19.5%−3.8%−7.4%+22.9%−3.1%+33.4%+2.4%+16.0%+25.4%−2.6%+33.4%+22.0%+4.7%+25.3%+27.2%+9.9%−25.3%+11.3%+39.3%+1.9%+19.5%+58.5%−40.1%+1.8%+24.0%−8.5%+3.8%+26.4%
NEE NextEra Energy, Inc.14 of 29+15.5%+21.5%−25.3%−8.5%+23.4%+30.0%+42.6%+14.3%+34.4%+18.5%+0.8%+27.9%+27.9%+17.9%+21.9%+2.3%+9.0%−23.5%+27.9%+35.5%+15.2%+18.5%+13.0%+11.3%−18.5%+74.7%−28.0%+8.2%+33.0%
DUK Duke Energy Corporation12 of 29+12.7%+15.6%−1.6%+2.0%+19.1%+4.8%+10.3%+7.4%+12.9%+13.4%−10.8%+26.3%+13.0%+1.3%+30.1%+9.5%+21.9%−21.6%+8.9%+26.2%+15.6%+30.2%+11.8%−48.2%−5.3%+76.0%−18.6%+20.2%+25.3%
PPL PPL Corporation11 of 29+11.4%+24.0%−3.8%+0.4%+12.8%−16.9%+33.5%−3.0%−5.2%+4.1%+5.7%+26.2%+10.3%+2.4%+17.6%−14.2%+10.3%−39.1%+49.3%+26.1%+14.9%+26.0%+31.3%+3.9%−21.0%+105%−14.7%+31.3%+12.3%
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc.7 of 17+7.4%−3.5%−11.7%−17.9%+24.8%+26.9%+37.8%+1.3%+29.0%+23.6%+14.9%+29.4%+16.1%+20.5%+30.1%+17.2%+11.9%————————————
AES The AES Corporation14 of 29+18.3%−30.4%−30.9%+21.7%+5.9%+22.1%+42.1%+39.1%−2.8%+26.4%−28.2%−3.7%+37.3%−9.2%−2.8%−8.5%+61.7%−61.5%−2.9%+39.2%+15.8%+44.9%+212%−81.5%−70.5%+48.2%+57.8%+1.6%+101%
FE FirstEnergy Corp.14 of 29+17.3%+13.3%−8.9%+4.8%+41.7%−34.2%+34.1%+27.9%+3.6%+1.9%−15.2%+23.6%−16.6%−1.1%+26.1%−15.6%+0.5%−30.6%+23.7%+27.3%+28.7%+16.5%+11.7%−1.5%+16.1%+47.9%−26.6%+18.1%+27.5%
EXC Exelon Corporation12 of 29+20.0%+9.2%−14.0%+8.3%+41.4%−3.8%+4.3%+18.4%+14.1%+32.8%−22.2%+40.6%−3.5%−27.4%+9.5%−10.5%−8.4%−29.9%+35.1%+19.8%+24.5%+37.5%+30.1%+14.1%−29.5%+106%−14.8%+78.5%+4.0%
XEL Xcel Energy Inc.11 of 29+13.9%+12.3%−8.7%+6.4%+4.4%+7.8%+32.4%+5.9%+20.9%+17.1%+3.8%+33.4%+8.8%+0.5%+22.3%+16.1%+20.3%−13.8%+2.0%+30.6%+6.1%+12.4%+61.7%−57.1%+0.8%+58.8%−24.9%+0.2%+33.9%
PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated13 of 29−1.9%+42.6%+3.6%−5.1%+18.3%+2.4%+17.1%+4.7%+21.8%+17.8%−2.8%+34.4%+9.4%−2.9%+8.3%−0.1%+19.2%−38.6%+52.1%+5.6%+30.3%+24.3%+44.0%−19.3%−9.0%+48.5%−7.9%+33.5%+27.1%
DTE DTE Energy Company14 of 29+10.4%+13.5%−2.8%+1.2%+19.4%−2.9%+21.4%+4.2%+14.6%+27.0%−3.7%+34.8%+15.0%+14.9%+25.9%+9.0%+30.4%−14.4%−5.1%+17.7%+4.8%+15.0%−10.4%+16.1%+13.0%+30.8%−22.5%+30.4%+14.7%
CMS CMS Energy Corporation15 of 29+8.1%+18.6%−5.2%+0.2%+9.7%−0.3%+30.0%+8.2%+17.1%+18.9%+7.3%+34.6%+13.9%+15.0%+23.9%+23.7%+61.1%−40.2%+5.4%+15.0%+39.0%+22.7%−9.7%−57.7%−19.9%+8.3%−32.7%+13.2%+35.4%
ES Eversource Energy9 of 29+22.9%−2.5%−23.4%−5.1%+8.2%+4.5%+34.5%+6.4%+18.0%+11.8%−1.3%+30.6%+12.5%+12.3%+16.8%+28.2%+11.8%−20.6%+14.2%+47.9%+8.1%−3.4%+37.6%−11.3%−25.5%+20.2%+29.2%+35.4%−8.2%
POR Portland General Electric Company3 of 19+15.4%+5.3%−7.8%−4.0%+28.1%−20.2%+25.1%+4.0%+8.3%+22.7%−0.6%+29.4%+14.6%+12.7%+21.7%+12.0%+10.3%−26.8%+5.4%——————————
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Risk and diversification

How WEC has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were WEC's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents WEC's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means WEC fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringWEC fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
No named crash−45.0%+43.7%Oct 1998Mar 200017 monthsMay 20033.2 years
Covid crash−32.3%−24.6%Mar 2020Mar 2020Under a monthNov 20208 months
2022 bear market−26.0%+3.2%Aug 2022Oct 202314 monthsNov 202413 months
2008 financial crisis−24.4%−52.2%Dec 2007Mar 200915 monthsDec 20099 months
No named crash−22.0%+7.9%Nov 2020Feb 20213 monthsApr 202214 months

How did WEC do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far WEC, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than WEC.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
WEC This pageWEC Energy Group, Inc.—−1.9%−23.6%−32.3%−9.8%−4.0%−9.6%−12.0%−0.6%−24.4%−21.3%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF0 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
EVRG Evergy, Inc.3 of 10−2.1%−22.8%−38.8%−8.0%−2.6%−11.2%−14.6%−1.2%−39.8%−59.5%
PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation1 of 10−4.0%−24.0%−39.3%−8.3%−4.4%−11.2%−13.4%−2.3%−43.8%−53.3%
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.1 of 10−4.0%−21.7%−40.8%−22.1%−7.1%−35.4%−21.6%−1.7%−69.6%−97.1%
ETR Entergy Corporation2 of 10−3.0%−21.9%−41.3%−8.0%−4.1%−13.2%−13.4%−1.1%−49.4%−28.4%
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc.3 of 10−2.0%−22.3%−32.4%−8.5%−5.5%−10.6%−9.3%−0.8%−48.0%−62.8%
ATO Atmos Energy Corporation2 of 10−2.9%−18.1%−32.4%−10.2%−4.3%−8.6%−15.7%−1.6%−26.4%−24.5%
IDA IDACORP, Inc.3 of 10−0.5%−18.9%−33.6%−10.4%−2.0%−10.5%−14.2%−1.5%−39.3%−54.0%
SO The Southern Company5 of 10−1.2%−23.3%−38.1%−9.6%−1.9%−9.4%−5.2%0.0%−30.4%−19.0%
ED Consolidated Edison, Inc.5 of 10−1.2%−22.0%−30.9%−10.3%−4.1%−9.8%−5.9%0.0%−30.1%−25.5%
D Dominion Energy, Inc.4 of 10−3.2%−28.0%−33.3%−7.5%−3.1%−13.3%−7.7%0.0%−41.4%−44.4%
LNT Alliant Energy Corporation0 of 10−2.7%−25.2%−32.9%−11.0%−4.5%−13.3%−15.4%−1.3%−49.5%−44.9%
NEE NextEra Energy, Inc.2 of 10−1.7%−24.0%−35.6%−8.2%−6.9%−12.9%−12.8%0.0%−47.9%−32.2%
DUK Duke Energy Corporation4 of 10−1.9%−24.1%−37.4%−7.7%−2.9%−13.7%−8.8%0.0%−38.9%−63.5%
PPL PPL Corporation2 of 10−1.9%−21.8%−47.1%−13.1%−5.4%−11.7%−11.5%0.0%−53.5%−55.4%
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc.2 of 8−3.3%−28.9%−31.1%−11.8%−5.9%−6.8%−13.4%−3.2%——
AES The AES Corporation0 of 10−7.4%−27.4%−54.3%−13.7%−9.6%−34.0%−26.7%−7.7%−78.2%−98.4%
FE FirstEnergy Corp.2 of 10−4.1%−25.2%−36.4%−9.5%−3.5%−15.6%−12.5%0.0%−54.2%−34.4%
EXC Exelon Corporation2 of 10−2.6%−27.4%−39.8%−6.9%−4.6%−24.7%−10.5%−0.8%−50.9%−40.6%
XEL Xcel Energy Inc.2 of 10−1.8%−24.7%−28.9%−9.4%−4.6%−10.4%−11.0%−1.1%−27.2%−80.6%
PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated0 of 10−3.6%−27.3%−38.0%−10.8%−6.6%−14.8%−13.4%−1.0%−51.0%−48.3%
DTE DTE Energy Company1 of 10−2.7%−24.9%−42.4%−8.4%−4.6%−11.1%−14.1%−1.9%−50.6%−27.7%
CMS CMS Energy Corporation1 of 10−2.8%−26.5%−29.3%−9.8%−3.9%−10.4%−13.5%−1.3%−49.4%−79.9%
ES Eversource Energy2 of 10−2.7%−23.1%−36.8%−9.1%−5.4%−11.5%−13.8%−1.8%−40.3%−43.1%
POR Portland General Electric Company0 of 9−3.0%−24.6%−36.4%−10.9%−4.0%−10.8%−16.1%−1.5%−46.6%—
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How closely does WEC move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares WEC with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than WEC's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
WEC This pageWEC Energy Group, Inc.41%14%2.980.33
ETR Entergy Corporation58%14%4.050.52
ED Consolidated Edison, Inc.31%9%3.540.21
SO The Southern Company41%12%3.260.38
DUK Duke Energy Corporation35%11%3.160.32
EXC Exelon Corporation40%14%2.960.36
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc.44%17%2.550.39
XEL Xcel Energy Inc.41%16%2.470.34
CMS CMS Energy Corporation35%16%2.250.27
PWR Quanta Services, Inc.141%65%2.151.23
PNW Pinnacle West Capital Corporation34%19%1.770.37
NEE NextEra Energy, Inc.62%41%1.520.45
IDA IDACORP, Inc.47%33%1.440.49
LNT Alliant Energy Corporation50%36%1.400.45
ATO Atmos Energy Corporation58%42%1.370.50
FE FirstEnergy Corp.40%30%1.330.35
EVRG Evergy, Inc.42%33%1.300.46
AWK American Water Works Company, Inc.48%37%1.290.43
DTE DTE Energy Company47%37%1.270.50
PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated52%41%1.260.52
ES Eversource Energy49%58%0.830.52
POR Portland General Electric Company40%53%0.750.45
PPL PPL Corporation52%71%0.730.64
AES The AES Corporation80%117%0.690.90
D Dominion Energy, Inc.43%65%0.660.51
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What diversifies WEC?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with WEC's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing WEC with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which WEC lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% WEC and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202320222008199980/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. (this page)1.00+52.5%0.54−7.0%−0.5%−11.8%−34.8%19.1%+8.9%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.11+220%1.32+42.0%+6.0%−20.8%—15.8%+12.6%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.44+82.4%0.94+20.1%−5.1%——16.4%+9.9%
FTLS Broad MarketFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF0.37+58.7%0.94+16.9%−5.6%——16.0%+9.3%
AMLP EnergyAlerian MLP ETF0.35+120%0.93+21.4%+25.5%——17.0%+11.0%
XLE EnergyState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF0.39+177%0.93−0.6%+64.4%−39.0%+18.1%18.0%+12.3%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.25+116%0.91+12.7%−0.8%+4.9%—16.5%+10.8%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.07+274%0.90+73.4%−33.5%−44.6%—17.3%+14.4%
VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF0.35+109%0.90+14.2%−14.2%——17.2%+10.8%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe202320222008199980/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
WEC WEC Energy Group, Inc. (this page)1.00+52.5%0.54−7.0%−0.5%−11.8%−34.8%19.1%+8.9%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.40+476%1.54+34.1%+54.1%−39.6%−36.8%18.1%+15.4%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.28+644%1.37+30.4%+86.6%——18.3%+17.1%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.37+368%1.37+24.1%+51.8%−40.4%−71.3%17.9%+14.7%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.-0.04+2,294%1.36+160%+1.3%−20.5%+350%19.1%+25.9%
HWM Aerospace & DefenseHowmet Aerospace Inc.0.31+604%1.35+37.8%+24.2%−67.4%+133%18.7%+16.6%
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Common questions

What was WEC's worst drawdown?

WEC's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 45.0%, from October 1998 to March 2000. It took about three years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were WEC's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, WEC's best year was 2019, when it returned 37.0%. Its worst was 1999, with a return of -34.8%.

Is there a better investment than WEC?

Among WEC's popular alternatives, PNW, SO and ATO earned more than WEC over the past 5 years with similar volatility: PNW returned 15.5% a year at 19.9% volatility, against 8.8% a year at 19.1%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, FTS (electric utilities) earned more than WEC with less volatility over the past 5 years: 10.0% a year at 16.5% volatility, against 8.8% a year at 19.1%.

Is WEC more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. WEC's volatility over the past 5 years was 19.1%, 1.1 times the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, WEC's return lands within 19.1% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is WEC's Sharpe ratio?

WEC's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.54, against 0.73 for the S&P 500, so WEC earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is WEC with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, WEC's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.35 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against WEC instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a WEC holding.

What are the best alternatives to WEC?

Of the 24 popular alternatives we compared, two outperformed WEC in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: EVRG and PNW.

Did WEC outperform the S&P 500?

WEC finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 14 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +16.0%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did WEC do in stock market crashes?

WEC fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in ten of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in no. The clearest case was the 2008 financial crisis, when WEC fell 24.4% and the S&P 500 fell 55.2%.

What diversifies WEC?

These had a low correlation with WEC over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.11), DBEF (correlation 0.44) and FTLS (correlation 0.37); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.40), MPC (correlation 0.28) and MCK (correlation 0.37). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

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Popular alternatives to WEC

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