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Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) Sortino Ratio: 1.64

ETF · Currency in USD · Last updated Jun 24, 2026

The Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) seeks to track the Materials Select Sector Index, which includes S&P 500 companies in the materials sector, such as chemicals, metals and mining, construction materials, and packaging companies. The fund provides concentrated exposure to the U.S. materials sector and is one of the original Select Sector SPDR funds, having launched in December 1998.

XLB's Sortino Ratio of 1.64 indicates that for each unit of downside volatility, it generates 1.64 units of excess return. The ratio is calculated using historical daily returns over the past 12 months (as of Jun 24, 2026).

Unlike other measures, Sortino only focuses on downside volatility (losses), making it particularly useful for investors more concerned about protecting against drawdowns than overall price swings.

XLB Sortino Ratio Rank

XLB Sortino Ratio Rank: 31.331
Below Average

XLB ranks above 31.3% of all investments in our database based on Sortino Ratio over the past 12 months, indicating below-average returns relative to downside risk taken. Securities are ranked from 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

What moves the rank

  • Strong returns with minimal downside volatility → Higher rank
  • Severe or frequent drawdowns → Lower rank
  • Upside volatility → No impact (Sortino doesn't penalize upside swings)

What you can do with this information

  • Returns may not adequately compensate for downside risk taken
  • Consider smaller allocation given below-average risk-adjusted profile
  • Explore higher-ranked investments with better downside protection
  • Assess whether downside exposure aligns with your portfolio goals

XLB Sortino Ratio Market Positioning

The chart shows XLB's Sortino Ratio relative to all ETFs on our platform, with color zones indicating percentile rankings. Higher ratios indicate better downside-adjusted returns.

  • Red zone (bottom 25%): 1.29 or lower
  • Yellow zone (middle 50%): 1.29 to 3.01
  • Green zone (top 25%): 3.01 or higher
  • Top 1%: 14.94+
  • Median: 2.24 — half of all investments score higher

How it compares to other similar ETFs

The table compares Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF's Sortino Ratio with other ETFs in the Materials category across multiple time periods, showing how XLB's risk-adjusted performance compares to similar funds.

Data shows 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods, plus each fund's all-time average, as of Jun 24, 2026.

SymbolName1Y Sortino Ratio5Y Sortino Ratio10Y Sortino RatioAll Time Sortino Ratio
SLXVanEck Vectors Steel ETF3.15
PSCMInvesco S&P SmallCap Materials ETF3.09
PICKiShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF2.79
FXZFirst Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund2.68
SETMSprott Critical Materials ETF2.41
XMESPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF2.40
IYMiShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF2.29
PYZInvesco DWA Basic Materials Momentum ETF1.98
MXIiShares Global Materials ETF1.94
RSPMInvesco S&P 500® Equal Weight Materials ETF1.80
XLBMaterials Select Sector SPDR ETF1.64

S&P 500 Index

How to choose period

Historical Sortino Ratio

The chart shows XLB's rolling Sortino ratio over time compared to your chosen benchmark. Rising trends indicate improving returns relative to downside risk, while declining trends may signal deteriorating risk-adjusted performance or increased volatility during market stress. Use multiple timeframes to distinguish short-term fluctuations from long-term patterns.

Identify market cycles by observing when XLB consistently outperforms (line above benchmark), underperforms (below benchmark), or aligns with the benchmark.

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