IBB vs. XBIT
IBB (iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF) is Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, while XBIT (XBiotech Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IBB returned 8.21%/yr vs -17.34%/yr for XBIT. At a 0.30 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IBB vs. XBIT - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IBB achieves a 5.61% return, which is significantly higher than XBIT's -2.51% return. Over the past 10 years, IBB has outperformed XBIT with an annualized return of 8.21%, while XBIT has yielded a comparatively lower -17.34% annualized return.
IBB
- 1D
- 0.62%
- 1M
- 5.52%
- YTD
- 5.61%
- 6M
- 3.57%
- 1Y
- 42.90%
- 3Y*
- 11.80%
- 5Y*
- 2.21%
- 10Y*
- 8.21%
XBIT
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- -4.12%
- YTD
- -2.51%
- 6M
- -5.28%
- 1Y
- -10.04%
- 3Y*
- -27.20%
- 5Y*
- -30.61%
- 10Y*
- -17.34%
IBB vs. XBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBB iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | 5.61% | 27.98% | -2.41% | 3.76% | -13.69% | 0.95% | 26.01% | 25.42% | -9.53% | 21.08% |
XBIT XBiotech Inc. | -2.51% | -39.49% | -1.25% | 13.96% | -68.46% | -17.46% | -16.15% | 267.42% | 28.93% | -61.07% |
Correlation
The correlation between IBB and XBIT is 0.28, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 15, 2015 | 0.30 |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IBB vs. XBIT — Risk / Return Rank
IBB
XBIT
IBB vs. XBIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) and XBiotech Inc. (XBIT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IBB | XBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.32 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.90 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.01 | +0.34 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.47 | -0.26 | +4.73 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.77 | -0.37 | +14.14 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IBB vs. XBIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IBB drawdown since its inception was -62.85%, smaller than the maximum XBIT drawdown of -92.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IBB and XBIT.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IBB | XBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.85% | -92.67% | +29.82% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.63% | -39.43% | +29.80% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.85% | -78.56% | +53.71% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.82% | -87.21% | +47.39% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.82% | -90.72% | +50.90% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -91.42% | +91.42% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.14% | -70.17% | +49.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 26.82% | -23.70% |
Volatility
IBB vs. XBIT - Volatility Comparison
iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) has a higher volatility of 6.95% compared to XBiotech Inc. (XBIT) at 4.90%. This indicates that IBB's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XBIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IBB | XBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.95% | 4.90% | +2.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.98% | 21.88% | -5.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.34% | 51.00% | -30.66% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.03% | 64.05% | -42.02% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.17% | 75.11% | -51.94% |
Dividends
IBB vs. XBIT - Dividend Comparison
IBB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.23%, while XBIT has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBB iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF | 0.23% | 0.23% | 0.29% | 0.26% | 0.31% | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.33% | 0.20% | 0.30% | 0.19% | 0.03% |
XBIT XBiotech Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 22.46% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IBB and XBIT have a correlation of 0.28, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBB has higher volatility (6.95%) compared to XBIT (4.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IBB dropped -62.85% vs XBIT's -92.67%.
IBB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.12 vs -0.20), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for IBB and XBIT
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer