SII vs. XBI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SII (Sprott Inc) is a stock, while XBI (SPDR S&P Biotech ETF) is Health & Biotech Equities fund tracking the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. Over the past 5 years, SII returned 26.10%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for XBI. At a 0.29 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

SII vs. XBI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Sprott Inc (SII) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SII achieves a 31.49% return, which is significantly higher than XBI's 6.48% return.

SII

• 1D: -3.97%
• 1M: -1.66%
• YTD: 31.49%
• 6M: 41.86%
• 1Y: 116.48%
• 3Y*: 58.29%
• 5Y*: 26.10%
• 10Y*: —

XBI

• 1D: 1.62%
• 1M: -2.75%
• YTD: 6.48%
• 6M: 6.92%
• 1Y: 58.25%
• 3Y*: 14.73%
• 5Y*: 0.59%
• 10Y*: 8.53%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SII vs. XBI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
SII Sprott Inc	31.49%	137.17%	27.39%	5.00%	-24.09%	59.43%	-11.70%
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF	6.48%	35.89%	1.01%	7.60%	-25.87%	-20.45%	27.77%

Correlation

The correlation between SII and XBI is 0.27, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.27
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.28
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.29
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 30, 2020	0.29

Return for Risk

SII vs. XBI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SII

SII Risk / Return Rank: 89
SII Sharpe Ratio Rank: 92
SII Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
SII Omega Ratio Rank: 88
SII Calmar Ratio Rank: 90
SII Martin Ratio Rank: 88

XBI

XBI Risk / Return Rank: 74
XBI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
XBI Sortino Ratio Rank: 67
XBI Omega Ratio Rank: 60
XBI Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
XBI Martin Ratio Rank: 85

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SII vs. XBI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Sprott Inc (SII) and SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI). 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.

	SII	XBI	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.55	2.30	+0.25
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.08	3.16	-0.07
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.41	1.38	+0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.71	6.02	-1.31
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.04	18.30	-7.26
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SII vs. XBI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SII Sharpe Ratio is 2.55, which is comparable to the XBI Sharpe Ratio of 2.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SII and XBI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SII	XBI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.55	2.30	+0.25
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.70	0.02	+0.68
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.27	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.77	0.36	+0.41

Drawdowns

SII vs. XBI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SII drawdown since its inception was -47.81%, smaller than the maximum XBI drawdown of -63.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SII and XBI.

Drawdown Indicators

	SII	XBI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-47.81%	-63.89%	+16.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-24.87%	-9.72%	-15.15%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-24.87%	-32.99%	+8.12%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-47.81%	-54.71%	+6.90%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-63.89%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-22.81%	-24.96%	+2.15%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-21.06%	-20.93%	-0.13%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	10.59%	3.19%	+7.40%

Volatility

SII vs. XBI - Volatility Comparison

Sprott Inc (SII) has a higher volatility of 22.93% compared to SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) at 9.26%. This indicates that SII's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XBI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SII	XBI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	22.93%	9.26%	+13.67%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	39.36%	20.18%	+19.18%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	46.00%	25.50%	+20.50%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	37.47%	32.18%	+5.29%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	37.42%	32.00%	+5.42%

Dividends

SII vs. XBI - Dividend Comparison

SII's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.17%, more than XBI's 0.34% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SII Sprott Inc	1.17%	1.33%	2.49%	2.95%	3.00%	2.22%	1.66%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF	0.34%	0.37%	0.15%	0.02%	0.00%	0.04%	0.20%	0.00%	0.28%	0.24%	0.26%	0.61%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SII and XBI in my portfolio?

SII and XBI have a correlation of 0.27, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SII or XBI?

SII has higher volatility (22.93%) compared to XBI (9.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SII dropped -47.81% vs XBI's -63.89%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SII currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.55 vs 2.30), 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.