XLB vs. CVS
XLB (Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Materials fund tracking the Materials Select Sector Index, while CVS (CVS Health Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLB returned 10.23%/yr vs 2.58%/yr for CVS. At a 0.38 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLB vs. CVS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLB achieves a 14.35% return, which is significantly lower than CVS's 17.10% return. Over the past 10 years, XLB has outperformed CVS with an annualized return of 10.23%, while CVS has yielded a comparatively lower 2.58% annualized return.
XLB
- 1D
- 0.21%
- 1M
- 1.93%
- YTD
- 14.35%
- 6M
- 17.15%
- 1Y
- 19.99%
- 3Y*
- 11.71%
- 5Y*
- 5.35%
- 10Y*
- 10.23%
CVS
- 1D
- 2.09%
- 1M
- 11.41%
- YTD
- 17.10%
- 6M
- 23.91%
- 1Y
- 48.94%
- 3Y*
- 13.62%
- 5Y*
- 4.52%
- 10Y*
- 2.58%
XLB vs. CVS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 14.35% | 9.94% | 0.15% | 12.46% | -12.30% | 27.44% | 20.46% | 24.13% | -14.88% | 24.01% |
CVS CVS Health Corporation | 17.10% | 84.35% | -40.77% | -12.53% | -7.63% | 54.87% | -5.14% | 17.26% | -7.04% | -5.75% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLB and CVS is 0.20, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.27 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 23, 1998 | 0.38 |
The correlation between XLB and CVS shifts across timeframes, from 0.20 (1 year) to 0.38 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
XLB vs. CVS — Risk / Return Rank
XLB
CVS
XLB vs. CVS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and CVS Health Corporation (CVS). 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.
| XLB | CVS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.31 | -0.10 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.62 | 2.99 | -1.37 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.06 | 7.71 | -2.65 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| XLB | CVS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.20 | 1.60 | -0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.28 | 0.15 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.09 | +0.41 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.36 | 0.33 | +0.03 |
Drawdowns
XLB vs. CVS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLB drawdown since its inception was -59.83%, smaller than the maximum CVS drawdown of -64.07%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLB and CVS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLB | CVS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.83% | -64.07% | +4.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.38% | -16.44% | +4.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -23.17% | -43.98% | +20.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.72% | -56.79% | +32.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.27% | -56.79% | +19.52% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.28% | -6.87% | +3.59% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.84% | -19.56% | +8.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.96% | 6.37% | -2.41% |
Volatility
XLB vs. CVS - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is 5.73%, while CVS Health Corporation (CVS) has a volatility of 11.02%. This indicates that XLB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CVS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLB | CVS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.73% | 11.02% | -5.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.85% | 26.04% | -13.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.78% | 30.79% | -14.01% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.94% | 29.91% | -10.97% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.65% | 29.28% | -8.63% |
Dividends
XLB vs. CVS - Dividend Comparison
XLB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.69%, less than CVS's 2.91% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CVS CVS Health Corporation | 2.91% | 3.35% | 5.93% | 3.06% | 2.36% | 1.94% | 2.93% | 2.69% | 3.05% | 2.76% | 2.15% | 1.43% |
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 1.69% | 1.92% | 1.92% | 2.00% | 2.26% | 1.62% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 2.20% | 1.66% | 1.95% | 2.24% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLB and CVS have a correlation of 0.20, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CVS has higher volatility (11.02%) compared to XLB (5.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLB dropped -59.83% vs CVS's -64.07%.
CVS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.60 vs 1.20), 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.
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