XLB vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
XLB and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLB is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Materials Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both XLB and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: XLB or SPY.
Key characteristics
| XLB | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 5.03% | 7.26% |
| 1Y Return | 14.74% | 25.03% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 4.59% | 8.37% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 11.72% | 13.44% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.79% | 12.49% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.11 | 2.35 |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.68% | 11.68% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.83% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.80% | -2.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLB and SPY is 0.73, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
XLB vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, XLB achieves a 5.03% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 7.26% return. Over the past 10 years, XLB has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 8.79%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.49% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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XLB vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLB has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
XLB vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
Dividends
XLB vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
XLB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.91%, more than SPY's 1.32% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 1.91% | 2.00% | 2.26% | 1.62% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 2.20% | 1.66% | 1.95% | 2.24% | 1.97% | 2.08% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.32% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
XLB vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLB drawdown since its inception was -59.83%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLB and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
XLB vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is 3.27%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.58%. This indicates that XLB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.