XLB vs. VAW
Compare and contrast key facts about Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW).
XLB and VAW 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. VAW is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Materials 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both XLB and VAW 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 VAW.
Performance
XLB vs. VAW - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLB achieves a 8.09% return, which is significantly lower than VAW's 8.70% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with XLB having a 8.42% annualized return and VAW not far ahead at 8.44%.
XLB
8.09%
-5.98%
-0.03%
16.20%
10.88%
8.42%
VAW
8.70%
-4.68%
1.16%
18.13%
11.21%
8.44%
Key characteristics
| XLB | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.25 | 1.29 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.75 | 1.82 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.22 | 1.23 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.94 | 1.97 |
| Martin Ratio | 5.84 | 6.08 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.84% | 3.00% |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.28% | 14.19% |
| Max Drawdown | -59.83% | -62.17% |
| Current Drawdown | -6.50% | -5.16% |
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XLB vs. VAW - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLB has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is higher than VAW's 0.10% 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%.
Correlation
The correlation between XLB and VAW is 0.98, 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.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
XLB vs. VAW - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW). 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. VAW - Dividend Comparison
XLB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.93%, more than VAW's 1.58% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 1.93% | 2.00% | 2.26% | 1.62% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 2.20% | 1.66% | 1.95% | 2.24% | 1.97% | 2.08% |
VAW Vanguard Materials ETF | 1.58% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 1.44% | 1.67% | 1.94% | 2.03% | 1.63% | 1.67% | 2.30% | 1.76% | 1.84% |
Drawdowns
XLB vs. VAW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLB drawdown since its inception was -59.83%, roughly equal to the maximum VAW drawdown of -62.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLB and VAW. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
XLB vs. VAW - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is 3.60%, while Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) has a volatility of 3.93%. This indicates that XLB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.