XLB vs. XME
Compare and contrast key facts about Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME).
XLB and XME 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. XME is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry Index. It was launched on Jun 19, 2006. Both XLB and XME are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
XLB vs. XME - Performance Comparison
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XLB vs. XME - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 10.68% | 9.94% | 0.15% | 12.46% | -12.30% | 27.44% | 20.46% | 24.13% | -14.88% | 24.01% |
XME SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | 4.31% | 83.47% | -4.54% | 21.51% | 13.13% | 34.92% | 15.95% | 14.69% | -26.78% | 21.17% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLB achieves a 10.68% return, which is significantly higher than XME's 4.31% return. Over the past 10 years, XLB has underperformed XME with an annualized return of 10.45%, while XME has yielded a comparatively higher 19.54% annualized return.
XLB
- 1D
- 1.79%
- 1M
- -6.02%
- YTD
- 10.68%
- 6M
- 12.59%
- 1Y
- 18.51%
- 3Y*
- 9.53%
- 5Y*
- 6.79%
- 10Y*
- 10.45%
XME
- 1D
- 4.40%
- 1M
- -9.45%
- YTD
- 4.31%
- 6M
- 16.12%
- 1Y
- 93.75%
- 3Y*
- 27.50%
- 5Y*
- 22.88%
- 10Y*
- 19.54%
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XLB vs. XME - Expense Ratio Comparison
XLB has a 0.13% expense ratio, which is lower than XME's 0.35% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
XLB vs. XME — Risk / Return Rank
XLB
XME
XLB vs. XME - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME). 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 | XME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.89 | 2.63 | -1.75 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.38 | 3.07 | -1.69 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.42 | -0.24 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.35 | 4.05 | -2.70 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.72 | 11.64 | -6.92 |
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 | XME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.89 | 2.63 | -1.75 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.36 | 0.71 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.59 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.36 | 0.15 | +0.20 |
Correlation
The correlation between XLB and XME is 0.77, 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.
Dividends
XLB vs. XME - Dividend Comparison
XLB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.75%, more than XME's 0.35% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLB Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF | 1.75% | 1.92% | 1.92% | 2.00% | 2.26% | 1.62% | 1.72% | 1.98% | 2.20% | 1.66% | 1.95% | 2.24% |
XME SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | 0.35% | 0.38% | 0.65% | 1.00% | 1.64% | 0.70% | 0.99% | 2.43% | 2.23% | 1.15% | 1.02% | 2.61% |
Drawdowns
XLB vs. XME - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLB drawdown since its inception was -59.83%, smaller than the maximum XME drawdown of -85.89%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLB and XME.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLB | XME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.83% | -85.89% | +26.06% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.64% | -22.60% | +7.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.72% | -37.27% | +12.55% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -37.27% | -61.69% | +24.42% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.39% | -17.77% | +11.38% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.88% | -44.45% | +33.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.20% | 7.87% | -3.67% |
Volatility
XLB vs. XME - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is 6.28%, while SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) has a volatility of 11.55%. This indicates that XLB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XME based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLB | XME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.28% | 11.55% | -5.27% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.53% | 28.02% | -15.49% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.95% | 35.81% | -14.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.91% | 32.46% | -13.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.62% | 32.98% | -12.36% |