FXZvsXLBETF Comparison
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First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund ETF (FXZ) and State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. FXZ's top 3 sector exposures are Materials and Industrials. In contrast, XLB's top sector exposures are Materials FXZ is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.64%, versus 0.08% for XLB. FXZ is up 27.55% year-to-date (YTD) with +$145M in YTD flows. XLB performs worse with 13.9% YTD performance, and +$1.43B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FXZ and XLB below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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FXZ vs XLB performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 05/06/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FXZ XLB | +7.19%+2.61% | +7.93%-1.06% | +27.55%+13.90% | +58.65%+25.90% | +40.43%+37.27% | +46.17%+29.23% |
| Flows | FXZ XLB | +$44M+$692M | +$87M+$884M | +$145M+$1.43B | +$104M+$1.54B | -$1.24B+$521M | +$123M-$1.45B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FXZ XLB | +23.27%+18.27% | +21.54%+16.63% | +21.84%+16.97% | +24.35%+18.91% |
| Max drawdown | FXZ XLB | -12.79%-12.34% | -12.79%-12.34% | -33.94%-23.18% | -33.94%-24.78% |
| Max drawdown duration | FXZ XLB | 36d85d | 36d85d | 639d445d | 639d679d |
Trading data
FXZ | XLB | |
Last sale 5/8/2026 at 1:30 PM | $80.92 | $51.59 |
| Previous close 05/07/2026 | $80.43 | $51.40 |
| Consolidated volume 05/07/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of April 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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FXZ | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 5/8/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
FXZ | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $80.92 | $51.59 |
| 1D performance | +0.61% | +0.37% |
| AuM | $423.98 M | $7.50 B |
| E/R | 0.64% | 0.08% |
Characteristics
FXZ | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Benchmark | StrataQuant Materials Index | S&P Materials Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 36 | 24 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 8, 2007 | December 16, 1998 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
FXZ
USA
91.25%
Other
8.75%
XLB
USA
73.34%
Ireland
21.54%
Other
5.12%
Sectors
FXZ
Materials
78.33%
Industrials
14.16%
Other
7.51%
XLB
Materials
80.45%
Other
19.55%
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Diversification
FXZ
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
63.02%
XLB
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
75.64%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
FXZ
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS
6.61%
ALCOA CORP
5.40%
GB00BRXH2664
4.92%
EASTMAN CHEMICAL
4.74%
NEWMONT CORP
4.55%
OLIN
4.49%
THE MOSAIC COMPANY
4.39%
STEEL DYNAMICS
4.31%
RBC BEARINGS
3.93%
TIMKEN
3.88%
NUCOR
3.40%
RELIANCE STEEL
3.40%
MUELLER INDUSTRIES
3.13%
NEWMARKET
2.97%
ELEMENT SOLUTIONS INC
2.90%
XLB
IE000S9YS762
14.42%
NEWMONT CORP
7.36%
FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC
5.26%
CORTEVA INC
4.75%
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS
4.64%
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
4.60%
CRH PLC
4.51%
VULCAN MATERIALS
4.51%
MARTIN MARIETTA
4.40%
NUCOR
4.39%
ECOLAB
4.29%
DOW INC
3.75%
STEEL DYNAMICS
3.10%
PPG INDUSTRIES
3.01%
ALBEMARLE
2.65%
Frequently asked questions about FXZ and XLB
How have the FXZ and XLB ETFs performed in 2026?
As of May 6, 2026, FXZ is up 27.55% year-to-date (YTD), while XLB has returned 13.9%. That puts FXZ better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FXZ or XLB?
Year-to-date, the FXZ ETF saw +$145M in flows, compared to +$1.43B for XLB.
Which ETF is more volatile: FXZ or XLB?
Over the past year, FXZ had a volatility of 21.54%, while XLB experienced 16.63%.
Which ETF is bigger: FXZ or XLB?
As of May 6, 2026, FXZ holds $423.98 M in assets under management (AUM), while XLB manages $7.50 B.
What sectors do the FXZ and XLB ETFs invest in?
FXZ leans toward sectors like Materials and Industrials. Meanwhile, XLB focuses on Materials.
What are the top holdings of the FXZ ETF and XLB ETF?
FXZ top holdings include CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, ALCOA CORP and GB00BRXH2664. XLB holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.
Which ETF is more diversified: FXZ or XLB?
FXZ holds 37 securities with 63.02% of its assets in the top 15. XLB has 25 securities and a top 15 weight of 75.64%.
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Latest news about FXZ & XLB
Investing in Sector ETFs: Energy, Industrials, & Materials
September 6, 2024
XLB
Tony's ETF Buyer's Guide: Sector ETFs (Vanguard versus State Street SPDR)
December 1, 2023
XLB
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