IYMvsXLBETF Comparison
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iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) and State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. IYM's top 3 sector exposures are Non-Energy Materials, Industrials and Non-Corporate. In contrast, XLB's top sector exposures are Non-Energy Materials. IYM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.37%, versus 0.08% for XLB. IYM is up 18.97% year-to-date (YTD) with +$484M in YTD flows. XLB performs worse with 15.75% YTD performance, and +$1.99B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IYM 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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IYM vs XLB performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 10/27/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IYM XLB | +0.89%+4.76% | +2.28%+1.25% | +18.97%+15.75% | +24.86%+18.61% | +57.14%+46.35% | +48.94%+35.06% |
| Flows | IYM XLB | +$89M-$148M | +$72M-$629M | +$484M+$1.99B | +$610M+$1.57B | +$380M+$1.28B | +$302M-$60M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IYM XLB | +18.01%+15.53% | +20.41%+17.75% | +18.62%+17.28% | +20.48%+19.07% |
| Max drawdown | IYM XLB | -9.34%-9.08% | -13.67%-12.34% | -23.58%-23.18% | -29.91%-24.78% |
| Max drawdown duration | IYM XLB | 63d62d | 102d177d | 352d445d | 709d679d |
Trading data
IYM | XLB | |
Last sale 10/28/2026 at 1:30 PM | $182.09 | $51.86 |
| Previous close 10/27/2026 | $181.47 | $51.78 |
| Consolidated volume 10/27/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of September 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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IYM | 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 10/28/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
IYM | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $182.09 | $51.86 |
| 1D performance | +0.34% | +0.15% |
| AuM | $1.27 B | $8.10 B |
| E/R | 0.37% | 0.08% |
Characteristics
IYM | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Benchmark | Russell 1000 Basic Materials RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index | S&P Materials Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 40 | 25 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 12, 2000 | December 16, 1998 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
IYM
USA
79.26%
United Kingdom
20.68%
Other
0.06%
XLB
USA
78.27%
United Kingdom
15.38%
Other
6.35%
Sectors
IYM
Non-Energy Materi.
94.98%
Other
5.02%
XLB
Non-Energy Materi.
99.73%
Other
0.27%
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Diversification
IYM
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
78.14%
XLB
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
76.58%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of August 31, 2026
IYM
Linde Plc
19.08%
Newmont Corp.
11.44%
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
9.23%
Ecolab, Inc.
6.02%
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
4.81%
Anglogold Ashanti Plc
4.41%
Fastenal Co.
4.24%
Nucor Corp.
4.02%
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
2.65%
Carpenter Technology Corp.
2.18%
Royal Gold, Inc.
2.12%
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
2.11%
Coeur Mining, Inc.
2.04%
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
1.90%
International Paper Co.
1.90%
XLB
Linde Plc
13.15%
Newmont Corp.
7.82%
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
6.33%
Corteva, Inc.
4.90%
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
4.84%
The Sherwin-Williams Co.
4.82%
Ecolab, Inc.
4.76%
Nucor Corp.
4.31%
Vulcan Materials Co.
4.27%
CRH Plc
4.08%
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
4.05%
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
3.75%
PPG Industries, Inc.
3.32%
Smurfit WestRock Plc
3.26%
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
2.92%
Frequently asked questions about IYM and XLB
How have the IYM and XLB ETFs performed in 2026?
As of October 27, 2026, IYM is up 18.97% year-to-date (YTD), while XLB has returned 15.75%. That puts IYM better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IYM or XLB?
Year-to-date, the IYM ETF saw +$484M in flows, compared to +$1.99B for XLB.
Which ETF is more volatile: IYM or XLB?
Over the past year, IYM had a volatility of 20.41%, while XLB experienced 17.75%.
Which ETF is bigger: IYM or XLB?
As of October 27, 2026, IYM holds $1.27 B in assets under management (AUM), while XLB manages $8.10 B.
What sectors do the IYM and XLB ETFs invest in?
IYM leans toward sectors like Non-Energy Materials. Meanwhile, XLB focuses on Non-Energy Materials.
What are the top holdings of the IYM ETF and XLB ETF?
IYM top holdings include Linde Plc, Newmont Corp. and Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.. XLB holds in its top three: Linde Plc, Newmont Corp. and Freeport-McMoRan, Inc..
Which ETF is more diversified: IYM or XLB?
IYM holds 40 securities with 78.14% of its assets in the top 15. XLB has 25 securities and a top 15 weight of 76.58%.
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Latest news about IYM & XLB
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