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IYMvsXLBETF Comparison
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 Materials and Industrials. In contrast, XLB's top sector exposures are Materials IYM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.38%, versus 0.08% for XLB. IYM is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD) with +$624M in YTD flows. XLB performs worse with 9.97% YTD performance, and +$802M 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.
IYM vs XLB performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IYM XLB | -3.84%-7.02% | +16.91%+11.04% | +15.60%+9.97% | +35.25%+19.17% | +46.37%+36.59% | +55.09%+40.23% |
| Flows | IYM XLB | +$167M+$299M | +$709M+$910M | +$624M+$802M | +$705M+$553M | +$390M-$14M | +$638M-$832M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IYM XLB | +20.79%+17.91% | +21.74%+20.57% | +17.91%+16.95% | +20.22%+18.86% |
| Max drawdown | IYM XLB | -6.90%-7.02% | -15.07%-14.65% | -23.58%-23.18% | -29.91%-24.78% |
| Max drawdown duration | IYM XLB | 9d28d | 75d43d | 352d445d | 709d679d |
IYM | XLB | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 1:56 PM | $177.42 | $49.89 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $177.86 | $49.84 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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IYM | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
IYM | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $177.42 | $49.89 |
| 1D performance | -0.25% | +0.10% |
| AuM | $1.42 B | $6.67 B |
| E/R | 0.38% | 0.08% |
IYM | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | SPDR |
| Benchmark | Russell 1000 Basic Materials RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index | S&P Materials Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 36 | 24 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 12, 2000 | December 16, 1998 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the IYM and XLB ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, IYM is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD), while XLB has returned 9.97%. 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 +$624M in flows, compared to +$802M for XLB.
Which ETF is more volatile: IYM or XLB?
Over the past year, IYM had a volatility of 21.74%, while XLB experienced 20.57%.
Which ETF is bigger: IYM or XLB?
As of March 11, 2026, IYM holds $1.42 B in assets under management (AUM), while XLB manages $6.67 B.
What sectors do the IYM and XLB ETFs invest in?
IYM leans toward sectors like Materials and Industrials. Meanwhile, XLB focuses on Materials.
What are the top holdings of the IYM ETF and XLB ETF?
IYM top holdings include IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC. XLB holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.
Which ETF is more diversified: IYM or XLB?
IYM holds 39 securities with 78.21% of its assets in the top 15. XLB has 25 securities and a top 15 weight of 76.05%.
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