VAWvsXMEETF Comparison
VS
Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) and State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: and Materials. VAW is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.09%, versus 0.35% for XME. VAW is up 12.42% year-to-date (YTD) with -$80M in YTD flows. XME performs better with 13.02% YTD performance, and +$1.45B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VAW and XME 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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VAW vs XME performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 04/28/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VAW XME | +5.54%+13.09% | +1.10%-8.97% | +12.42%+13.02% | +28.70%+106.45% | +38.51%+141.69% | +38.87%+190.66% |
| Flows | VAW XME | +$62M+$536M | +$57M+$882M | -$80M+$1.45B | +$22M+$2.10B | -$500M+$1.40B | -$776M+$1.38B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VAW XME | +21.46%+39.68% | +17.13%+32.69% | +17.51%+29.18% | +19.69%+32.43% |
| Max drawdown | VAW XME | -13.41%-20.90% | -13.41%-22.54% | -23.20%-30.47% | -25.44%-37.25% |
| Max drawdown duration | VAW XME | 58d90d | 58d93d | 430d237d | 679d760d |
Trading data
VAW | XME | |
Last sale 4/29/2026 at 1:30 PM | $229.57 | $114.61 |
| Previous close 04/28/2026 | $232.37 | $117.07 |
| Consolidated volume 04/28/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of March 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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VAW | XME | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 4/29/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
VAW | XME | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $229.57 | $114.61 |
| 1D performance | -1.20% | -2.10% |
| AuM | $3.08 B | $5.27 B |
| E/R | 0.09% | 0.35% |
Characteristics
VAW | XME | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Vanguard | State Street Investment Management |
| Benchmark | MSCI US IMI Materials 25/50 Index | S&P Metals & Mining Select Industry Index |
| N° of holdings | 98 | 30 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 26, 2004 | June 19, 2006 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
VAW
USA
72.51%
Ireland
21.11%
Other
6.38%
XME
USA
99.25%
Other
0.75%
Sectors
VAW
Materials
77.69%
Other
22.31%
XME
Materials
69.74%
Energy
13.78%
Other
16.48%
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Diversification
VAW
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
64.3%
XME
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
65.96%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of March 31, 2026
VAW
IE000S9YS762
15.14%
NEWMONT CORP
7.73%
FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC
5.52%
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
4.94%
CRH PLC
4.61%
ECOLAB
4.44%
AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS
4.05%
CORTEVA INC
3.70%
NUCOR
2.53%
VULCAN MATERIALS
2.35%
MARTIN MARIETTA
2.32%
DOW INC
1.94%
CH1430134226
1.82%
STEEL DYNAMICS
1.63%
PPG INDUSTRIES
1.57%
XME
WARRIOR MET COAL
5.02%
US2189371006
4.99%
ALCOA CORP
4.57%
RELIANCE STEEL
4.51%
NUCOR
4.50%
STEEL DYNAMICS
4.46%
FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC
4.36%
PEABODY ENERGY
4.36%
URANIUM ENERGY
4.36%
NEWMONT CORP
4.26%
COMMERCIAL METALS
4.22%
ROYAL GOLD
4.21%
CLEVELAND CLIFFS INC
4.16%
HECLA MINING
4.02%
CENTRUS ENERGY CORP
3.96%
Frequently asked questions about VAW and XME
How have the VAW and XME ETFs performed in 2026?
As of April 28, 2026, VAW is up 12.42% year-to-date (YTD), while XME has returned 13.02%. That puts XME better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VAW or XME?
Year-to-date, the VAW ETF saw -$80M in flows, compared to +$1.45B for XME.
Which ETF is more volatile: VAW or XME?
Over the past year, VAW had a volatility of 17.13%, while XME experienced 32.69%.
Which ETF is bigger: VAW or XME?
As of April 28, 2026, VAW holds $3.08 B in assets under management (AUM), while XME manages $5.27 B.
What sectors do the VAW and XME ETFs invest in?
VAW leans toward sectors like Materials. Meanwhile, XME focuses on Materials and Energy.
What are the top holdings of the VAW ETF and XME ETF?
VAW top holdings include IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC. XME holds in its top three: WARRIOR MET COAL, US2189371006 and ALCOA CORP.
Which ETF is more diversified: VAW or XME?
VAW holds 112 securities with 64.3% of its assets in the top 15. XME has 37 securities and a top 15 weight of 65.96%.
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Latest news about VAW & XME
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December 26, 2023
XME
Tony's ETF Buyer's Guide: Sector ETFs (Vanguard versus State Street SPDR)
December 1, 2023
VAW
Trending sub-sectors in 2022
July 12, 2022
XME
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