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XLBvsVAWETF Comparison

ETF 1

XLB

State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF

This fund is part of

US Materials

-0.25%

Full XLB fund page

VS

ETF 2

VAW

Vanguard Materials ETF

This fund is part of

US Materials

-0.25%

Full VAW fund page

State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: and Materials. XLB is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.08%, versus 0.09% for VAW. XLB is up 11% year-to-date (YTD) with +$762M in YTD flows. VAW performs worse with 9.64% YTD performance, and -$123M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XLB and VAW 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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XLB vs VAW performance and flow charts

Performance

Cumulative Flows

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Daily, global ETF data for advanced analysis or integration into apps (API), from our partner Trackinsight.

Data Services

Historic performance and flows

Data as of 04/07/2026

		1M	3M	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y
Perf.	XLB VAW	+0.63%+0.04%	+7.80%+5.87%	+11.00%+9.64%	+33.32%+36.32%	+32.76%+35.33%	+39.63%+42.29%
Flows	XLB VAW	-$155M-$30M	+$684M-$123M	+$762M-$123M	+$621M-$173M	+$334M-$575M	-$1.24B-$659M

Volatility and drawdown

		3M	1Y	3Y	5Y
Volatility	XLB VAW	+19.18%+20.86%	+19.34%+19.97%	+16.88%+17.48%	+18.88%+19.67%
Max drawdown	XLB VAW	-12.34%-13.41%	-12.34%-13.41%	-23.18%-23.20%	-24.78%-25.44%
Max drawdown duration	XLB VAW	55d37d	55d37d	445d430d	679d679d

Trading data

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	XLB	VAW
Last sale 4/8/2026 at 1:30 PM	$51.75	$234.66
Previous close 04/07/2026	$50.08	$226.76
Consolidated volume 04/07/2026
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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	XLB	VAW
Tracking error
Tracking difference
1 year cumulative return difference
Best
Worst
Daily return difference
Average
Worst

Main metrics

Last update 4/8/2026 at 1:30 PM

Live

Closed

	XLB	VAW
Last price	$51.75	$234.66
1D performance	+3.33%	+3.48%
AuM	$6.67 B	$2.96 B
E/R	0.08%	0.09%

Characteristics

	XLB	VAW
Management strategy	Passive	Passive
Provider	SPDR	Vanguard
Benchmark	S&P Materials Select Sector Index	MSCI US IMI Materials 25/50 Index
N° of holdings	24	98
Asset class	Equities	Equities
Trailing 12m distribution yield	Join	Join
Inception date	December 16, 1998	January 26, 2004
ESG	No	No

More XLB data on Trackinsight

More VAW data on Trackinsight

Exposure

Countries

XLB

USA

73.56%

Ireland

21.71%

Other

4.73%

VAW

USA

73%

Ireland

20.82%

Other

6.17%

Sectors

XLB

Materials

80.08%

Other

19.92%

VAW

Materials

78.04%

Other

21.96%

Diversification

XLB

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

75.55%

VAW

Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15

65.02%

Top 15 holdings

Data as of February 28, 2026

XLB

IE000S9YS762

13.99%

NEWMONT CORP

8.37%

FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC

5.77%

SHERWIN WILLIAMS

4.92%

CRH PLC

4.74%

ECOLAB

4.64%

CORTEVA INC

4.57%

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS

4.33%

MARTIN MARIETTA

4.03%

NUCOR

4.00%

VULCAN MATERIALS

3.88%

PPG INDUSTRIES

3.35%

STEEL DYNAMICS

3.21%

IE00028FXN24

2.97%

INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO

2.78%

VAW

IE000S9YS762

14.44%

NEWMONT CORP

8.63%

FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC

5.95%

SHERWIN WILLIAMS

5.20%

CRH PLC

4.89%

ECOLAB

4.78%

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS

3.58%

CORTEVA INC

3.29%

VULCAN MATERIALS

2.49%

MARTIN MARIETTA

2.48%

NUCOR

2.46%

CH1430134226

1.97%

PPG INDUSTRIES

1.68%

STEEL DYNAMICS

1.63%

ROYAL GOLD

1.54%

Frequently asked questions about XLB and VAW

How have the XLB and VAW ETFs performed in 2026?

As of April 7, 2026, XLB is up 11% year-to-date (YTD), while VAW has returned 9.64%. That puts XLB better performer ahead so far this year.

Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XLB or VAW?

Year-to-date, the XLB ETF saw +$762M in flows, compared to -$123M for VAW.

Which ETF is more volatile: XLB or VAW?

Over the past year, XLB had a volatility of 19.34%, while VAW experienced 19.97%.

Which ETF is bigger: XLB or VAW?

As of April 7, 2026, XLB holds $6.67 B in assets under management (AUM), while VAW manages $2.96 B.

What sectors do the XLB and VAW ETFs invest in?

XLB leans toward sectors like Materials. Meanwhile, VAW focuses on Materials.

What are the top holdings of the XLB ETF and VAW ETF?

XLB top holdings include IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC. VAW holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.

Which ETF is more diversified: XLB or VAW?

XLB holds 25 securities with 75.55% of its assets in the top 15. VAW has 112 securities and a top 15 weight of 65.02%.

VAW

XLBvsVAWETF Comparison

State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF

Vanguard Materials ETF

XLB vs VAW performance and flow charts

Performance

Cumulative Flows

Get all the metrics on this page, and more, through a reliable ETF data feed

Countries

Sectors

Diversification

Top 15 holdings

How have the XLB and VAW ETFs performed in 2026?

As of April 7, 2026, XLB is up 11% year-to-date (YTD), while VAW has returned 9.64%. That puts XLB better performer ahead so far this year.

Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XLB or VAW?

Year-to-date, the XLB ETF saw +$762M in flows, compared to -$123M for VAW.

Which ETF is more volatile: XLB or VAW?

Over the past year, XLB had a volatility of 19.34%, while VAW experienced 19.97%.

Which ETF is bigger: XLB or VAW?

As of April 7, 2026, XLB holds $6.67 B in assets under management (AUM), while VAW manages $2.96 B.

What sectors do the XLB and VAW ETFs invest in?

XLB leans toward sectors like Materials. Meanwhile, VAW focuses on Materials.

What are the top holdings of the XLB ETF and VAW ETF?

XLB top holdings include IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC. VAW holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.

Which ETF is more diversified: XLB or VAW?

XLB holds 25 securities with 75.55% of its assets in the top 15. VAW has 112 securities and a top 15 weight of 65.02%.

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