The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), with $4.92 billion in assets, offers exposure to the materials sector of the S&P 500 with an expense ratio of 0.08% and a dividend yield of 1.92%; its top holdings include Linde Plc (18.35%), Sherwin Williams, and Newmont Corp, comprising 63.49% of assets. XLB has risen 5.51% year-to-date and 0.31% over the past year, exhibiting medium risk with a beta of 1.01 and a three-year standard deviation of 19.19%.
The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) offers passively managed exposure to the materials sector of the S&P 500 Index, with significant assets under management of $4.92 billion. A key attraction is its low annual operating expense ratio of 0.08%, making it the least expensive product in its category, complemented by a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.92%. Year-to-date performance shows a gain of approximately 5.51%, though the one-year return as of June 10, 2025, was modest at 0.31%. The ETF demonstrates a medium risk profile with a beta of 1.01 and a three-year standard deviation of 19.19%. Portfolio concentration is notable: its 29 holdings are heavily weighted towards the top, with the top 10 constituents accounting for 63.49% of total assets, and Linde Plc (LIN) alone representing a substantial 18.35%. Despite its structural advantages, the Materials - Broad sector, to which XLB provides exposure, is ranked in the bottom 44% (9th out of 16) by Zacks Industry classification. Reflecting this mixed outlook, XLB carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold). Alternative ETFs in the broader natural resources space, such as GNR and GUNR, have considerably higher expense ratios of 0.40% and 0.46% respectively.
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Request a DemoOverall Sentiment
mildly positive
Sentiment Score
0.25
Ticker Sentiment
