Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IBB vs XLB: how they differ
IBB and XLB hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and IBB returned more over the year.
iShares Biotechnology ETF and State Street(R) Materials Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, IBB and XLB hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in IBB | Only in XLB |
|---|---|
| VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS 7.94% | LINDE PLC 12.91% |
| AMGEN INC 7.85% | NEWMONT CORP 8.14% |
| GILEAD SCIENCES 7.44% | FREEPORT MCMORAN INC 6.19% |
| REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS 5.92% | CORTEVA INC 5.11% |
| ARGENX SE ADR 3.78% | AIR PRODUCTS + CHEMICALS INC 4.78% |
| MODERNA 3.67% | ECOLAB INC 4.75% |
| NATERA 3.30% | SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO/THE 4.70% |
| REVOLUTION MEDICINES 2.87% | NUCOR CORP 4.59% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Sep 10, 2026.
| IBB iShares Biotechnology ETF | XLB State Street(R) Materials Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street |
| What it is | Biotechnology | Materials |
| Total return, 1 year | +41.5% | +12.0% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +24.0 pts | −5.5 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.44% | 0.08% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 35.6% | 100.0% |
| Holdings | 233 | 27 |
IBB in plain words
IBB is an index equity fund tracking the Biotechnology. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +41.5% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.44% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 36% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 233 positions, with the top ten at 47.5%. It sat 6.5% below its high of Aug 19, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
XLB in plain words
XLB is an index equity fund tracking the Materials. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +12.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.08% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 100% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 27 positions, with the top ten at 59.4%. It sat 5.1% below its high of Aug 26, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IBB or XLB?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IBB returned +41.5% and XLB returned +12.0%, so IBB returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, IBB or XLB?
- IBB charges 0.44% a year and XLB charges 0.08%, so XLB is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do IBB and XLB overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 36% of IBB and 100% of XLB by weight is stocks the S&P 500 already holds. Between the two funds, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight.
Other comparisons
Where to next
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, IBB against XLB, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/ibb-vs-xlb Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources