Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IBB vs XLE: how they differ
IBB and XLE hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and XLE returned more over the year.
iShares Biotechnology ETF and State Street(R) Energy Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, IBB and XLE hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in IBB | Only in XLE |
|---|---|
| VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS 7.94% | EXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP 20.13% |
| AMGEN INC 7.85% | CHEVRON CORP 15.18% |
| GILEAD SCIENCES 7.44% | CONOCOPHILLIPS 6.36% |
| REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS 5.92% | MARATHON PETROLEUM CORP 5.63% |
| ARGENX SE ADR 3.78% | PHILLIPS 66 5.52% |
| MODERNA 3.67% | VALERO ENERGY CORP 5.38% |
| NATERA 3.30% | SLB LTD 4.49% |
| REVOLUTION MEDICINES 2.87% | EOG RESOURCES INC 4.15% |
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 | XLE State Street(R) Energy Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street |
| What it is | Biotechnology | Energy |
| Total return, 1 year | +41.5% | +50.7% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +24.0 pts | +33.2 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.44% | 0.08% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 35.6% | 100.0% |
| Holdings | 233 | 24 |
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.
XLE in plain words
XLE is an index equity fund tracking the Energy. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +50.7% 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 24 positions, with the top ten at 74.0%.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IBB or XLE?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IBB returned +41.5% and XLE returned +50.7%, so XLE returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, IBB or XLE?
- IBB charges 0.44% a year and XLE charges 0.08%, so XLE is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do IBB and XLE overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 36% of IBB and 100% of XLE 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
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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 XLE, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/ibb-vs-xle Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources