XLB
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
#9 of 11 in US Sectors by own-history percentile (high → low)
Relative to SPY
Relative price history
XLB ÷ SPY, 10-year range, as of Jul 17, 2026
How the reading moved
These changes re-score an older XLB÷SPY ratio against today's 10-year window, so they show whether the relative price has drifted toward the highs or lows of its own history — not a peer ranking and not a return forecast.
- About one week: -1.4 pts (from 5.1% on Jun 30, 2026 to 3.7% now)
- About one month: +0.1 pts (from 3.6% on May 29, 2026 to 3.7% now)
US Sectors
Where this sits among peers
US Sectors · XLB highlighted · same axes as the category chart on the home page
Top holdings
Holdings snapshot as of Jul 17, 2026.
What moves this
XLB's earnings are tied to global industrial demand and commodity input prices, so its relative valuation tends to swing with the broader manufacturing cycle — often moving in the same direction as industrials, but amplified by the added volatility of raw-material pricing.
FAQ
Why is materials often grouped with the industrial cycle?
Chemicals, mining, and packaging companies in this sector sell primarily to other industrial businesses, so demand for their output rises and falls with broader manufacturing activity.
Is this sector a good proxy for commodity prices generally?
It's linked to commodity cycles but reflects company earnings and equity valuations, not commodity spot prices directly — the two can diverge for periods of time.
Does China's economy matter a lot here?
Global materials demand is heavily influenced by Chinese industrial activity, so sentiment about China's economy often shows up in this sector's relative price.
US Sectors
Related in this category
- XLPState Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (3.4%)
- XLUState Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (4.3%)
- XLREState Street Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (5.2%)
- XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (6%)
- XLYState Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (0.5%)
- XLFState Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETFNear lows (11.5%)