MDY vs XLB
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust vs State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to mid-cap U.S. companies balancing growth potential and stability. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.24%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.15%. Launched in 1995, the fund has a 31-year track record.
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to us sector - materials securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.74%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLB is significantly cheaper at 0.09% vs 0.24% expense ratio, saving you approximately $296 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. XLB has edged ahead over the past year (15.8% vs 13.9%). Income investors may prefer XLB for its higher yield (1.7% vs 1.1%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
MDY Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Ciena Corp | 102.57% |
| Coherent Corp | 90.18% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc | 81.25% |
| Flex Ltd | 69.47% |
| Twilio Inc | 67.05% |
| United Therapeutics Corp | 65.23% |
| Pure Storage Inc | 65.05% |
| Casey's General Stores Inc | 63.89% |
| Curtiss-Wright Corp | 63.20% |
| Illumina Inc | 62.31% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLB if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose XLB if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.