ETF Versus

SPDW vs XLB

State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

SPDW State Street

State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.19%. Launched in 2007, the fund has a 19-year track record.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.03% Yield: 3.19% Since: 2007-04-26
XLB State Street

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.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.09% Yield: 1.74% Since: 1998-12-22

Quick Verdict

SPDW has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.03% vs 0.09%), saving about $119 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, SPDW has significantly outperformed with a 25.6% return vs 15.8%. Income investors may prefer SPDW for its higher yield (3.2% vs 1.7%).

Key Metrics

Metric SPDW XLB
Expense Ratio 0.03% 0.09%
Dividend Yield 3.2% 1.7%
Fund Family State Street State Street
Category International Developed US Sector - Materials

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

70 84 98 112 126 140 2021-04 2022-06 2023-10 2024-12 2026-04
SPDW +26.6%
XLB +25.2%

Performance Comparison

Period SPDW XLB Difference
1 Month -2.87% -3.00% +0.13%
3 Months +2.43% +9.24% -6.81%
6 Months +5.33% +12.23% -6.90%
YTD +2.43% +9.24% -6.81%
1 Year +25.60% +15.80% +9.80%
3 Years +42.12% +24.13% +17.99%
5 Years +26.60% +25.21% +1.39%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period SPDW Fees XLB Fees You Save
$10,000 10 years $60 $179 $119
$10,000 20 years $258 $771 $512
$10,000 30 years $835 $2,486 $1,650
$50,000 10 years $299 $896 $597
$50,000 30 years $4,176 $12,428 $8,252
$100,000 30 years $8,352 $24,855 $16,503

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric SPDW XLB
Annualized Volatility 16.3% 18.9%
Max Drawdown -33.0% -25.7%
Sharpe Ratio 0.10 0.10

Dividend Comparison

Metric SPDW XLB
Annual Dividend (per share) $1.47 $0.87
Dividend Yield 3.19% 1.74%
Distribution Frequency Semi-Annual or Annual Quarterly

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose SPDW if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose SPDW if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose SPDW if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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