ETF Versus

SPYG vs XLB

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF vs State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

SPYG State Street

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.57%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.04% Yield: 0.57% Since: 2000-10-02
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

SPYG has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.04% vs 0.09%), saving about $99 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, SPYG has significantly outperformed with a 21.4% return vs 15.8%. Income investors may prefer XLB for its higher yield (1.7% vs 0.6%).

Key Metrics

Metric SPYG XLB
Expense Ratio 0.04% 0.09%
Dividend Yield 0.6% 1.7%
Fund Family State Street State Street
Category US Large Cap Growth US Sector - Materials

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

80 102 124 146 168 190 2021-04 2022-06 2023-10 2024-12 2026-04
SPYG +69.7%
XLB +25.2%

Performance Comparison

Period SPYG XLB Difference
1 Month -3.54% -3.00% -0.54%
3 Months -7.19% +9.24% -16.43%
6 Months -5.92% +12.23% -18.15%
YTD -7.19% +9.24% -16.43%
1 Year +21.39% +15.80% +5.59%
3 Years +77.79% +24.13% +53.66%
5 Years +69.72% +25.21% +44.51%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period SPYG Fees XLB Fees You Save
$10,000 10 years $80 $179 $99
$10,000 20 years $344 $771 $427
$10,000 30 years $1,112 $2,486 $1,373
$50,000 10 years $399 $896 $497
$50,000 30 years $5,560 $12,428 $6,867
$100,000 30 years $11,121 $24,855 $13,734

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric SPYG XLB
Annualized Volatility 21.1% 18.9%
Max Drawdown -33.1% -25.7%
Sharpe Ratio 0.40 0.10

Dividend Comparison

Metric SPYG XLB
Annual Dividend (per share) $0.56 $0.87
Dividend Yield 0.57% 1.74%
Distribution Frequency Quarterly Quarterly

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose SPYG if...

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

Choose SPYG if...

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

Choose XLB if...

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

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