September proved to be a fairly tumultuous month for many equity sectors outside of tech, and the materials sector was no exception. Key Takeaways: With the exception of tech, many equity sectors struggled to perform well in September.
Construction materials and packaging are moderately overvalued, while chemicals show the weakest combination of value and quality scores. XLB's portfolio is heavily concentrated, with chemicals comprising 49% of assets and the top 10 holdings accounting for nearly 59%. XLB has outperformed the S&P 500 from 1999 through 2023, then lagged by a wide margin over the past three years.
The State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) was launched on December 16, 1998, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Materials - Broad segment of the equity market.
It's likely fair to say that all of the sectors of the equity market have reacted to 2026's geopolitical pressures in different ways, be it positive or negative. That being said, none have moved in quite as interesting a direction as the materials sector.
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF is rated 'Hold' due to limited upside after a recent sector rebound. The materials sector benefits from infrastructure and manufacturing trends, but much of the cyclical recovery appears priced in. XLB offers efficient, low-cost exposure to large-cap U.S. materials companies, but its concentrated portfolio amplifies cyclicality risks.
The State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) was launched on December 16, 1998, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Materials - Broad segment of the equity market.
State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF remains rated Hold, with valuation no longer compelling after a 20% gain since November 2025. XLB's P/E has risen to 19x, while its sector exposure is highly concentrated and increasingly sensitive to geopolitical and macroeconomic shifts. Technical signals are mixed: XLB recently failed at previous highs, with the 50dma turning down, but the primary trend remains bullish above the 200dma.
The State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) was launched on December 16, 1998, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Materials - Broad segment of the equity market.
Whenever a market pro makes a bold call on television, it can be tempting to try to follow him to get a leg up over the crowd.
Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLB - Get Free Report) saw some unusual options trading on Friday. Investors acquired 247,446 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 450% compared to the average volume of 44,979 put options. Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund Trading Down 1.0% NYSEARCA:XLB opened at $49.19 on Friday. The
Launched on December 16, 1998, the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Materials - Broad segment of the equity market.
Materials companies operate at the front end of nearly every supply chain. When construction picks up, steel and cement move.