IWB vs XLB Overlap

IWB is an equity ETF from IShares, while XLB is an equity ETF from SPDR. IWB and XLB show limited overlap, with an estimated weighted overlap of 1.32%. They share 21 holdings in the loaded dataset, led by NEM, FCX, and SHW.

1.3% overlap
#
21Shared Holdings
OK
Low Overlap

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Quick Answer

IWB is an equity ETF from IShares, while XLB is an equity ETF from SPDR. IWB and XLB show limited overlap, with an estimated weighted overlap of 1.32%. They share 21 holdings in the loaded dataset, led by NEM, FCX, and SHW.

  • 1.32% weighted overlap across 21 shared holdings.
  • The top three shared holdings explain 36.06% of the measured overlap.
  • IWB and XLB are closer in breadth than a broad-vs-niche ETF pair.
  • The overlap is mostly explained by the top shared positions rather than sector labels alone.
  • Holding both can still add materially different exposure.

Data Freshness

IWB holdings
Mar 12, 2026
XLB holdings
Mar 12, 2026
Overlap computed
Mar 15, 2026
Data source
Financial Modeling Prep

Review the methodology for the overlap formula and refresh policy.

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About These ETFs

ETF A

IWB

iShares Russell 1000 ETF

Issuer
IShares
Asset class
Equity
Expense ratio
0.15%
AUM
$45B
Inception
May 15, 2000

ETF B

XLB

State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF

Issuer
SPDR
Asset class
Equity
Expense ratio
0.08%
AUM
$7B
Inception
Dec 16, 1998

What Stands Out In This Comparison

01

What This Means

IWB is an equity ETF from IShares, while XLB is an equity ETF from SPDR. IWB and XLB do not own much of the same portfolio weight. That usually means you are combining different parts of the market, with only a small amount of duplication through names like NEM, FCX, and SHW.

02

How They Differ

IWB is an equity ETF from IShares, while XLB is an equity ETF from SPDR. Neither fund clearly dominates on breadth, so the practical difference is more about weighting, index construction, and cost. XLB has the lower expense ratio, while IWB charges more for its exposure.

03

What Drives The Overlap

The overlap is driven by a relatively small set of large shared positions. The top three shared holdings account for 36.06% of the score, which means the result is heavily influenced by the biggest common weights rather than a long tail of tiny positions.

04

When One May Fit Better

Because IWB and XLB are closer in breadth, the better fit usually comes down to index methodology, issuer preference, and cost. XLB has the lower expense ratio, while IWB charges more for its exposure.

Overlap Driver Snapshot

Concentration

The top three shared holdings explain 36.06% of the full overlap score.

That helps show whether the score comes from a handful of giant shared positions or from a broader mix of common holdings.

Shared Sector Tilt

Sector tags are not consistently available for the biggest shared positions in this dataset, so this comparison leans more on the specific holdings than on sector labels.

Top Shared Holdings

These are the holdings contributing the most to the overlap score between IWB and XLB.

HoldingIWB Wt.XLB Wt.Overlap
NEM0.21%8.22%0.21%
FCX0.14%5.68%0.14%
SHW0.12%4.83%0.12%
ECL0.11%4.54%0.11%
APD0.10%4.64%0.10%
CTVA0.08%4.68%0.08%
NUE0.06%4.14%0.06%
MLM0.06%3.89%0.06%
VMC0.06%3.66%0.06%
STLD0.04%3.25%0.04%

Why These ETFs Overlap

IWB is an equity ETF from IShares, while XLB is an equity ETF from SPDR. The overlap exists because both funds allocate meaningful weight to the same holdings. In this dataset, the biggest shared drivers are NEM, FCX, and SHW, which appear in both portfolios and push the overlap score higher.

Holding both IWB and XLB can make sense if you want exposure to different sleeves of the market. The overlap is small enough that both funds may still improve diversification.

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions About IWB and XLB

What is the overlap between IWB and XLB?+
IWB and XLB currently show an estimated weighted overlap of 1.32% based on the loaded holdings data.
How many holdings do IWB and XLB share?+
They share 21 holdings in the current dataset.
Is the IWB and XLB overlap high?+
The current verdict is Low Overlap. That means the two ETFs have limited duplication in portfolio weight.
Why do IWB and XLB overlap?+
IWB and XLB overlap because the same large positions appear in both funds. In this comparison, the top three shared holdings explain 36.06% of the measured overlap score.
Which ETF is broader, IWB or XLB?+
IWB and XLB look closer in breadth than a broad-vs-niche pair, so the main difference is more about strategy and weighting than simple market coverage.

How Overlap Is Calculated

A straightforward approach used by portfolio analysts.

Overlap = sum(min(Weight_A, Weight_B)) for each shared holding

For every stock that appears in both ETFs, we take the smaller of the two weights. Adding up all those minimums gives the total overlap percentage. A score of 100% means the two ETFs hold the exact same stocks in the same proportions.

Want the full explanation? Read the methodology page.

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