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IWB vs. XLY: What’s The Difference?

The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. IWB is a iShares Large Blend fund and XLY is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Consumer Cyclical fund. So, what’s the difference between IWB and XLY? And which fund is better?

The expense ratio of IWB is 0.03 percentage points higher than XLY’s (0.15% vs. 0.12%). IWB also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, IWB has provided lower returns than XLY over the past ten years.

In this article, we’ll compare IWB vs. XLY. We’ll look at fund composition and performance, as well as at their industry exposure and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss IWB’s and XLY’s portfolio growth, risk metrics, and holdings and examine how these affect their overall returns.

Summary

IWBXLY
NameiShares Russell 1000 ETFConsumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund
CategoryLarge BlendConsumer Cyclical
IssueriSharesSPDR State Street Global Advisors
AUM30.54B20.21B
Avg. Return14.64%18.86%
Div. Yield1.14%0.63%
Expense Ratio0.15%0.12%

The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) is a Large Blend fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 30.54B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.64% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.14% with an expense ratio of 0.15%.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) is a Consumer Cyclical fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 20.21B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 18.86% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.63% with an expense ratio of 0.12%.

IWB’s dividend yield is 0.51% higher than that of XLY (1.14% vs. 0.63%). Also, IWB yielded on average 4.23% less per year over the past decade (14.64% vs. 18.86%). The expense ratio of IWB is 0.03 percentage points higher than XLY’s (0.15% vs. 0.12%).

Fund Composition

Industry Exposure

IWB vs. XLY - Industry Exposure

IWBXLY
Technology25.33%0.57%
Industrials8.88%0.0%
Energy2.44%0.0%
Communication Services10.83%0.0%
Utilities2.36%0.0%
Healthcare13.35%0.0%
Consumer Defensive5.97%5.34%
Real Estate3.34%0.0%
Financial Services13.64%0.0%
Consumer Cyclical11.85%94.1%
Basic Materials2.02%0.0%

The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 25.33%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 13.64% and 13.35% respectively. Utilities (2.36%), Energy (2.44%), and Real Estate (3.34%) only make up 8.14% of the fund’s total assets.

IWB’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, and Healthcare stocks at 5.97%, 8.88%, 10.83%, 11.85%, and 13.35%.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) has the most exposure to the Consumer Cyclical sector at 94.1%. This is followed by Consumer Defensive and Technology at 5.34% and 0.57% respectively. Financial Services (0.0%), Real Estate (0.0%), and Healthcare (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.

XLY’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, Industrials, and Technology stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.57%.

IWB is 24.76% more exposed to the Technology sector than XLY (25.33% vs 0.57%). IWB’s exposure to Financial Services and Healthcare stocks is 13.64% higher and 13.35% higher respectively (13.64% vs. 0.0% and 13.35% vs. 0.0%). In total, Utilities, Energy, and Real Estate also make up 8.14% more of the fund’s holdings compared to XLY (8.14% vs. 0.00%).

Holdings

IWB - Holdings

IWB HoldingsWeight
Apple Inc5.45%
Microsoft Corp5.11%
Amazon.com Inc3.43%
Facebook Inc Class A2.03%
Alphabet Inc Class A1.93%
Alphabet Inc Class C1.82%
Tesla Inc1.27%
Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B1.24%
NVIDIA Corp1.11%
JPMorgan Chase & Co1.09%

IWB’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 5.45%, 5.11%, 3.43%, 2.03%, and 1.93%.

Alphabet Inc Class C (1.82%), Tesla Inc (1.27%), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (1.24%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. NVIDIA Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co are also represented in the IWB’s holdings at 1.11% and 1.09%.

XLY - Holdings

XLY HoldingsWeight
Amazon.com Inc22.9%
Tesla Inc13.5%
The Home Depot Inc8.74%
McDonald’s Corp4.5%
Nike Inc B4.45%
Lowe’s Companies Inc3.58%
Starbucks Corp3.44%
Target Corp3.12%
Booking Holdings Inc2.35%
TJX Companies Inc2.12%

XLY’s Top Holdings are Amazon.com Inc, Tesla Inc, The Home Depot Inc, McDonald’s Corp, and Nike Inc B at 22.9%, 13.5%, 8.74%, 4.5%, and 4.45%.

Lowe’s Companies Inc (3.58%), Starbucks Corp (3.44%), and Target Corp (3.12%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Booking Holdings Inc and TJX Companies Inc are also represented in the XLY’s holdings at 2.35% and 2.12%.

Risk Analysis

IWBXLY
Mean Return1.271.47
R-squared99.7380.84
Std. Deviation13.8715.97
Alpha-0.386.96
Beta1.021.02
Sharpe Ratio1.051.06
Treynor Ratio14.3116.69

The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) has a Treynor Ratio of 14.31 with a Alpha of -0.38 and a Standard Deviation of 13.87. Its R-squared is 99.73 while IWB’s Sharpe Ratio is 1.05. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 1.02 and a Mean Return of 1.27.

The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) has a Sharpe Ratio of 1.06 with a Alpha of 6.96 and a Mean Return of 1.47. Its Beta is 1.02 while XLY’s Standard Deviation is 15.97. Furthermore, the fund has a R-squared of 80.84 and a Treynor Ratio of 16.69.

IWB’s Mean Return is 0.20 points lower than that of XLY and its R-squared is 18.89 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 13.87, IWB is slightly less volatile than XLY. The Alpha and Beta of IWB are 7.34 points lower and 0.00 points lower than XLY’s Alpha and Beta.

Performance

Annual Returns

IWB vs. XLY - Annual Returns

YearIWBXLY
202020.8%29.66%
201931.26%28.43%
2018-4.91%1.66%
201721.53%22.77%
201611.91%5.87%
20150.82%9.93%
201413.08%9.49%
201332.93%42.74%
201216.27%23.6%
20111.36%5.98%
201015.94%27.36%

IWB had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.93%. IWB’s worst year over the past decade yielded -4.91% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares Russell 1000 ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012 where annual returns amounted to 13.08%, 15.94%, and 16.27% respectively.

The year 2013 was the strongest year for XLY, returning 42.74% on an annual basis. The poorest year for XLY in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of 1.66%. Most years the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund has given investors modest returns, such as in 2015, 2017, and 2012, when gains were 9.93%, 22.77%, and 23.6% respectively.

Portfolio Growth

IWB vs. XLY - Portfolio Growth

FundInitial BalanceFinal BalanceCAGR
IWB$10,000$42,46214.64%
XLY$10,000$63,06618.86%

A $10,000 investment in IWB would have resulted in a final balance of $42,462. This is a profit of $32,462 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.64%.

With a $10,000 investment in XLY, the end total would have been $63,066. This equates to a $53,066 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.86%.

IWB’s CAGR is 4.23 percentage points lower than that of XLY and as a result, would have yielded $20,604 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, IWB performed worse than XLY by 4.23% annually.


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