The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) and the iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. XLF is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Financial fund and IWB is a iShares Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between XLF and IWB? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of XLF is 0.03 percentage points lower than IWB’s (0.12% vs. 0.15%). XLF also has a higher exposure to the financial services sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, XLF has provided lower returns than IWB over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare XLF vs. IWB. We’ll look at risk metrics and portfolio growth, as well as at their industry exposure and performance. Moreover, I’ll also discuss XLF’s and IWB’s fund composition, holdings, and annual returns and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| XLF | IWB | |
| Name | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | iShares Russell 1000 ETF |
| Category | Financial | Large Blend |
| Issuer | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | iShares |
| AUM | 40.81B | 30.54B |
| Avg. Return | 12.17% | 14.64% |
| Div. Yield | 1.57% | 1.14% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.15% |
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) is a Financial fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 40.81B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 12.17% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.57% with an expense ratio of 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%.
XLF’s dividend yield is 0.43% higher than that of IWB (1.57% vs. 1.14%). Also, XLF yielded on average 2.47% less per year over the past decade (12.17% vs. 14.64%). The expense ratio of XLF is 0.03 percentage points lower than IWB’s (0.12% vs. 0.15%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| XLF | IWB | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 25.33% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 8.88% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 2.44% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 10.83% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 2.36% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 13.35% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 5.97% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 3.34% |
| Financial Services | 100.0% | 13.64% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 11.85% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 2.02% |
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 100.0%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Real Estate (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
XLF’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, Energy, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 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%.
XLF is 86.36% more exposed to the Financial Services sector than IWB (100.0% vs 13.64%). XLF’s exposure to Technology and Industrials stocks is 25.33% lower and 8.88% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 25.33% and 0.0% vs. 8.88%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Real Estate, and Consumer Defensive also make up 21.16% less of the fund’s holdings compared to IWB (0.00% vs. 21.16%).
Holdings
| XLF Holdings | Weight |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B | 12.83% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 11.47% |
| Bank of America Corp | 7.57% |
| Wells Fargo & Co | 4.56% |
| Citigroup Inc | 3.56% |
| Morgan Stanley | 3.32% |
| Goldman Sachs Group Inc | 3.15% |
| BlackRock Inc | 3.02% |
| Charles Schwab Corp | 2.66% |
| American Express Co | 2.62% |
XLF’s Top Holdings are Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Bank of America Corp, Wells Fargo & Co, and Citigroup Inc at 12.83%, 11.47%, 7.57%, 4.56%, and 3.56%.
Morgan Stanley (3.32%), Goldman Sachs Group Inc (3.15%), and BlackRock Inc (3.02%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Charles Schwab Corp and American Express Co are also represented in the XLF’s holdings at 2.66% and 2.62%.
| IWB Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 5.45% |
| Microsoft Corp | 5.11% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 3.43% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 2.03% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.93% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 1.82% |
| Tesla Inc | 1.27% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B | 1.24% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 1.11% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 1.09% |
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%.
Risk Analysis
| XLF | IWB | |
| Mean Return | 1.21 | 1.27 |
| R-squared | 73.26 | 99.73 |
| Std. Deviation | 18.86 | 13.87 |
| Alpha | 2.63 | -0.38 |
| Beta | 1.15 | 1.02 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.74 | 1.05 |
| Treynor Ratio | 11.25 | 14.31 |
The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) has a Beta of 1.15 with a Standard Deviation of 18.86 and a Mean Return of 1.21. Its Alpha is 2.63 while XLF’s Sharpe Ratio is 0.74. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 11.25 and a R-squared of 73.26.
The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) has a Alpha of -0.38 with a Sharpe Ratio of 1.05 and a Mean Return of 1.27. Its R-squared is 99.73 while IWB’s Beta is 1.02. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 14.31 and a Standard Deviation of 13.87.
XLF’s Mean Return is 0.06 points lower than that of IWB and its R-squared is 26.47 points lower. With a Standard Deviation of 18.86, XLF is slightly more volatile than IWB. The Alpha and Beta of XLF are 3.01 points higher and 0.13 points higher than IWB’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | XLF | IWB |
| 2020 | -1.68% | 20.8% |
| 2019 | 31.88% | 31.26% |
| 2018 | -13.09% | -4.91% |
| 2017 | 22.03% | 21.53% |
| 2016 | 22.55% | 11.91% |
| 2015 | -1.6% | 0.82% |
| 2014 | 15.02% | 13.08% |
| 2013 | 35.37% | 32.93% |
| 2012 | 28.53% | 16.27% |
| 2011 | -17.16% | 1.36% |
| 2010 | 11.97% | 15.94% |
XLF had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 35.37%. XLF’s worst year over the past decade yielded -17.16% and occurred in 2011. In most years the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund provided moderate returns such as in 2010, 2014, and 2017 where annual returns amounted to 11.97%, 15.02%, and 22.03% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for IWB, returning 32.93% on an annual basis. The poorest year for IWB in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -4.91%. Most years the iShares Russell 1000 ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012, when gains were 13.08%, 15.94%, and 16.27% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| XLF | $10,000 | $30,782 | 12.17% |
| IWB | $10,000 | $42,462 | 14.64% |
A $10,000 investment in XLF would have resulted in a final balance of $30,782. This is a profit of $20,782 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.17%.
With a $10,000 investment in IWB, the end total would have been $42,462. This equates to a $32,462 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.64%.
XLF’s CAGR is 2.47 percentage points lower than that of IWB and as a result, would have yielded $11,680 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, XLF performed worse than IWB by 2.47% annually.
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