Why I Monitor XLI And XLB As Leading Indicators For S&P 500

Industrial (XLI) and Materials (XLB) sectors have underperformed the broader market both in terms of price and dividend growth. In particular, XLI's dividend declined 11.8% YOY as of the 2026 September declaration (and XLB's up just 0.5% YOY).

Seeking Alpha • 6 hours ago

Ignoring the Noise: The Long-Term Case for Materials

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.

ETF Trends • Oct 1, 2026

ValuEngine Weekly Commentary: Sector And ETF Performance

U.S. equity markets were mixed this week, with technology and growth-related areas leading, while several defensive and rate-sensitive sectors moved lower. The NASDAQ 100 ETF rose 3.24%, and the S&P 500 ETF gained 1.29%, supported by strong performance in Technology, Communication Services, Health Care, and Industrials.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 29, 2026

The Anti-AI ETF? Wedbush Wants to Own What AI Can't Replace

Wedbush is betting that there is still an investment-friendly economy beyond artificial intelligence.

Benzinga • Sep 23, 2026

Basic Materials Sector Still Shows Promise In 2026, But Proceed With Caution

The Basic Materials sector has outperformed in 2026, but momentum may stall in Q4 due to macro headwinds. Top XLB holdings like Newmont, Freeport-McMoran, Linde, Corteva, Air Products and Chemicals, and Nucor have delivered strong YTD performance, while SHW and VMC have lagged.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 22, 2026

XLB: Materials Dashboard For 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.

Seeking Alpha • Sep 19, 2026

September Is Harsh on the Stock Market. Put These 2 Sectors on Your Buy List.

The stock market typically takes a hit in early fall. We like two sector ETFs whose September dips are regularly bested by their bigger rises in October.

Barrons • Sep 2, 2026

Should You Invest in the State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB)?

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.

Zacks Investment Research • Aug 24, 2026

The Economically Sensitive Materials Sector Is Breaking Out

Basic Materials broke out of a multi-month consolidation, with unusually broad strength in copper and agricultural input stocks creating several attractive trend-trading setups. The strength in economically sensitive Materials supports the narrative of a healthy economy with persistent inflation.

Seeking Alpha • Aug 24, 2026

These 3 Sectors Will Outperform if the Fed Hikes Rates

Oil stocks, materials and techs have been market leaders this year. That trend could continue if the Federal Reserve raises interest rates later this year and in 2027.

Barrons • Aug 24, 2026