Compare/Updated Oct 26, 2026, refreshed every trading day
IBB vs XBI
iShares Biotechnology ETF against State Street SPDR S&P Biotech ETF: 4 years of returns, risk and today’s technical read, from Kavout’s own data.
XBI did better over the period: $1,000 invested on October 28, 2022 grew to $1,797, versus $1,618 for IBB, producing total returns of 79.7% and 61.8%, respectively. XBI also led over three years, 119.7% versus 75.0%, and over the past year, 39.9% versus 35.2%. The trade-off was higher risk: XBI’s 12-month volatility was 29.0% versus 22.7% for IBB, and its worst drawdown was -33.0% versus -24.8%. XBI’s 0.35% expense ratio was lower than IBB’s 0.44%, but XBI’s stronger performance came with greater fluctuations and deeper losses. The funds remained highly correlated, at 0.898 over the comparison period and 0.919 over the last 12 months, though IBB moved only 0.65% for each 1% move in XBI.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($184); 50-day at $208.
- RSI 52, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 11, so the trend is weak.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($141); 50-day at $157.
- RSI 45, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 16, so the trend is weak.
Head to head
Which has returned more, IBB or XBI?
IBB beat XBI in 23 of the last 48 months; XBI won the other 25. The typical monthly gap was 2.20 points.
Total return by period
Which is riskier?
IBB: Sep 19, 2024 to Apr 8, 2025; XBI: Nov 8, 2024 to Apr 8, 2025
- 0.898
- correlation of daily moves, 4 years
- 0.65
- IBB move per 1% in XBI
- 0.919
- correlation, last 12 months
Month by month
Of the last 48 months. The typical gap was 2.20 points.
When did they diverge?
| Month | IBB | XBI | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2024 | +1.8% | +12.6% | -10.73 pts |
| March 2023 | +1.6% | -8.0% | +9.62 pts |
| May 2023 | -3.3% | +4.6% | -7.88 pts |
| November 2023 | +6.4% | +14.0% | -7.65 pts |
Where the numbers come from. 1000 daily adjusted closes per fund from the Kavout market-data API, dividends included. Signals and indicators are Kavout’s own, refreshed nightly. Every figure is calculated from those adjusted closes.
Holdings and fees
What do you actually own with IBB and XBI?
Go deeper
Ask InvestGPT which one fits your portfolio.
Eight research agents read your holdings, the overlap and the tax side, then answer in plain words. Free accounts get one report a month.
More comparisons
Find another comparison.
Track both, get told when something changes.
Add IBB and XBI to a watchlist and Kavout emails you when a signal flips or a price target is hit.
Free account, no card