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Is SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) a Strong ETF Right Now?
ZACKSยท 2025-07-10 11:22
Core Insights - The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) is a smart beta ETF launched on January 31, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Health Care ETFs category [1] - XBI is managed by State Street Global Advisors and has over $5.04 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Health Care sector [5] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index, which is a modified equal weight index representing the biotechnology sub-industry [6] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs like XBI focus on non-cap weighted strategies, selecting stocks based on fundamental characteristics to enhance risk-return performance [3] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category [7] Sector Exposure and Holdings - XBI's portfolio is entirely allocated to the Healthcare sector, with Insmed Inc (INSM) being the largest holding at approximately 3.29% of total assets [8][9] - The top 10 holdings of XBI account for about 27.56% of its total assets under management [9] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, XBI has experienced a loss of approximately -2.42%, and over the last 12 months, it is down about -6.86% [11] - The ETF has a beta of 0.86 and a standard deviation of 29.73% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the biotechnology space include the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology ETF (FBT) and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB), with assets of $1.03 billion and $5.52 billion respectively [13] - FBT has an expense ratio of 0.54%, while IBB charges 0.45%, providing investors with alternative options [13]