ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IBB.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XBI.
Tracks the ICE Biotechnology Index of US-listed biotechnology companies.
Tracks the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index using equal-weight methodology.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
02/05/2001
01/31/2006
Beta
0.69
1.1
Last dividend
$0.0240
$0.1380
Ex-dividend date
06/15/2026
09/21/2026
Bottom lineIBB and XBI are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: XBI is cheaper at 0.35% vs 0.45%.
Most used
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
Want to go deeper?
Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — no signup required.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
IBB has lagged XBI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 43.42% total return against 76.91%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XBI has compounded at 10.86% a year, against 8.05% for IBB. IBB has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 27.5% for XBI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Feb 2006” measures every fund from February 6, 2006 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
IBB (iShares Biotechnology ETF) and XBI (SPDR S&P Biotech ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
XBI offers the higher yield at 0.36% vs 0.05% for IBB. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
XBI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.35% compared to 0.45%.
They track different benchmarks: IBB is linked to ICE Biotechnology Index while XBI tracks S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XBI is the larger fund by assets ($7.87B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose IBB
iShares Biotechnology ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 0.7 vs 1.1 for XBI.
Choose XBI
SPDR S&P Biotech ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.35% expense ratio vs 0.45% for IBB.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, IBB would generate roughly $0.42/month, while XBI would produce $3.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
IBB yield0.05%
XBI yield0.36%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.58
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IBB would cost approximately $450 in fees vs $350 for XBI (simplified, not compounded). The $100.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IBB ER0.45%
XBI ER0.35%
Strategy & risk
IBB tracks ICE Biotechnology Index, while XBI tracks S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. Beta is 0.69 for IBB and 1.1 for XBI, indicating IBB is less volatile relative to the market.
IBB beta0.69
XBI beta1.1
Fund details
IBB is managed by iShares (launched 02/05/2001) with $7.84B in assets. XBI is managed by State Street (launched 01/31/2006) with $7.87B in assets.
Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.
Frequently asked questions
Is IBB or XBI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. XBI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between IBB and XBI?
IBB (iShares Biotechnology ETF) tracks ICE Biotechnology Index, while XBI (SPDR S&P Biotech ETF) tracks S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.
Can I hold both IBB and XBI?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, IBB or XBI?
IBB has an expense ratio of 0.45% while XBI charges 0.35%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in IBB vs XBI generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in IBB would generate roughly $0.42 per month ($5.00 annually). The same in XBI would produce about $3.00 per month ($36.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IBB or XBI?
IBB has lagged XBI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 43.42% total return against 76.91%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XBI has compounded at 10.86% a year, against 8.05% for IBB. IBB has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 20.4% against 27.5% for XBI. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio
See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.
