Materials Sector Performance: The S&P 500 materials sector has underperformed in 2025, ranking seventh among the 11 major sectors, with a year-to-date gain of only +6.9%, trailing broader market averages.
ETF Performance: The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB) has also shown modest growth of about +7.4% this year, reflecting the sector's overall lackluster performance.
Top Performing Stocks: Despite the sector's struggles, certain companies have excelled, with Newmont leading at +167.2% YTD, followed by Albemarle and Steel Dynamics with gains of +56.5% and +51.4%, respectively.
Market Context: The article also touches on broader market trends, including concerns about stagflation and the performance of other sectors, such as energy and technology, which have seen significant gains.
Wall Street analysts forecast XLB stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for XLB is USD with a low forecast of USD and a high forecast of USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
0 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast XLB stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for XLB is USD with a low forecast of USD and a high forecast of USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
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0 Sell
Current: 49.240
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Current: 49.240
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About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
