VO vs XLB: 4% overlap
Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund share 4.3% of their portfolios by weight — computed as Σ min(wA, wB) over every holding both funds own.
You would hold two tickers and get the diversification of 2.0. Two funds that shared nothing would score 2.0; two identical funds score 1.0.
Top shared holdings
VO and XLB hold 15 of the same securities. The ten contributing most to the overlap figure:
| Holding | in VO | in XLB | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRH | 0.7% | 4.3% | 3.6% |
| CTVA | 0.5% | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| NUE | 0.5% | 4.2% | 3.8% |
| NEM | 0.5% | 6.0% | 5.5% |
| VMC | 0.4% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| MLM | 0.3% | 4.4% | 4.0% |
| APD | 0.3% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| PPG | 0.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| PKG | 0.2% | 2.8% | 2.6% |
| STLD | 0.2% | 4.0% | 3.8% |
Where VO and XLB differ
Sector weights as a share of each fund, ordered by the size of the gap rather than the size of the sector — two funds that overlap heavily still usually diverge somewhere.
| Sector | VO | XLB | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | 4.3% | 99.8% | −95.5pp |
| Industrials | 19.6% | 0.0% | +19.6pp |
| Information Technology | 16.1% | 0.0% | +16.1pp |
| Financials | 14.0% | 0.0% | +14.0pp |
| Consumer Discretionary | 8.9% | 0.0% | +8.9pp |
| Utilities | 8.4% | 0.0% | +8.4pp |
| Health Care | 7.8% | 0.0% | +7.8pp |
| Energy | 7.3% | 0.0% | +7.3pp |
Δ is VO minus XLB, in percentage points. Sector data is not published by every issuer, so “Unclassified” is a real category rather than a gap in the table.
What each fund holds alone
95.3% of VO by weight, held in no part of XLB.
45.9% of XLB by weight, held in no part of VO.
A large count with a small weight is the usual shape: the positions one fund adds are typically its smallest ones.
Concentration and cost
| VO | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 10 holdings | 9.5% | 57.4% |
| Positions held | 283 | 28 |
| Cost per $10,000 held, per year | $3 | $8 |
Cost is the expense ratio applied to $10,000; it excludes any brokerage commission, bid-ask spread or tax consequence. Figures are facts about the funds, not a suggestion about which to hold.
Frequently asked
How much do VO and XLB overlap?
VO and XLB overlap 4.3% by portfolio weight — largely distinct portfolios. They share 15 holdings. The figure comes from current issuer holdings files (VO as of 2026-06-30, XLB as of 2026-07-23).
How is the overlap between VO and XLB calculated?
As the sum of the smaller weight in each fund, over every holding both funds own: Σ min(wA, wB). If VO holds a stock at 6% and XLB holds the same stock at 4%, 4% counts as shared. The result is bounded between 0% and 100%, and it is computed after looking through any fund-of-funds to the underlying holdings.
Is it redundant to hold both VO and XLB?
That depends on your goals — we state facts, not advice. At 4.3% overlap, each fund still contributes meaningfully distinct exposure.
What does VO own that XLB doesn't?
VO holds 283 positions and XLB holds 28; 268 of VO's positions don't appear in XLB at all, and they are 95.3% of VO by weight.
You probably hold more than two funds
This page compares VO and XLB. Paste your whole portfolio — brokerage, 401(k), IRA — and see the overlap across every fund at once, plus what you actually own underneath them and your own Effective Funds number. Free, no account, nothing stored.
X-ray my portfolio — free →Watch VO vs XLB
We re-read both funds’ published holdings every weeknight. Leave an address and we'll tell you when what's inside actually changes.
Not sending yet — email alerts are built but switched off, and you'll be among the first when they turn on. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.
Related comparisons
Sources: issuer holdings files, VO as of 2026-06-30, XLB as of 2026-07-23. Weights are fractions of each fund. Diagnostics, not advice.