AlgovestIQ · Sector Intelligence
Materials Sector Performance Today
Materials sector price performance from XLB, with the AIQ breadth reading that shows how many of the 78 covered materials stocks are behind the move.
AIQ participation
Narrowing leadershipMaterials is beating the S&P 500 while fewer than half of its stocks improve — the move is being carried by a shrinking group. It sits at +0.80 percentage points versus the S&P 500 with 23% of its covered stocks improving over the past week. This describes the current relationship between price and participation; it is not a forecast.
Materials stocks by AIQ signal
Highest AIQ scores
Strongest current evidence in the sector.
Improving fastest
Largest AIQ gains over the past 7 days.
| Symbol | Company | 7d change (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| SOLS | Solstice Advanced Materials Inc. | +7 |
| KALU | Kaiser Aluminum Corporation | +6 |
| LAC | Lithium Americas Corp. | +5 |
| JCI | Johnson Controls International plc | +5 |
| NUE | Nucor Corporation | +4 |
| GGB | Gerdau S.A. | +3 |
| CE | Celanese Corporation | +2 |
| CX | CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. | +2 |
| CLF | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. | +2 |
| STLD | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | +2 |
Weakening fastest
Largest AIQ declines over the past 7 days.
| Symbol | Company | 7d change (0–100) |
|---|---|---|
| SQM | Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. | -12 |
| BHP | BHP Group Limited | -11 |
| ECL | Ecolab Inc. | -10 |
| LIN | Linde plc | -8 |
| TMC | TMC the metals company inc. | -7 |
| DOW | Dow Inc. | -7 |
| ALB | Albemarle Corporation | -7 |
| KGC | Kinross Gold Corporation | -7 |
| EMN | Eastman Chemical Company | -7 |
| AA | Alcoa Corporation | -6 |
Compare the sector's two strongest names side by side: SILV vs TX, or open any symbol above for its full technicals and fundamentals.
Methodology
Materials sector performance is represented by XLB, the Select Sector SPDR fund, and reflects price return, not total return — dividends are excluded. The fund holds S&P 500 constituents, so it describes large-cap materials exposure rather than every listed company in the sector.
AIQ breadth is the share of the 78 covered materials stocks with an AIQ score of 7 or higher on the 1–10 scale — a level reading. Improving is the share whose underlying AIQ composite rose over the past seven days — a change reading. The composite runs 0–100 with 50 neutral, so the two figures are related but sit on different scales and should not be read as one number. Funds are excluded from both, so an ETF's holdings are never counted twice. The state label is derived from the benchmark-relative return and the improving share alone, using the same rule as the sector hub.
Data as of 2026-09-10, market close.
Materials sector — frequently asked questions
How is the materials sector performing today?
Materials is +11.93% over the year to date, measured by XLB, the Select Sector SPDR fund for the sector. The full return set is -1.23% over one day, -4.14% over one week, -3.46% over one month, +2.34% over three months and +11.93% year to date. These are price returns and exclude dividends.
Which ETF tracks the materials sector?
XLB, the Select Sector SPDR fund, is used on this page as the materials sector benchmark. It holds the S&P 500 constituents assigned to the sector, weighted by market capitalisation, so it represents large-cap sector exposure rather than every listed company in the sector.
How many materials stocks are participating?
42% of the 78 covered materials stocks currently carry an AIQ score of 7 or higher on the 1 to 10 scale, and 23% saw their underlying AIQ composite rise over the past seven days. The first is a level reading of how much of the sector is in constructive shape; the second is a change reading on the 0 to 100 composite, so the two sit on different scales. Funds are excluded from both so their holdings are not counted twice.
What does "Narrowing leadership" mean?
Materials is beating the S&P 500 while fewer than half of its stocks improve — the move is being carried by a shrinking group. It sits at +0.80 percentage points versus the S&P 500 with 23% of its covered stocks improving over the past week. This describes the current relationship between price and participation; it is not a forecast.