The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) is a fund that invests in industrial companies.
It provides focused exposure to the U.S. industrial sector, tracking a benchmark of established firms involved in manufacturing, construction, and logistics.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Of course. Here is a comprehensive analysis of whether XLI is worth buying.
Technical Analysis XLI is demonstrating formidable momentum, significantly outperforming the broader market over the past three months and trading near its 52-week high. This indicates strong investor confidence and leadership within the industrial sector. While its higher volatility (beta of 1.12) has fueled these gains, it also contributed to a substantial maximum drawdown of -17.82% over the past year, highlighting its sensitivity to market shifts.
Fundamental & Valuation Outlook The industrial sector, which XLI tracks, is generally considered a bellwether for economic health. Without specific constituent data, valuation metrics like a P/E ratio of 28.07 suggest the market is pricing in expectations for robust future earnings growth. This premium valuation requires sustained economic expansion to be justified. The price-to-book ratio of 1.67 appears reasonable, indicating the ETF is trading at a moderate premium to its underlying assets' net value.
Risk Assessment The primary risk for XLI is its cyclical nature; its performance is heavily tied to economic growth, manufacturing data, and global trade flows. Its higher beta means it will likely experience greater swings than the overall market, necessitating a patient investment approach. Investors should be mindful of macroeconomic headwinds like rising interest rates or a potential economic slowdown, which could pressure industrial company profits.
XLI presents a compelling opportunity for investors bullish on the continued strength of the industrial economy and who can tolerate above-average volatility. Its strong relative performance and momentum suggest underlying sector strength. For long-term portfolios, XLI offers a strategic allocation to a key cyclical sector, though investors should be prepared for potential short-term volatility driven by economic data.
Of course. Here is a 12-month outlook for XLI based on the provided information.
12-Month Outlook for XLI:
The outlook for XLI is cautiously optimistic, leaning on continued economic resilience but facing significant macroeconomic headwinds. Key catalysts include robust industrial production data, strong capital expenditure cycles, and potential benefits from ongoing infrastructure and reshoring trends. The primary risks are a sharper-than-expected economic slowdown or a sustained period of high interest rates, which would pressure the cyclical industrial sector and challenge its current premium valuation. Given its high beta and cyclical nature, a realistic 12-month target range would be $175-$190, contingent on a "soft landing" scenario for the economy; failure of this scenario presents considerable downside risk.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about XLI's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $164.27, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, XLI has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
XLI has demonstrated strong momentum with solid gains over recent months while currently trading near its 52-week highs. The ETF significantly outperformed the broader market over the past three months, indicating robust relative strength despite its higher volatility profile compared to the market.
Over the past month, XLI gained 3.98%, accelerating to a 6.99% return over three months. This performance notably exceeded the broader market by 3.62 percentage points during the three-month period, highlighting the industrial sector's recent leadership. The ETF's beta of 1.12 confirms it has been more volatile than the overall market, which contributed to both its strong outperformance and its maximum drawdown of -17.82% over the past year.
Currently trading at $164.01, XLI sits just 0.3% below its 52-week high of $164.54, placing it in the upper echelon of its yearly range. This proximity to record territory suggests the ETF is approaching overbought conditions, though the sustained momentum indicates underlying strength. The minimal distance from recent peaks combined with the significant recovery from its 52-week low demonstrates substantial investor confidence in the industrial sector.
| Period | XLI Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +4.8% | +1.3% |
| 3m | +9.6% | +5.7% |
| 6m | +9.6% | +10.6% |
| 1y | +21.4% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +4.0% | +1.1% |
Of course. Since no specific financial data is available for XLI, I will provide a general analysis.
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1. Revenue & Profitability Without specific data, a general analysis cannot be provided. Revenue and profitability trends are fundamental to assessing a company's core operations. To evaluate this, data on sales growth, gross margins, and net income over recent quarters and years would be required.
2. Financial Health An analysis of financial health is impossible without key metrics. Critical figures such as the debt-to-equity ratio, interest coverage ratio, and details on operating and free cash flow are essential to determine the company's leverage, liquidity, and overall stability.
3. Operational Efficiency Operational performance cannot be gauged in the absence of financial data. Key indicators like Return on Equity (ROE) and asset turnover ratios are necessary to measure how effectively management is utilizing shareholder equity and company assets to generate profits.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardBased on the available metrics, XLI trades at a PE ratio of 28.07 and a PB ratio of 1.67. Without a forward PE or industry context, a definitive valuation call is challenging; however, the PE ratio suggests a premium valuation that may incorporate expectations of significant future earnings growth. The PB ratio appears reasonable, indicating the market price is moderately above the company's book value per share.
A peer comparison cannot be meaningfully conducted as industry average data is not available. The lack of comparative benchmarks for PE and PB ratios makes it indeterminate whether XLI is trading at a premium or discount relative to its industry peers. Further analysis requires obtaining reliable industry-specific valuation multiples for a proper assessment.
XLI's beta of 1.12 indicates it carries slightly more systematic risk than the broader market, meaning it is expected to be around 12% more volatile. Its 1-year maximum drawdown of -17.82% demonstrates notable downside risk during market corrections, which is significant for investors with a low-risk tolerance. This combination suggests the fund may experience more pronounced price swings than the overall market, requiring a longer investment horizon to ride out potential volatility.
The fund does not face significant short-selling pressure, which typically reduces the risk of a short squeeze. However, as an ETF tracking industrial stocks, it remains exposed to macroeconomic risks such as economic slowdowns, supply chain disruptions, and changes in industrial production and global trade. Sector-specific risks include sensitivity to interest rates (affecting capital-intensive businesses) and geopolitical tensions impacting global operations.
Opinion: Bullish for tactical, momentum-focused investors; neutral for long-term value investors.
Supporting Reasons: 1. Strong Momentum: Trading near 52-week highs with significant outperformance (6.99% over 3 months vs. broader market) 2. Sector Leadership: Industrials showing relative strength amid market volatility 3. Reasonable Valuation: PB ratio of 1.67 suggests moderate pricing relative to book value
Suitable Investor Types: - Tactical investors seeking near-term sector momentum - Long-term investors comfortable with cyclical volatility (beta 1.12) - Those seeking diversified industrial exposure rather than single-stock risk
Note: Bullish view tempered by cyclical risks and proximity to peaks—better for adding on pullbacks than chasing all-time highs.
Based on the limited data provided, XLI appears to be overvalued.
1. Judgment: The stock is likely overvalued based on its high trailing P/E ratio of 28.07, which suggests investors are paying a significant premium for its current earnings. 2. Limited Comparison: A definitive comparison is hampered by the lack of forward-looking metrics (like Forward P/E or PEG) and industry average data. However, a P/E of 28 is generally considered high unless supported by exceptional growth. 3. Key Metrics: The primary metrics are the P/E ratio of 28.07 and the P/B ratio of 1.67. The P/E indicates high earnings expectations, while the P/B suggests the market price is moderately above its book value. 4. Explanation: This valuation likely hinges on strong future growth expectations rather than current profitability. Without a PEG ratio to validate if growth justifies the high P/E, the stock carries significant risk if those growth projections are not met. The reasonable P/B ratio offers some downside protection but does not offset the lofty earnings multiple.
Of course. Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI):
1. Market and Sector Volatility: The ETF's beta of 1.12 indicates it is more volatile than the broader market, and its significant 17.82% maximum drawdown demonstrates heightened vulnerability to market downturns, posing a substantial risk for investors with a short time horizon or low risk tolerance. 2. Macroeconomic Sensitivity: As a collection of industrial stocks, XLI is exposed to risks from economic slowdowns, interest rate changes that impact capital-intensive businesses, and global supply chain disruptions. 3. Concentration and Cyclical Risk: The fund's performance is heavily concentrated in the industrial sector, making it susceptible to sector-specific downturns and highly correlated with the cycles of industrial production and global trade. 4. Technical Overextension Risk: Trading near its 52-week high suggests the potential for a pullback or consolidation, as current prices may already reflect positive news, increasing near-term vulnerability to profit-taking.
Of course. Based on the provided information and the nature of the XLI ETF, here is a forecast through 2026.
XLI Stock Forecast through 2026
The forecast for XLI hinges on the health of the broader economy. Assuming a "soft landing" where inflation is controlled without a severe recession, the base case target price for late 2026 is in the range of $190-$210. A bull case of $220-$240 is possible if reshoring, infrastructure spending, and a strong industrial cycle exceed expectations.
Key growth drivers include the sustained implementation of government infrastructure bills, continued capital expenditure cycles in areas like factory automation and aerospace, and supply chain reshoring trends benefiting U.S. industrial companies.
The primary assumptions are moderate economic growth, a gradual decline in interest rates after 2024, and no major global recessions. The forecast carries significant uncertainty, as XLI's performance is highly cyclical and heavily dependent on macroeconomic conditions; a recession would likely result in prices well below the current level.