KRO vs XLB: Correlation
Kronos Worldwide Inc (KRO) and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) show a strong relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.61.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are KRO and XLB?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of KRO and XLB correlate at 0.61, strong. The relationship has been stable: the 1-year correlation (0.58) sits close to the 3-year figure. Stretching to 5 years gives 0.56, with an annualized covariance of 564.7 %².
By 3-year correlation, XLB places #5 of the 17 assets tracked against KRO. The last year tells two different stories: KRO led by 28.0 percentage points, +45.6% for KRO against +17.6% for XLB. Risk is not evenly split, since KRO carries 3.3 times the volatility of the other side.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
KRO vs XLB: side by side
| KRO (Kronos Worldwide Inc) | XLB (Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +45.6% | +17.6% |
| 5-year return | -15.4% | +36.9% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 55.0% | 16.7% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.47 | 0.72 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -68.7% | -23.2% |
| Market cap | $1.0B | – |
| P/E (trailing) | – | – |
| Dividend yield | 2.28% | 1.68% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.08% |
| Assets under management | – | $8.3B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Sector ETF |
XLB is a Natural Resources fund from State Street Investment Management: $8.3B under management, 26 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 1.68% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | KRO | XLB |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -33.7% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | +14.9% | +12.5% |
| 2024 | +2.5% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | -53.1% | +9.9% |
| 2026 | +101.5% | +18.3% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are KRO and XLB good diversifiers for each other?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.61 means KRO and XLB share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
FAQ
What is the correlation between KRO and XLB?
The KRO/XLB correlation stands at 0.61 on a 3-year window (1 year: 0.58, 5 years: 0.56), computed from weekly returns as of 2026-08-27.
Is XLB a good diversifier for KRO?
Only partially. A correlation of 0.61 means KRO and XLB share most of their swings. Pairing them dampens volatility somewhat, but it will not protect against a common drawdown.
What does a correlation of 0.61 mean?
Correlation ranges from −1 to +1. Values near +1 mean two assets move together, near 0 that they move independently, and negative values that they tend to move in opposite directions. It measures co-movement, not performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/kro-vs-xlb.json
Embed this badge (it refreshes with the data), with attribution:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/kro-vs-xlb/)
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Related comparisons
Hubs: KRO correlations · XLB correlations
