As of midday Thursday, shares in the Materials sector are down 0.5%, with International Paper Co (IP) and Albemarle Corp. (ALB) showing notable losses of 7.7% and 3.4%, respectively. The Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLB), which includes these companies, is also down 0.4% today, although it has risen 4.04% year-to-date. International Paper Co has gained 21.59% year-to-date, while Albemarle Corp. has decreased by 32.40% in the same period.
The Consumer Products sector follows closely with a 0.4% decline, led by Estee Lauder Cos., Inc. (EL) and Altria Group Inc (MO), which have dropped 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. The iShares U.S. Consumer Goods ETF (IYK) is down 0.7% today, contributing to a year-to-date gain of 4.35%. Estee Lauder is down 23.61% year-to-date, whereas Altria is up 17.19%.
Overall, three sectors are experiencing gains while six sectors are in decline, reflecting broader market trends this Thursday.
