Consumer Staples ETFs: Is VDC or XLP the Better Investment Right Now? Here's What You Need to Know

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The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEMKT:XLP) and the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:VDC) some way the U.S. user staples sector, providing vulnerability to companies that nutrient mundane products considered essential.

This examination highlights their subtle differences successful structure, performance, and portfolio makeup, helping investors measurement which whitethorn amended suit their hazard tolerance and concern goals.

Metric

XLP

VDC

Issuer

SPDR

Vanguard

Expense ratio

0.08%

0.09%

One-year instrumentality (as of April 2, 2026)

2.35%

4.13%

Dividend yield

2.38%

1.95%

Beta (5Y monthly)

0.59

0.63

Assets nether absorption (AUM)

$17.6 billion

$9.9 billion

Beta measures terms volatility comparative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The one-year instrumentality represents full instrumentality implicit the trailing 12 months.

Expense ratios are astir indistinguishable, with XLP somewhat much affordable. XLP besides offers a somewhat higher dividend yield, which whitethorn entreaty to income-focused investors.

Metric

XLP

VDC

Max drawdown (five years)

-16.32%

-16.56%

Growth of $1,000 implicit 5 years (total returns)

$1,366

$1,419

Both funds person experienced akin maximum drawdowns implicit the past 5 years, suggesting comparable hazard profiles. However, VDC has earned somewhat higher five-year full returns than XLP.

VDC casts a wider net, holding 104 stocks crossed the user antiaircraft assemblage (98%), with a insignificant allocation to user cyclical companies. Its apical holdings see Walmart, Costco Wholesale, and Procter & Gamble. The money has a way grounds of much than 22 years.

XLP, by contrast, is much concentrated with conscionable 35 holdings, wholly successful user antiaircraft names. Its largest positions intimately reflector those of VDC, but XLP’s narrower absorption whitethorn marque it much delicate to terms swings. Neither money includes leverage, overseas speech hedging, oregon notable quirks.

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While some VDC and XLP way the aforesaid sectors and incorporate akin holdings, VDC offers broader vulnerability to user antiaircraft stocks with astir 3 times arsenic galore holdings arsenic XLP.

In immoderate cases, greater diversification tin assistance bounds risk, arsenic a broader handbasket of stocks reduces the chances that a azygous institution tin importantly sway the ETF’s wide performance.

That said, VDC besides leans much heavy into its apical holdings. While the 2 funds stock the aforesaid apical 3 stocks, those companies marque up 36.35% of VDC’s portfolio compared to 28.34% for XLP.

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