XLP ETF

Danny Kirsch discusses the potential negatives for consumer staples with the new Trump administration, including red dye bans, nicotine regulations, and tariffs squeezing commodity prices even higher. If bearish, he gives an example of buying put spreads in XLP, the SPDR Consumer Staples sector ETF.

Defensive stocks underperformed in 2024; Consumer Staples rose 12%, lagging the S&P 500's 23% gain, but outperformed sectors like Energy and Real Estate. Entering 2025, the Consumer Staples sector trades at a 20.7x P/E ratio, with Walmart and Costco significantly influencing the XLP ETF. XLP's top three holdings, COST, WMT, and PG, account for nearly 30% of the ETF, with high valuations but stable dividends.

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Consumer Staples - Broad segment of the equity market, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 12/16/1998.

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR® Fund ETF is recommended for portfolio stability and long-term steady returns, especially for low-risk tolerance investors. Despite underperforming in a tech-driven bull market, consumer staples are financially sound, with expected 7.5% average earnings growth over the next 3-5 years. XLP offers targeted exposure to high-quality, large-cap companies with strong brand recognition, solid business models, and consistent dividend growth.

XLP offers resilience in economic recessions with a low beta ratio of 0.58, providing better downside protection than the broader market. Despite its stability, XLP has a weak growth profile, with mid- to low-single digit revenue growth expected through 2026. Receding inflation should improve profit margins and lead to higher earnings growth rates of 6.2% and 7.9% in 2025 and 2026.

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR® Fund ETF is a good defensive investment option in volatile markets, with potential for growth and resilience during economic downturns. The XLP fund holds 38 companies, with top positions in Procter & Gamble, Costco, Walmart, and Coca-Cola, providing diversification within the sector. Comparison with the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF shows XLP has slightly underperformed, but both are solid options for exposure to consumer staples.

If you're interested in broad exposure to the Consumer Staples - Broad segment of the equity market, look no further than the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on 12/16/1998.

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund ETF offers exposure to recession-resistant companies that provide household products and basic items. This ETF has a low expense ratio and has delivered annual returns of 6.8% since its inception in 1988. The top holdings of this ETF include Procter & Gamble, Costco Wholesale, and Walmart, offering a defensive position for investors.

Investors looking for momentum may be interested in the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund XLP, which recently reached a 52-week high and has increased by 19% from its low of $65.18 per share.