Within the realm of exchange-traded funds focusing on the consumer staples sector in the United States, two prominent options stand out: Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (ticker: FSTA) and State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (ticker: XLP). Both finance vehicles offer investors varying degrees of exposure to companies producing goods that remain in demand regardless of economic fluctuations, typically characterized as defensive investments. Despite their similar sector orientation, FSTA and XLP manifest important differences regarding their portfolio composition, fund scale, liquidity, dividend yield, and investment strategy nuances.
The expense ratios for both funds are identically low at 0.08%, making cost a non-differentiating factor that investors need to consider. However, when dividends come into consideration, XLP provides a slightly higher yield at 2.7%, compared to FSTA’s 2.3%. This differential may be a significant draw for income-focused portfolios seeking steady payout streams from consumer staple holdings.
From an asset size perspective, the contrast is stark. XLP manages approximately $14.9 billion in assets under management (AUM), reflecting nearly an elevenfold greater scale versus FSTA’s $1.3 billion. This level of scale confers XLP with substantial liquidity advantages, facilitating easier execution of large trades without exerting meaningful price pressure.
Examining historical performance over the past year (as of December 18, 2025), FSTA recorded a total return of -0.8% while XLP returned slightly lower at -1.3%. Both funds have experienced similar risk profiles, gauged through maximum drawdown over a five-year horizon, with FSTA experiencing a 17.08% peak-to-trough decline and XLP at 16.29%. Growth of a hypothetical $1,000 investment over five years shows differing results, illustrated by $1,236 for FSTA and $1,166 for XLP. These metrics underscore comparable, though subtly different, return and volatility characteristics within the sector exposure they provide.
Key distinctions between the funds emerge prominently in their portfolio construction. XLP's investment universe is more concentrated, with its holdings limited to 36 large U.S. companies within the consumer staples sector, designated as the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index. This concentration strategy focuses on a handful of dominant industry players, with Walmart Inc. (WMT), Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST), and The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) comprising a significant portion of the portfolio weight. This selective approach can lead to concentrated sector exposure where the performance of top holdings greatly influences overall fund returns.
In contrast, FSTA adopts a broader diversification approach by holding 104 companies, also predominantly allocated to the consumer defensive sector (at 98% of holdings by sector weight). While similar key stocks such as Costco, Walmart, and Procter & Gamble appear in the top holdings of FSTA, their relative weights are comparatively less concentrated. This expanded roster aligns with FSTA's tracking of the MSCI Consumer Staples Index, which seeks to encompass a wider swath of the sector and potentially offers smoother exposure across industry participants.
For investors, these structural nuances translate into practical considerations. Those prioritizing liquidity for large position management may find XLP's size and trading volume beneficial. Conversely, investors looking for a greater diversification within consumer staples might lean towards FSTA’s more expansive and less concentrated composition. The choice essentially balances between the focused exposure and potentially higher dividend of XLP and the broader portfolio diversification presented by FSTA.
In summary, both funds serve as viable defensive investment options dedicated to U.S. consumer staples companies with matching low-cost profiles. The decision to select between them hinges on investor preferences for concentration versus diversification, dividend yield, and liquidity. It is important to recognize that neither fund outperforms substantially across all metrics; rather, the differences manifest in subtle portfolio and structural elements that suit different investment strategies.
Glossary
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): A pooled investment fund traded throughout the trading day on stock exchanges, holding a basket of securities.
Expense Ratio: Annual operating fees expressed as a percentage of total assets under management.
Dividend Yield: Annual dividends paid divided by current price, expressed as a percentage.
Liquidity: Ability to buy or sell assets without causing significant price changes.
Assets Under Management (AUM): Total market value of assets a fund manages.
Beta: Measure of a fund's price volatility relative to the S&P 500.
Max Drawdown: The largest observed loss from peak to trough over a specified period.
Portfolio Concentration: The allocation weight towards the largest holdings in a portfolio.
Defensive Sector: Industries less affected by economic cycles, such as consumer staples.
Index: A representation of a segment of the financial market used for benchmarking performance or constructing funds.