Should You Invest in the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP)?

Core Insights - The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) is a passively managed ETF launched on December 16, 1998, providing broad exposure to the Consumer Staples sector [1] - The ETF is the largest in its category with over $14.9 billion in assets, aiming to match the performance of the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index [3] - It has a low expense ratio of 0.08% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.67%, making it an attractive option for investors [4] Fund Details - XLP seeks to replicate the performance of the Consumer Staples Select Sector Index, which represents the consumer staples sector of the S&P 500 Index [3] - The ETF has a 100% allocation in the Consumer Staples sector, providing diversified exposure [5] - The top three holdings include Walmart Inc (11.83%), Costco Wholesale Corp, and Procter & Gamble Co, with the top 10 holdings comprising 61.12% of total assets [6] Performance Metrics - As of January 13, 2026, the ETF has increased by approximately 3.22% year-to-date and 7.83% over the past year, trading between $75.6 and $83.6 in the last 52 weeks [7] - The ETF has a beta of 0.51 and a standard deviation of 11.61% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [7] Alternatives - XLP carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Consumer Staples sector [8] - Other alternatives include Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) with $1.35 billion in assets and Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) with $7.47 billion, both with competitive expense ratios [10]