Core Insights - Investors in the consumer staples sector face a choice between broader coverage with the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and a focused strategy with the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS) [1] Cost and Size Comparison - VDC has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to RSPS's 0.40%, making it more cost-effective for long-term investors [3][4] - VDC has a much larger asset under management (AUM) of $8.6 billion versus RSPS's $236.3 million, indicating greater investor confidence and liquidity [3] Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past year, VDC has outperformed RSPS with a return of -0.4% compared to RSPS's -2.6% [3] - VDC has a lower maximum drawdown of -16.55% over five years compared to RSPS's -18.64%, indicating better risk management [5] Portfolio Composition - VDC holds 103 stocks and is heavily weighted towards major consumer defensive companies like Walmart (14.53%), Costco (12.00%), and Procter & Gamble (10.09%), providing broader diversification [6] - RSPS, with only 36 holdings, employs an equal-weighted strategy, giving each stock the same influence, which can lead to less diversification and a focus on smaller companies [7][9] Investment Implications - VDC is suitable for investors seeking low costs and willing to have larger companies influence returns, while RSPS appeals to those wanting a pure representation of the consumer staples sector [11]

Core Insights - The article compares two ETFs targeting the U.S. consumer staples sector: Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) and State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP), highlighting their differences in portfolio structure, yield, and liquidity [4][5][10]. Group 1: Portfolio Structure - FSTA holds 104 stocks with a sector tilt of 98% towards consumer defensive, providing broader diversification compared to XLP, which has only 36 holdings [1][8]. - XLP's top holdings include Walmart, Costco Wholesale, and The Procter & Gamble Co., which constitute a significant portion of its assets, indicating a concentrated investment approach [2][5]. - FSTA's top five holdings represent a larger percentage of its total portfolio compared to XLP, making it somewhat top-heavy [9]. Group 2: Yield and Expense Ratio - Both ETFs charge a low expense ratio of 0.08%, but XLP offers a higher yield of 2.7% compared to FSTA's 2.3%, appealing to income-focused investors [3][5]. Group 3: Liquidity and Size - XLP has $14.9 billion in assets under management (AUM), making it larger and more liquid than FSTA, which may benefit investors looking for ease in executing large trades [2][8]. - The greater liquidity of XLP is a significant advantage over FSTA, despite both ETFs covering the same defensive sector [5][10].

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Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is highlighted as an ideal investment for income-focused investors, offering a combination of high yield and potential capital gains through a diversified portfolio of stocks [2][4]. Group 1: ETF Overview - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has been established for 14 years and is managed by Charles Schwab, boasting over $71 billion in net assets, making it one of the largest high-yield ETFs [4]. - The ETF has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, ensuring that investors are not overpaying for its benefits [5]. - It pays quarterly dividends with a 30-day SEC yield of 3.8%, which is close to the 10-year Treasury rate of 4.2%, providing a competitive passive income option [6]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The ETF targets large-cap, high-yield stocks, with approximately 90% of its investments in companies with market capitalizations exceeding $15 billion, appealing to investors seeking diversification [8]. - Over half of the ETF's investments are concentrated in three sectors: energy, consumer staples, and healthcare, which are known for prioritizing dividend growth [9]. Group 3: Sector and Holdings - Key energy holdings include major companies like Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and EOG Resources, which help manage risk across the oil and gas value chain [10]. - The top healthcare holdings, such as Merck and Amgen, offer high yields and favorable valuations, while leading consumer staples like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have consistently raised dividends for over 50 years, earning the title of Dividend Kings [11]. Group 4: Performance and Value - Since its inception in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has more than tripled in value, demonstrating its potential for capital gains alongside dividend income [13]. - The ETF is positioned as a foundational holding for value-focused portfolios or as a means to balance portfolios that have become overly concentrated in growth stocks [12].

Core Insights - The article compares two consumer staples ETFs, the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS), highlighting their distinct approaches to sector exposure and investment strategies [1][2]. Expense Ratios and Portfolio Structure - XLP has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to RSPS's 0.40%, making it more cost-effective for investors [3][10]. - XLP manages $15.5 billion in assets under management (AUM), while RSPS has $236.2 million, indicating XLP's larger scale and potential liquidity advantages [3][11]. - XLP's portfolio is market-cap-weighted, leading to heavy exposure to large companies like Walmart and Procter & Gamble, with its top three holdings comprising nearly 30% of the fund [5][7]. - RSPS employs an equal-weighting strategy, providing more balanced exposure across its 37 holdings, with top positions representing less than 4% of assets each [6][7]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past year, RSPS has returned -5.05%, while XLP has returned -3.19%, indicating better performance for XLP in this timeframe [3]. - The maximum drawdown over five years for RSPS is -18.61%, compared to -16.32% for XLP, suggesting that XLP has been slightly less volatile [4]. - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years would yield $992 for RSPS and $1,180 for XLP, further illustrating XLP's superior performance [4]. Investment Implications - XLP's concentrated approach can lead to higher returns when top holdings perform well, but it also poses risks if those stocks underperform [8][9]. - RSPS's diversified strategy may protect against volatility but could dilute the potential gains from high-performing stocks [9]. - Investors should consider the trade-offs between cost, performance, and risk when choosing between these two ETFs [10].

relif / Getty Images Dividend growth investing has always had an appeal to people who are looking to boost their income, find stability in another unstable market, and build long-term wealth. However, 2026 is shaping up to be something of a turning point as a breakout year for this growing investment philosophy. Quick Read Procter & Gamble (PG) has raised dividends for 69 consecutive years with a current 2.91% yield. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) maintains a 63-year dividend growth streak and yields 2.58%. ...

Core Insights - The article compares two consumer staples ETFs: State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK), highlighting their differences in cost, portfolio composition, and sector exposure [1][2]. Cost and Size - XLP has a lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to IYK's 0.38%, making it more cost-effective for investors [3][4]. - XLP has a larger Assets Under Management (AUM) of $15.5 billion, while IYK has an AUM of $1.3 billion [3]. - The one-year return for XLP is -5.4%, while IYK's is -3.9%, indicating IYK has outperformed XLP in the short term [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over five years, XLP has a maximum drawdown of -17.8%, while IYK's is -16.3%, suggesting IYK has slightly better risk management [5]. - The growth of $1,000 invested over five years is $1,167 for XLP and $1,239 for IYK, indicating IYK has provided better returns [5]. Portfolio Composition - IYK includes 12% in healthcare and 2% in basic materials, with a total of 55 holdings, while XLP is strictly focused on consumer staples with 100% allocation and 37 holdings [6][7]. - Top holdings for IYK include Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Philip Morris International, while XLP's largest positions are Walmart, Costco, and Procter & Gamble [6][7]. Investment Considerations - The decision between XLP and IYK may hinge on the trade-off between fees and performance, with XLP being more affordable but IYK potentially offering broader exposure [8][9]. - Investors may prefer IYK if they seek exposure to healthcare and basic materials, despite its higher fees [10][11].

Core Insights - The article compares two consumer staples ETFs, the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS), highlighting their differing approaches to sector exposure and investment strategies [1][2]. Cost and Size - XLP has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to RSPS's 0.40% [3][4]. - As of November 28, 2025, XLP has a one-year return of -4.5%, while RSPS has a return of -6.6% [3]. - XLP has a much larger Assets Under Management (AUM) of $15.5 billion compared to RSPS's $237.2 million [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, RSPS experienced a maximum drawdown of -18.61%, while XLP had a drawdown of -16.32% [5]. - An investment of $1,000 in XLP would have grown to $1,186 over five years, while the same investment in RSPS would have decreased to $990 [5]. Portfolio Composition - XLP holds 38 stocks and is heavily weighted towards large companies like Walmart, Costco, and Procter & Gamble, which can dominate its performance [6]. - RSPS also consists of 38 stocks but employs an equal-weighting strategy, giving each holding similar allocation, featuring companies like Monster Beverage, Bunge Global, and Dollar Tree [7]. Market Context - Consumer staples are generally considered defensive stocks, but many have struggled due to inflation and tariff concerns [8][9]. - Both ETFs provide diversification options for investors concerned about concentration in tech stocks within the S&P 500 [9]. - XLP's focus on larger companies has contributed to its better performance compared to RSPS, which may appeal to those interested in small- and medium-cap stocks [10][11].

Core Viewpoint - A class action securities lawsuit has been filed against Perrigo Company plc, alleging securities fraud that affected investors between February 27, 2023, and November 4, 2025 [2][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit claims that Perrigo made false statements and concealed significant issues regarding its infant formula business acquired from Nestlé, including underinvestment in maintenance and operational improvements [3]. - It is alleged that Perrigo needed to incur substantial capital and operational expenditures beyond previously stated estimates to address deficiencies in the infant formula business [3]. - The complaint highlights significant manufacturing deficiencies in the facility related to the infant formula business, leading to overstated financial results, including earnings and cash flow [3]. Group 2: Investor Information - Investors who suffered losses during the specified timeframe have until January 16, 2026, to request appointment as lead plaintiff, although participation in any recovery does not require serving as a lead plaintiff [4]. - Class members may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket costs or fees, indicating no financial obligation to participate [4]. Group 3: Legal Representation - Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has a strong track record in securities litigation, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders over the past 20 years [5]. - The firm is recognized as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States, ranking in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report for seven consecutive years [5].

Group 1 - The holiday season brings a festive mood, but concerns about high prices and a weakening job market persist [1] - Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) is highlighted as a strong stock to consider during uncertain economic times [1][4] - The company specializes in essential consumer goods, including well-known brands like Head & Shoulders, Gillette, Crest, Tide, and Pampers, which maintain high market shares [3] Group 2 - Procter & Gamble's fiscal first-quarter sales increased by 2% after adjusting for foreign-currency translation and acquisitions, with management projecting flat to 4% growth for the year [4] - Despite a challenging economic environment, demand for consumer staples like those offered by Procter & Gamble typically remains stable, with expectations for volume growth over time [5] - The company is expected to perform better than discretionary consumer goods companies during economic stress due to its strong brand portfolio [5]