Overview
Targeted exposure to the GICS Communication Services sector — interactive media, entertainment, and telecom. Created after the 2018 GICS reshuffle moved Alphabet, Meta, and Netflix out of Technology.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| META | Meta Platforms | 18.47% |
| GOOGL | Alphabet Inc. Class A | 10.44% |
| GOOG | Alphabet Inc. Class C | 8.41% |
| TMUS | T-Mobile US | 4.88% |
| T | AT&T Inc. | 4.70% |
| NFLX | Netflix Inc. | 4.62% |
| VZ | Verizon Communications | 4.48% |
| DIS | Walt Disney Company | 4.31% |
| CMCSA | Comcast Corporation | 4.18% |
| EA | Electronic Arts | 3.42% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
XLC captures the modern attention economy in a single fund. The 2018 GICS reclassification pulled the internet platform giants out of Technology and grouped them with legacy media and telecom, creating a sector that blends explosive digital-advertising growth with stable, cash-generative telecom incumbents. The result is unusually concentrated — Meta and the two Alphabet share classes alone account for well over a third of the fund — so XLC behaves much more like a targeted bet on digital advertising and streaming than a diversified sector holding.
Who It's For
Growth-oriented investors who want exposure to dominant internet platform businesses without picking individual winners among them. XLC suits those with a constructive view on digital advertising, streaming, and gaming, who are comfortable with heavy single-name concentration. Given that concentration it is better used as a satellite position than a core holding.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -- | -- |
| 2017 | -- | -- |
| 2018 | $44.82 | -- |
| 2019 | $54.18 | +20.9% |
| 2020 | $68.42 | +26.3% |
| 2021 | $78.18 | +14.3% |
| 2022 | $50.42 | -35.5% |
| 2023 | $72.18 | +43.2% |
| 2024 | $94.42 | +30.8% |
| 2025 | $106.18 | +12.5% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | -- |
| 2017 | -- |
| 2018 | 1.02% |
| 2019 | 0.92% |
| 2020 | 0.72% |
| 2021 | 0.62% |
| 2022 | 0.98% |
| 2023 | 0.88% |
| 2024 | 0.78% |
| 2025 | 0.85% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | -- | -- |
| 2017 | -- | -- |
| 2018 | $4B | -- |
| 2019 | $7B | +75.0% |
| 2020 | $10B | +42.9% |
| 2021 | $14B | +40.0% |
| 2022 | $9B | -35.7% |
| 2023 | $13B | +44.4% |
| 2024 | $19B | +46.2% |
| 2025 | $23B | +21.1% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
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