Overview
Defensive consumer staples — P&G, Costco, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola. Low volatility and recession-resistant sector with steady dividends.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Procter & Gamble | 15.4% |
| COST | Costco Wholesale | 12.8% |
| KO | Coca-Cola | 11.4% |
| PEP | PepsiCo Inc. | 9.8% |
| PM | Philip Morris | 7.4% |
| MDLZ | Mondelez Intl. | 5.8% |
| MO | Altria Group | 5.4% |
| CL | Colgate-Palmolive | 4.8% |
| WMT | Walmart Inc. | 4.4% |
| GIS | General Mills | 3.8% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
Consumer staples companies sell products people buy regardless of economic conditions, food, beverages, household products, and personal care items. This recession-resistant demand creates predictable cash flows that support reliable dividends through all phases of the economic cycle. XLP's defensive characteristics make it the classic flight-to-safety sector trade during equity market downturns and economic uncertainty.
Who It's For
Conservative investors, retirees, and portfolio managers seeking low-volatility equity exposure with reliable dividend income. XLP suits those who want to maintain equity market participation during uncertain periods without accepting the full cyclical risk of the broader market. Often used as a defensive overlay during late-cycle economic environments when recession risk is elevated.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $52.82 | -- |
| 2017 | $56.42 | +6.8% |
| 2018 | $52.18 | -7.5% |
| 2019 | $61.48 | +17.8% |
| 2020 | $64.82 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | $72.84 | +12.4% |
| 2022 | $72.62 | -0.3% |
| 2023 | $72.18 | -0.6% |
| 2024 | $79.18 | +9.7% |
| 2025 | $80.42 | +1.6% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.52% |
| 2017 | 2.28% |
| 2018 | 2.62% |
| 2019 | 2.42% |
| 2020 | 2.32% |
| 2021 | 2.12% |
| 2022 | 2.52% |
| 2023 | 2.28% |
| 2024 | 2.18% |
| 2025 | 2.22% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $8B | -- |
| 2017 | $9B | +12.5% |
| 2018 | $10B | +11.1% |
| 2019 | $11B | +10.0% |
| 2020 | $13B | +18.2% |
| 2021 | $15B | +15.4% |
| 2022 | $14B | -6.7% |
| 2023 | $14B | +0.0% |
| 2024 | $16B | +14.3% |
| 2025 | $16B | +0.0% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
Related US Sectors ETFs
Markets. Intelligence. Daily.
Full briefs on 251 ETFs, curated daily ETF news, and a free weekly deep-dive newsletter — all on ETFHub.
Get the Free Weekly Brief Explore the ETF Portal Official Fund Page →