State Street’s XLP delivers $2.20 per share in trailing 12-month dividends, nearly double FSTA’s $1.16, despite identical expense ratios.
State Street’s Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) and Fidelity’s MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) both target defensive investors with a 0.08% expense ratio. However, XLP’s dividend yield stands out, paying $2.20 per share over the past year compared to FSTA’s $1.16.
XLP tracks the S&P 500’s consumer staples components, holding 34 large-cap stocks like Walmart and Procter & Gamble. FSTA, launched later in 2013, includes 98 holdings with similar top positions but slightly different weightings. Both funds offer stable exposure, though XLP’s longer track record and higher yield may appeal to income-focused investors.
The choice between the two may hinge on liquidity and yield preferences, as performance and risk profiles remain closely aligned within the sector.