XLP vs VDC Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
XLP and VDC are nearly identical consumer staples ETFs with slightly different scope. XLP holds S&P 500 consumer staples large-caps only (~37 stocks) at 0.09%. VDC holds broader US consumer staples including small/mid-caps (100+ stocks) at 0.10%. Performance differences are minimal — both are dominated by P&G, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Walmart. Choose XLP for liquidity; VDC for completeness. Both are core defensive portfolio building blocks.
XLP vs VDC — Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (S&P 500 large-cap consumer staples with 37 holdings including P&G, Coke, Pepsi at 0.09%) versus Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (total market consumer staples with 100+ holdings including small/mid-caps at 0.10%).
XLP holds the edge across 5 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. XLP has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+22.34% vs +21.25% for VDC).
- want the most liquid consumer staples ETF for tactical defensive positioning or options strategies
- value S&P 500 large-cap quality filter ensuring only proven large-cap brands with long dividend histories
- prefer 0.09% expense ratio and tightest bid-ask spreads for tactical market positions
- are comfortable with concentrated top-4 holdings and excluding smaller consumer staples companies
- want the broadest US consumer staples market coverage including specialty and natural food companies outside the S&P 500
- prefer Vanguard's total market index methodology for buy-and-hold positions representing the full consumer staples opportunity set
- value slightly broader diversification beyond the top-4 concentration in XLP
- are comfortable with slightly lower liquidity and 0.10% expense ratio vs XLP's 0.09%
| Metric | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 25.0 | 25.0 |
| Latest closei | $90.83 | $246.86 |
| 1M returni | +12.79% | +12.99% |
| 3M returni | +7.74% | +7.86% |
| 6M returni | +10.20% | +8.59% |
| 1Y returni | +22.34% | +21.25% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.67K (+26.7%) started 2025-11-03 | $12.44K (+24.4%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $16.46K (+64.6%) started 2021-11-03 | $16.68K (+66.8%) started 2021-11-03 |
| 10Y ago | $31.02K (+210.2%) started 2016-11-03 | $31.26K (+212.6%) started 2016-11-03 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.09% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $13.45B | $8.7B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.73% | 2.24% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 26.40 | 27.07 |
| Betai | 0.44 | 0.47 |
| 52-week change | 22.34% | 21.25% |
| Metric | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +22.34% | +21.25% |
| 6M returni | +10.20% | +8.59% |
| 3M returni | +7.74% | +7.86% |
| 1M returni | +12.79% | +12.99% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 1.17 | 1.10 |
| Betai | 0.44 | 0.47 |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.73% | 2.24% |
| 5Y CAGR | +7.42% | +8.02% |
Over the past year, XLP and VDC have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.99), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +23.31% | +21.63% |
| CAGRi | +23.40% | +21.72% | |
| Volatilityi | 15.19% | 14.83% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.17 | 1.10 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.83 | 1.71 | |
| Max drawdowni | 9.69% | 9.38% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.99% | 3.96% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 4.96% | 4.87% | |
| Max daily dropi | 2.43% | 2.38% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.70% | 4.67% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +43.00% | +47.06% |
| CAGRi | +7.42% | +8.02% | |
| Volatilityi | 13.91% | 13.71% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.26 | 0.31 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.37 | 0.43 | |
| Max drawdowni | 16.30% | 16.55% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.67% | 4.31% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.77% | 5.43% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.43% | 6.27% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 8.12% | 8.20% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +128.19% | +136.20% |
| CAGRi | +8.60% | +8.98% | |
| Volatilityi | 14.99% | 14.88% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.33 | 0.35 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.46 | 0.50 | |
| Max drawdowni | 24.51% | 25.31% | |
| Current drawdowni | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 4.19% | 3.91% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 5.63% | 5.36% | |
| Max daily dropi | 9.40% | 9.34% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 15.90% | 16.19% |
| Category | XLP | VDC |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF | Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.08% | 0.09% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $13.45B | $8.7B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.73% | 2.24% |
- S&P 500 large-cap quality: XLP holds only proven large-cap consumer staples brands with long dividend histories and strong balance sheets
- Highly liquid and low cost: XLP's 0.09% expense ratio and tight bid-ask spreads make it the most accessible consumer staples sector ETF
- Pure defensive positioning: consumer staples companies sell essential products (food, beverages, household products) that consumers buy regardless of economic conditions
- 100+ holdings vs XLP's 37: VDC provides broader consumer staples coverage including smaller specialty brands and natural food companies
- Slightly lower Walmart concentration: VDC's broader holdings slightly dilute Walmart's outsized impact vs XLP
- Vanguard's total market methodology: capturing the full consumer staples market rather than only S&P 500 eligible companies
- Walmart size relative to 'consumer staples': Walmart is classified as Consumer Staples but is really a retail conglomerate — Walmart's valuation premium and retail operations create different characteristics than a pure staples brand company
- Concentration in P&G, Coke, Pepsi: top 4 holdings represent 40%+ of XLP — not as diversified as holding count implies
- Limited small/mid-cap consumer staples: XLP excludes smaller natural and organic food brands that may offer higher growth than legacy food companies
- Lower liquidity than XLP: VDC trades less than XLP — slightly wider bid-ask spreads for short-term tactical use
- Similar performance to XLP historically: the large-cap overlap means VDC and XLP have very similar returns — the extra diversification rarely creates meaningful performance difference
- Small-cap consumer staples are more obscure: the additional holdings in VDC are smaller, less-known brands that may have more company-specific risk than XLP's proven blue-chip holdings
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