PBJ vs. RSPS: Which Consumer Staples ETF Is the Better Buy?
Key Points
PBJ is more expensive and less diversified than RSPS but delivered a stronger 1-year return as of March 2026.
RSPS offers a higher dividend yield.
PBJ focuses mostly on food and beverage stocks, while RSPS has a broader mandate across the consumer staples sector.
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The Invesco Food & Beverage ETF (NYSEMKT: PBJ) and Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT: RSPS) both target the consumer sector. Still, PBJ charges a higher fee and is more narrowly focused on food and beverage stocks. It has outperformed RSPS over the past year, while RSPS leads on yield and broader staples exposure.
Both PBJ and RSPS are designed for investors seeking access to U.S. companies in the food, beverage, and consumer staples space, but their approaches and costs differ. This comparison looks at how each fund stacks up on expenses, returns, risk, and portfolio makeup to help investors decide which may better fit their goals.
Snapshot (cost & size)
| Metric | RSPS | PBJ |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Invesco | Invesco |
| Expense ratio | 0.40% | 0.61% |
| 1-yr return (as of 2026-03-31) | (1.5%) | 8.2% |
| Dividend yield | 2.84% | 1.54% |
| Beta | 0.62 | 0.72 |
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.
PBJ carries a higher expense ratio than RSPS, making RSPS the more affordable option. RSPS also offers a higher dividend yield, which may appeal to income-focused investors, while PBJ’s lower yield could be less attractive for those who need extra income.
Performance & risk comparison
| Metric | RSPS | PBJ |
|---|---|---|
| Max drawdown (5 y) | (18.6%) | (15.8%) |
| Growth of $1,000 over 5 years | $1,064 | $1,320 |
What's inside
PBJ tracks a dynamic index of 30 U.S. food and beverage companies focused on food, beverage, agriculture, and related technologies. The fund has nearly 21 years of operating history. Its top holdings are currently Corteva (NYSE:CTVA), Kroger (NYSE:KR), and Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM) . These stocks reflect a mix of agricultural and retail exposure, adding modest diversification beyond pure staples. The fund rebalances quarterly in Feb., May, Aug, and Nov.
By contrast, RSPS is more diversified across the consumer staples sector. It is an equal-weighted portfolio of 35 S&P 500 consumer staples stocks. Top holdings include Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF-B), Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN), and Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ). In addition to food stocks, the fund also includes exposure to other parts of the sector, such as tobacco and household products.
For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.
What this means for investors
RSPS has key advantages over PBJ, including a broader investment mandate across consumer staples, lower costs, and higher yields. The latter two will obviously appeal to an investor looking to diversify into consumer staples with a high-yielding, low-volatility fund. RSPS checks those boxes.
But PBJ shows why its more thematic approach can outperform. Its selection of food and beverage stocks delivered stronger returns over the past five years. This suggests its food-and-beverage focus was more resilient during this period of elevated inflation and interest rates.
However, investors shouldn’t assume PBJ will always outperform. Its superior gains were driven by special economic circumstances that may fade, allowing RSPS’ broader mandate in more growth-oriented industries to shine. For example, its exposure to household products, beauty care, and retail stocks could benefit in a roaring economy.
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John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kroger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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