Consumer Staples Showdown: Weighing the Differences Between VDC and RSPS

The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:VDC) offers broad sector exposure with very low costs, while the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (NYSEMKT:RSPS) equally weights its holdings to reduce concentration risk.

Both exchange-traded funds provide a defensive anchor for portfolios by targeting non-discretionary goods, yet they differ sharply in construction. One relies on market-capitalization weighting, which can lead to top-heavy positions, whereas the other ensures that every company in the index carries an equal influence regardless of its market value.

Snapshot (cost & size)

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.

The Vanguard fund is the more affordable choice for long-term investors with its 0.09% expense ratio. While the Invesco fund is more expensive at 0.4%, it offers a noticeably higher payout for income-focused investors.

Performance & risk comparison

What's inside

The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF holds 103 positions, providing broad exposure, with 98% of the portfolio concentrated in the consumer defensive sector. Its largest holdings include Walmart Inc (NASDAQ:WMT) at 13.86%, Costco Wholesale Corp (NASDAQ:COST) at 12.12%, and Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG) at 9.90%. It was launched in 2004 and manages its portfolio without specific quirks. Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF has paid $4.88 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$246.9 share price, works out to a 2% yield.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF is more focused, with 34 holdings, and employs an equal-weighting strategy to prevent any single stock from dominating the fund. Its portfolio is 94% consumer defensive, with 3% in both consumer cyclical and basic materials. Its largest positions include Kimberly-Clark Corp (NASDAQ:KMB) at 5.47%, Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) at 3.33%, and Walmart at 3.32%. It was launched in 2006. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF has paid $0.89 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$32.0 share price, works out to a 2.8% yield.

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Which looks like the better buy

When comparing the Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS), investors should consider several key factors. Let's see what they tell us about each fund.

First, we should examine each fund's strategy. VDC is a market-weighted fund that includes consumer staples stocks from the large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap segments. RSPS, on the other hand, is an equal-weighted fund that includes consumer staples stocks from the S&P 500. VDC holds about 100 stocks, while RSPS holds far fewer, around 40 in all.

Two other important factors are historical performance and income potential. Over the last five years, VDC has generated a total return of 45%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%. RSPS, by contrast, has delivered a total return of 14%, with a 2.7% CAGR. Both funds have underperformed the S&P 500 over this period. As for income, RSPS delivers the higher yield, at 2.8% versus only 2% for VDC.

One final factor to weigh is cost. Here, VDC gains an advantage. Its 0.09% annual expense ratio is far lower than RSPS's 0.40%. For context, if a person were to invest $10,000 in both funds, they should expect to pay $9 in annual fees for their VDC shares but $40 for their RSPS shares.

In summary, VDC and RSPS both hold consumer staples stocks, but there are important differences in their structures. Many investors will favor VDC given its lower fees and superior historical returns. However, those seeking an equal-weighted approach or higher yields may still consider RSPS.

Jake Lerch has positions in Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Kroger. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.