SPDR Consumer Staples ETFXLPTOP PICKMay 05, 2015Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 04, 2026. Market Open.
Rising interest rates have hurt all sectors except tech. Staples didn't find relief. Rather, investors stayed in tech and didn't buy staples. XLP's chart has been rangebound for the last 2 years, but he expects a bounce because investors this time of year barbell their portfolios to reduce risk.
Owning staples is good for a volatile market. This ETF holds classic staples, is coming off a sideways range, and is a good place to hold money through the summer and also for recessionary times and lower markets. There are no big gains or losses but it is predictable and he knows where to sell it since he has traded it many many times. Familiarity with trading the same stocks frequently is important. It is also very liquid.
Staples is defensive in nature and tends to perform well in the more volatile months. Investors are looking more to be defensive and are looking more for stability in earnings, and are willing to pay for it. This ETF is actually trading at a high PE multiple of 20, which is way too high for a slow growth industry, but it has a higher value because people are seeking that type of safety at this time and are willing to pay for it. If the market corrects, this will correct as well, but won’t correct as much typically.