Consumer Staples Just Got Expensive in a Way Not Seen in 25 Years. History Sends a Warning.

Consumer staples stocks have gotten off to their best start to a calendar year this century in 2026. But that means the sector is trading at a price-to-earnings multiple higher than it's been in nearly 30 years.

The Motley Fool • 10 hours ago

Consumer Staples Are Leading With the S&P 500 Near Record Highs. History Says That Rarely Ends Well.

The S&P 500 is still trading near all-time highs, but the consumer staples sector is outperforming by 13 percentage points year to date. History shows that this is an anomaly that's likely to correct itself with a sharp pullback in the S&P 500.

The Motley Fool • Feb 22, 2026

Walmart and Costco Are 1/3 of XLP's Defensive Portfolio, Creating A Huge Risk For A Defensive Holding

The consumer staples sector exists because people need to eat, clean, and maintain routines regardless of what the economy does.

24/7 Wall Street • Feb 18, 2026

Time to Load Up on Consumer Staples ETFs?

2026 began on a volatile note, with January shaped by rising geopolitical complexities and renewed trade tensions. However, market volatility and investor nervousness intensified in February, driven largely by the so-called “AI scare” trade.

Zacks Investment Research • Feb 17, 2026

XLP vs. FTXG: The Clash of Consumer Staple ETFs

XLP has nearly doubled FTXG's price return within the last 12 months. FTXG has lagged compared to XLP in both recent returns and five-year growth.

The Motley Fool • Feb 15, 2026

RSPS and XLP Offer Distinct Approaches to the Consumer Staples Sector. Which Is the Better Buy?

RSPS carries a higher expense ratio than XLP but delivers a slightly better one-year total return. Both ETFs are fully concentrated in the consumer defensive sector.

The Motley Fool • Feb 14, 2026

Undisruptable: How Dividend Stocks Became Market Leaders - And Why That Scares Me

Dividend stocks and defensive sectors have dramatically outperformed as investors flee AI-vulnerable and AI-spending industries, but valuations now appear stretched. Consumer staples and energy sectors trade at historically high forward P/E multiples, often exceeding the S&P 500, despite lower long-term earnings growth prospects. Materials and industrials have also become extended, with valuations reflecting significant future earnings already priced in, especially given AI infrastructure spending.

Seeking Alpha • Feb 14, 2026

4 ETFs to Capitalize on the Great Market Rotation

Growth stocks lag while value and defensives lead amid rising yields and AI spending concerns. Here are 4 ETFs to play the shift.

Zacks Investment Research • Feb 13, 2026

VDC Offers Broader Consumer Staples Exposure Than XLP, But Is It Really the Better Buy?

XLP carries a slightly higher yield and a marginally higher one-year return than VDC. VDC holds nearly three times as many stocks, offering broader exposure within consumer staples.

The Motley Fool • Feb 13, 2026

ETFs Worth Watching as Debt Pressures Continue to Build

With U.S. debt on track for new highs, investors should turn to defensive ETF strategies for stability.

Zacks Investment Research • Feb 12, 2026