Staples & Schemes: Which ETF is the Lesser Evil?

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Right. Consumer staples. The things people buy when they absolutely have to, regardless of whether their retirement fund is currently resembling a particularly sad houseplant. We’re looking at two ETFs today: the Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA +1.31%) and the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS +1.09%). Honestly, it’s less about finding a winning investment and more about choosing which one will disappoint you the least. I’ve seen portfolios, you know. It’s not pretty.

This isn’t a cheerful comparison, let’s be clear. It’s a dissection. We’ll poke at the fees, returns, the risk – all the things that keep me up at night, and frankly, probably you too. It’s about damage control, really.

The Bare Minimum (Cost & Size)

Metric RSPS FSTA
Issuer Invesco Fidelity
Expense ratio 0.40% 0.08%
1-yr return (as of Feb. 3, 2026) 7.01% 8.34%
Dividend yield 2.82% 2.34%
AUM $232 million $1.3 billion
Beta (5Y monthly) 0.52 0.55

Okay, let’s talk money. FSTA is… significantly less greedy. 0.08% versus 0.40%? That’s the difference between a polite request and highway robbery. For every $10,000 invested, you’re handing over $8 a year with FSTA, and a rather aggressive $40 with RSPS. I mean, seriously. They’re selling toilet paper and laundry detergent. What are they doing with the extra cash? And yes, RSPS offers a slightly better dividend yield. A crumb of comfort, perhaps. A very small crumb.

Performance & Risk: The Art of Losing Slowly

Metric RSPS FSTA
Max drawdown (5 y) -18.61% -16.57%
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,067 $1,385

Right. So, FSTA has grown $1,000 into $1,385 over five years, while RSPS managed a… respectable $1,067. It’s not exactly a rocket ship, is it? But then, we’re talking about essentials. People will always need dish soap, even during a market crash. The drawdown figures suggest FSTA is slightly less likely to make you weep openly, but let’s not pretend either of these are risk-free. They’re just… less risky than, say, betting on competitive ferret grooming.

What’s Inside the Shopping Cart

FSTA holds 96 stocks, heavily weighted towards the consumer defensive giants: Costco, Walmart, Procter & Gamble. Nearly 37% of its assets are tied up in those three. It’s like putting all your eggs in a very large, branded basket. Convenient, maybe. Slightly terrifying? Definitely. It’s mirroring the sector, yes, but those top holdings are calling the shots.

RSPS, on the other hand, is playing fair. It equally weights its 36 holdings from the S&P 500’s consumer staples sector. Each stock gets roughly 3% of the portfolio. It’s… democratic. A little bit boring, perhaps, but also, potentially, a bit more stable. It’s like a well-behaved family dinner, compared to FSTA’s chaotic buffet.

For more ETF guidance, because clearly, I’m not scaring you away, check out this link.

The Bottom Line (and My Honest Opinion)

Look, both FSTA and RSPS have their… quirks. FSTA is dominated by a few big names. If those companies thrive, you might see a decent return. If they stumble? You’re feeling it. RSPS, with its equal weighting, spreads the risk. It’s less likely to plummet, but also less likely to soar. It’s the investment equivalent of wearing sensible shoes.

There’s no clear winner here. It depends on your tolerance for… disappointment. FSTA has the potential to outperform, but it’s also a bit of a gamble. RSPS is… safe. Predictably, reliably safe. It’s the ETF you choose when you’ve accepted that you’re not going to get rich quick. And honestly? Sometimes, that’s a perfectly reasonable position to be in. I should know.

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2026-02-09 01:02