Steady Yields: A Look at RSPS & FTXG

by

The land yields what it will, and a man must learn to take what’s offered. These days, a bit of dependable income feels like a small miracle. Two funds, the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS +1.31%) and the First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG +1.03%), offer a slice of that quiet stability. But like any patch of ground, one holds more promise than the other. RSPS, with its broader reach and lighter toll, seems to offer a steadier hand to those seeking a harvest of dividends, while FTXG, focused as it is, feels a bit too reliant on a single season’s bounty.

Both cast their nets into the waters of consumer staples, but with different methods. RSPS spreads its line evenly across the S&P 500’s consumer staples sector, a pragmatic approach. FTXG, however, seeks out specific currents, focusing on food and beverage companies with a smart-beta index. It’s a gamble, a hope for a richer catch, but one that comes with a bit more risk. Let’s look closer, at the soil and the seed, and see which one is more likely to bear fruit.

A Measure of the Land

Metric RSPS FTXG
Issuer Invesco First Trust
Expense ratio 0.40% 0.60%
1-yr return (as of 2026-02-10) 14.5% 9.5%
Dividend yield 2.63% 2.75%
AUM $249.67 million $17.9 million

A man works hard for his money, and it stings to see a portion siphoned off in fees. RSPS asks for less, a mere 0.40% compared to FTXG’s 0.60%. It’s a small difference, perhaps, but over time, those pennies add up. FTXG does offer a slightly higher dividend yield, but it feels like a meager consolation. Both funds are cautious, their betas below the market, suggesting a reluctance to take undue risks. RSPS, at 0.61, feels a touch more willing to weather a storm than FTXG’s 0.52.

The Harvest: Performance and Risk

Metric RSPS FTXG
Max drawdown (5 year) -18.60% -21.71%
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,215 $1,047

A man remembers the lean years, the dust bowl days. He wants to know how much a fund will lose when the winds turn harsh. Over five years, RSPS has held up better, experiencing a smaller drawdown. A thousand dollars invested in RSPS would have grown to $1,215, while the same amount in FTXG would have yielded only $1,047. It’s a quiet difference, but it speaks to a steadier hand at the tiller.

What Lies Within the Fields

FTXG seeks to mirror the Nasdaq U.S. Smart Food & Beverage Index, a concentrated plot of land. Ninety-one percent of its holdings are consumer defensive, with a sprinkling of basic materials and industrials. It’s a focused approach, with 31 holdings and nine years of growth. You’ll find familiar names like PepsiCo, Archer-Daniels-Midland, and Mondelez, the corner store staples. It’s a gamble on a specific harvest.

RSPS, on the other hand, is a broader field, entirely consumer defensive, with 37 equally weighted holdings. The Hershey Company, Bunge Global, and Colgate-Palmolive stand among them. It’s a simpler approach, a commitment to pure-play exposure, without the distractions of other sectors. A man can understand it, can see the logic in its simplicity.

For those seeking guidance in these uncertain times, there are maps to be found, resources to consult. But ultimately, a man must make his own way.

What This Means for a Working Man

Over the past decade, RSPS has yielded an annualized return of 5.7%, while FTXG managed only 3.7%. These figures pale in comparison to the S&P 500’s 15.1%, a testament to the allure of high-flying growth stocks. But the winds are shifting. So far in 2026, RSPS is up 12% and FTXG 11%, while the S&P 500 lags behind at 2%. The market, it seems, is remembering the value of a steady hand.

Whether this trend will hold remains to be seen. But if you believe these consumer staples are the better choice right now, I’d argue that RSPS is the wiser option. Not only have its short- and long-term results been better, but its drawdown is lower, and its fees are lighter. I also appreciate that RSPS isn’t solely reliant on the food and beverage industry, a sector facing disruption from changing tastes and new challenges.

FTXG’s top five positions account for 42% of its portfolio, a concentration of risk. RSPS, with only 15%, offers a more diversified approach. Ultimately, I’d rather pick and choose my own staples, build my own safety net. But if I had to choose between these two ETFs for the long haul, RSPS would be my choice. It’s a steadier hand, a wiser investment, and a testament to the enduring value of a well-tilled field.

Read More

2026-02-11 21:23