GLD vs XLP
SPDR Gold Shares vs State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.40%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR that provides exposure to us sector - consumer staples securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.63%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLP is significantly cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.40% expense ratio, saving you approximately $627 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, GLD has significantly outperformed with a 49.8% return vs 4.3%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
XLP Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Walmart Inc.WMT | 12.01% |
| Costco Wholesale CorporationCOST | 9.72% |
| The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG | 7.23% |
| The Coca-Cola CompanyKO | 6.42% |
| Philip Morris International Inc.PM | 5.32% |
| Mondelez International, Inc.MDLZ | 4.79% |
| Altria Group, Inc.MO | 4.57% |
| PepsiCo, Inc.PEP | 4.57% |
| Colgate-Palmolive CompanyCL | 4.31% |
| Target CorporationTGT | 3.70% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLP if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose GLD if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.