What Is the KXI ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Fees, Holdings and Alternative ETFs
A defensive ETF that diversifies across high-quality companies in the global consumer staples sector. It tends to hold up relatively well even when economic volatility is high.
SubscribeWhat Is This ETF?
The fund tracks the S&P Global 1200 Consumer Staples Capped Index and holds consumer staples companies in developed markets, including the US, Europe and Japan, on a market-cap-weighted basis. It offers a way to buy companies with global brand power in a single trade.
It suits investors who want to strengthen portfolio stability against market uncertainty and take part in the growth of consumer staples companies with proven track records worldwide.
It is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF launched by BlackRock (iShares) in 2006.
How Does It Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracking Index | S&P Global 1200 Consumer Staples Capped Index |
| Management Style | Passive (global sector) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Quarterly |
| Dividend Frequency | Semiannual |
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% |
By investing in roughly 100 consumer staples companies around the world, the fund reduces regional concentration. A weight cap on individual holdings prevents excessive concentration in any single company, and the fund tracks the low volatility and stable cash flows that are characteristic of the consumer staples sector.
- High exposure to consumer staples companies in developed markets outside the US
- A portfolio of global blue-chip stocks with strongly defensive characteristics
Size and Costs
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $1.2B, and the expense ratio is 0.38% per year.
If IXJ and IXC are the leading representatives of the global healthcare and energy sectors, respectively, KXI plays the same role in consumer staples and provides complementary exposure.
Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeEven under inflationary pressure, global consumer goods companies with pricing power have maintained solid earnings. When rate hikes or fears of an economic slowdown intensify, the fund's appeal as a store of value tends to stand out.
Fund inflows are driven by stronger demand for safe-haven assets, and over the long term, pension funds and institutional investors seeking both dividend growth and capital gains account for a large share of its assets.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The fund is characterized by its defensive effect through global consumer staples companies, but its return elasticity may be lower than that of growth stocks.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products
IXN, IXJ and IXC, shown in the table, are the global flagship ETFs for their respective sectors, and KXI forms a core pillar of asset allocation alongside them. If you want to focus only on US consumer staples, XLP or VDC can be a cheaper alternative, and if you want growth driven by shifts in consumer spending patterns, the consumer discretionary ETF RXI is also worth considering.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 IXN | iShares Global Tech ETF | $134.69 | -5.1% | $9.4B | 0.37% | 0.25% | +22.7% |
 IXJ | iShares Global Healthcare ETF | $112.66 | +0.8% | $4.6B | 0.38% | 1.28% | +23.4% |
 IXC | iShares Global Energy ETF | $64.19 | +1.5% | $3.4B | 0.37% | 2.45% | +54.5% |
 EUFN | iShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF | $37.69 | -1.3% | $3.0B | 0.48% | 4.39% | +10.9% |
 PICK | iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF | $54.79 | -2.6% | $2.2B | 0.39% | 2.41% | +17.6% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMT | Walmart Inc | 0.18% | $123.51 | +1.9% | $979.9B | 44.8 | 0.81% |
| COST | Costco Wholesale Corp | 0.15% | $1012.28 | +1.6% | $448.6B | 48.8 | 0.57% |
| PG | Procter & Gamble Co | 0.12% | $161.57 | +0.6% | $374.5B | 24.4 | 2.72% |
| PM | Philip Morris International Inc | 0.09% | $208.79 | +0.1% | $325.4B | 30.5 | 2.92% |
 COKE | Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc | 0.04% | $210.30 | +0.5% | $14.0B | 28.8 | 0.48% |
| PEP | PepsiCo Inc | 0.04% | $137.34 | +2.6% | $187.2B | 17.3 | 4.26% |
Investor Checkpoints
KXI can serve as a dependable anchor for a portfolio in volatile markets. Before investing, please review the following key points carefully.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Management Fee | Check the cost level typical of global sector ETFs | Moderate |
| 🌏 Regional Weighting | Review the share of developed-market companies outside the US | Globally diversified |
| 📈 Dividend History | Check whether the holdings pay stable dividends | Good |
| 💼 Sector Concentration | Assess your understanding of the consumer staples theme | Needs review |
Consumer staples are advantageous for defending against economic downturns, but they may underperform the market average in bull markets. In particular, investors should keep an eye on how rising raw material prices affect corporate margins and on changes in consumer purchasing power.
It is a global solution suited to conservative investors who seek stable cash flows and low volatility. It is recommended for strategies that aim to tune out market noise and invest in the real value of high-quality companies.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
Today's 5 AI picks, all free