Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund vs Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund
XLY / XLP
Consumer discretionary vs staples — a read on consumer confidence
Last updated: February 26, 2026
XLY is losing ground against XLP with a price ratio of 1.32. The ratio's z-score of -1.46 is notably extended. The two assets are currently showing low correlation (63-day: 0.10).
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Relative Performance
The price ratio is currently below its 50-day moving average, indicating XLP has been gaining relative ground recently. The ratio is extended at -9.6% from its 50-day average, suggesting the relative move may be overdue for a pullback. The z-score of -1.46 shows a notable deviation from the long-term average.
Performance Comparison
| Timeframe | XLY | XLP | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Day | -0.6% | +0.5% | XLP |
| 21-Day | -4.6% | +6.9% | XLP |
| 63-Day | +2.6% | +16.3% | XLP |
Performance is mixed across timeframes, with no clear consistent leader between XLY and XLP. Watch for a breakout in relative momentum.
Correlation
These two assets have a weak positive long-term correlation of 0.33. The shorter-term correlation has weakened to 0.10, indicating the assets are diverging from their usual relationship — this can present relative-value opportunities.
Money Flow Comparison
XLY
XLP
XLP has a stronger flow score (85/100 vs 38/100), indicating more consistent accumulation pressure. Both assets show net inflow via Chaikin Money Flow (XLP: 0.20, XLY: 0.08), though XLP leads on overall flow score. Both assets are trading on below-average volume, which means current flow readings should be interpreted with caution.
Trend & Risk
XLY
XLP
| Metric | XLY | XLP | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility (21d) | +15.1% | +14.9% | XLP |
| Max Drawdown (1Y) | -18.1% | -8.5% | XLP |
| Beta | — | — | — |
| Correlation (63d) | 0.10 | — | |
XLP has significantly stronger trend momentum (89/100 vs 31/100), suggesting it is in a more favourable technical position. Risk profiles are comparable (53/100 vs 60/100). Both assets show similar short-term volatility levels. XLY has experienced a deeper maximum drawdown over the past year (18.1% vs 8.5%), indicating higher tail risk. Their low short-term correlation (0.10) means these risk profiles are relatively independent, offering potential diversification benefit.
Direction Assessment
XLY
Uptrend + capital inflow
Uptrend, weak flow
Flow in, no trend yet
Downtrend + outflow
Average
XLP
Uptrend + capital inflow
Uptrend, weak flow
Flow in, no trend yet
Downtrend + outflow
Good risk/reward
Putting It Together
XLY is currently losing ground against XLP, with the price ratio at 1.32 versus its 50-day average of 1.46. The 200-day z-score of -1.46 is notably extended, suggesting XLP may be stretched relative to XLY. On a flow basis, XLP shows stronger capital accumulation (85 vs 38). XLP carries lower short-term volatility (+14.9% vs +15.1% 21-day), with max drawdowns of -18.1% and -8.5% respectively. With a 63-day correlation of 0.10, these assets move largely independently — offering diversification value. Monitor the ratio trend and flow divergence for early signals of a shift in relative leadership.
Related
Full XLY analysis
Full XLP analysis