Investors can take a look at ETFs to capture the relatively cheap consumer discretionary sector. For instance, the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSEArca: VCR) trakcs 374 companies, with about one third of its holdings allocated to retail names, followed by 27% in media and entertainment companies. VCR is down 0.7 year-to-date and has a 0.14% expense ratio. [ETF Chart of the Day: Media]
The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLY) follows a more narrow group of 84 companies with similar sector weights as VCR. XLY has a 0.16% expense ratio and is down 1.5% year-to-date.
Additionally, the iShares Global Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSEArca: RXI) provides a more diversified global focus, but the fund’s top four of ten holdings include automotive names. RXI is down 1.3% year-to-date and has a 0.48% expense ratio.
For more information on the consumer discretionary sector, visit our consumer discretionary category.