XRT Stock: SPDR S&P Retail ETF Profile & Analysis (2026)
A leveraged exchange-traded fund providing equal-weighted exposure to the U.S. retail sector — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) provides targeted exposure to the U.S. retail industry by tracking the S&P Retail Select Industry Index. Unlike traditional market-cap-weighted funds, XRT utilizes an equal-weighted methodology, ensuring that smaller retailers have as much impact on the fund’s performance as massive corporations. This approach often highlights shifts in consumer behavior across various sub-sectors, including apparel, automotive, and the companies found in our complete list of food and beverage companies.
CRITICAL WARNING: XRT is classified as a leveraged/short instrument designed for active traders. It is NOT for long-term holding. Due to the daily reset mechanism and volatility decay, the fund’s performance over periods longer than a single day can deviate significantly from the underlying index. Investors should only use XRT for short-term tactical plays or to hedge specific retail exposure, such as positions in our list of publicly traded sports companies.
Key Takeaways — XRT Stock
XRT avoids concentration in mega-cap giants, giving mid and small-cap retailers a significant voice in the fund’s daily returns.
Designed for daily trading targets; volatility decay makes this fund unsuitable for multi-year “buy and hold” portfolios.
With a substantial average daily volume, XRT is a primary vehicle for institutional and retail traders to bet on consumer trends.
The fund spans various segments from department stores and automotive retail to online marketplaces like Amazon.
XRT — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
XRT ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | SPDR S&P Retail ETF | Ticker | XRT |
| Issuer | State Street Global Advisors | Asset Class | U.S. Equity — Consumer Cyclical |
| Index Tracked | S&P Retail Select Industry Index | Structure | Open-Ended Investment Company |
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | AUM | $507M |
| Inception Date | June 19, 2006 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | ~77 | Dividend Yield | 0.35% |
| 52-Week High | $83.53 | 52-Week Low | $83.53 |
| Avg Daily Volume | High ($500M+) | YTD Return | 0.35% |
| 1-Year Return | 0.35% | 5-Year Return | 0.35% |
| Category | Retail Sector | Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
XRT Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight. Click columns to sort.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GO | Grocery Outlet Holding | Consumer Defensive | 1.89% |
| 2 | SAH | Sonic Automotive | Consumer Cyclical | 1.85% |
| 3 | VSCO | Victoria’s Secret & Co | Consumer Cyclical | 1.79% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com | Consumer Cyclical | 1.75% |
| 5 | M | Macy’s | Consumer Cyclical | 1.74% |
| 6 | PSMT | Pricesmart | Consumer Defensive | 1.70% |
| 7 | ARKO | Arko Corp | Consumer Cyclical | 1.70% |
| 8 | AN | AutoNation | Consumer Cyclical | 1.70% |
| 9 | BBWI | Bath & Body Works | Consumer Cyclical | 1.70% |
| 10 | MUSA | Murphy USA | Consumer Cyclical | 1.70% |
XRT — Pros & Cons
✓ Equal Weight Diversification
Avoids being over-concentrated in a single giant like Amazon, allowing broad exposure to the entire retail ecosystem.
✗ Volatility Decay
The leveraged nature and daily resets mean that in a choppy market, the fund can lose value even if the index remains flat.
✓ Tactical Flexibility
Ideal for trading earnings seasons or holiday spending reports when retail sector volatility spikes.
✗ Compounding Losses
Holding this fund through a multi-day decline can lead to rapid capital erosion that is difficult to recover from.
✓ Cost Efficient for Trades
A 0.35% expense ratio is relatively low for a specialized/leveraged fund used for active market timing.
✗ High Beta
XRT is significantly more volatile than the S&P 500, making it a high-risk vehicle for conservative investors.
Who Should Consider XRT?
Active day traders and swing traders looking to capitalize on immediate consumer discretionary trends or macro retail shifts.
Long-term retirement savers or “set and forget” investors who cannot monitor their positions on a daily basis.
You have a strong short-term thesis on U.S. consumer spending, such as during Black Friday or major earnings weeks.
Taxable brokerage accounts where frequent trading is permitted and the investor has high risk tolerance.
XRT vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XRT ★ | SPDR S&P Retail ETF | 0.35% | $507M | ~77 | 0.35% | 0.35% | Short-term Trading |
| RTH | VanEck Retail ETF | 0.35% | ~$800M | ~25 | 1.2% | Varies | Mega-Cap Focus |
| IBUY | Amplify Online Retail ETF | 0.65% | ~$200M | ~40 | 0.00% | Varies | Global E-commerce |
| EMTY | ProShares Decline of Retail | 0.65% | ~$10M | Inverse | N/A | Varies | Shorting Physical Retail |
XRT Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
XRT — Risks & Considerations
Daily Reset Risk
The fund targets its objective on a daily basis. Over time, the compounding of daily returns can lead to performance that is vastly different from the sector index.
Consumer Spending Sensitivity
Retail stocks are highly sensitive to inflation, interest rates, and employment data, making XRT prone to sharp, sudden moves.
Volatility Decay
In periods of high market choppiness, the constant rebalancing of leveraged positions can “bleed” the fund’s NAV, even if the price ends where it started.
Smaller Cap Exposure
Because of the equal-weighting, XRT is more exposed to the credit risks and volatility of smaller retailers compared to cap-weighted peers.