Hexis Active Nicotine Engagement ETF (NICO) belongs to the Consumer Staples Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with NICO. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to NICO
NICO charges 0.70% annually. There are 13 ETFs in the Consumer Staples Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.08%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 0.08% | 1.37B | Oct 2013 | NICO vs FSTA | |
| State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR E... | 0.08% | 13.66B | Dec 1998 | NICO vs XLP | |
| Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 0.09% | 9.10B | Jan 2004 | NICO vs VDC | |
| VanEck Consumer Staples TruSector ETF | 0.14% | 256.38K | Jun 2026 | NICO vs TRUO | |
| Global X PureCap MSCI Consumer Staples ETF | 0.25% | — | Jul 2025 | NICO vs GXPS |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to NICO
Among 11 ETFs in the Consumer Staples Equities category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 19.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF | 19 | 1.38B | Jun 2000 | NICO vs IYK | |
| iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF | 18 | 1.05B | Sep 2006 | NICO vs KXI | |
| State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR E... | 16 | 13.66B | Dec 1998 | NICO vs XLP | |
| Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 16 | 9.10B | Jan 2004 | NICO vs VDC | |
| Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 16 | 1.37B | Oct 2013 | NICO vs FSTA |
Top Performing NICO Alternatives (YTD)
Among 13 ETFs in the Consumer Staples Equities category with YTD return data, the top-performing alternatives shown here go as high as 16.84%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco S&P SmallCap Consumer Staples ETF | 16.84% | 35.92M | Apr 2010 | NICO vs PSCC | |
| Invesco DWA Consumer Staples Momentum ETF | 15.19% | 85.01M | Oct 2006 | NICO vs PSL | |
| WEBs Consumer Staples XLP Defined Volatility ETF | 14.46% | — | Jul 2025 | NICO vs DVXP | |
| iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF | 13.32% | 1.38B | Jun 2000 | NICO vs IYK | |
| Global X PureCap MSCI Consumer Staples ETF | 10.72% | — | Jul 2025 | NICO vs GXPS |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to NICO
NICO has 20.02% 1-year volatility. There are 13 ETFs in the Consumer Staples Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 12.39%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF | 12.39% | 1.05B | Sep 2006 | NICO vs KXI | |
| Invesco Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF | 12.76% | 90.75M | Jun 2005 | NICO vs PBJ | |
| Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | 12.99% | 9.10B | Jan 2004 | NICO vs VDC | |
| Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 13.00% | 1.37B | Oct 2013 | NICO vs FSTA | |
| iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF | 13.04% | 1.38B | Jun 2000 | NICO vs IYK |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to NICO
Among 11 ETFs in the Consumer Staples Equities category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -9.28%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | -9.28% | 9.10B | Jan 2004 | NICO vs VDC | |
| Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | -9.29% | 1.37B | Oct 2013 | NICO vs FSTA | |
| State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR E... | -9.69% | 13.66B | Dec 1998 | NICO vs XLP | |
| First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF | -10.14% | 23.78M | Sep 2016 | NICO vs FTXG | |
| iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF | -10.24% | 1.05B | Sep 2006 | NICO vs KXI |
Compare NICO with Any Fund or Stock
Compare NICO with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair NICO with funds that move differently
Hexis Active Nicotine Engagement ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to NICO.
Explore NICO Diversifiers