ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

ICSU.L (iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) and XSCS.L (Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D) are both Consumer Staples Equities funds - ICSU.L tracks the S&P 500 Capped 35/20 Consumer Staples Index while XSCS.L tracks the Cat 50%MSCI Wld/CD NR&50%MSCI Wld/CS NR. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ICSU.L returned 7.91%/yr vs 8.04%/yr for XSCS.L. With a 1.00 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. ICSU.L charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for XSCS.L.

Performance

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (ICSU.L) and Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D (XSCS.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ICSU.L achieves a 6.60% return, which is significantly lower than XSCS.L's 7.09% return.

ICSU.L

• 1D: 0.03%
• 1M: -1.75%
• YTD: 6.60%
• 6M: 5.01%
• 1Y: 4.82%
• 3Y*: 5.52%
• 5Y*: 7.91%
• 10Y*: —

XSCS.L

• 1D: 0.17%
• 1M: -1.78%
• YTD: 7.09%
• 6M: 5.58%
• 1Y: 5.46%
• 3Y*: 5.68%
• 5Y*: 8.04%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
ICSU.L iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	6.60%	-3.20%	16.26%	-5.83%	11.78%	19.63%	5.64%	22.78%	12.05%
XSCS.L Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D	7.09%	-3.23%	16.15%	-5.00%	11.79%	19.16%	5.49%	22.78%	11.73%

Correlation

The correlation between ICSU.L and XSCS.L is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.99
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.99
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.99
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 24, 2018	1.00

The correlation between ICSU.L and XSCS.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	ICSU.L	XSCS.L
Consumer Defensive	99.0%	99.0%
Consumer Cyclical	1.0%	1.0%
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Energy	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ICSU.L

ICSU.L Risk / Return Rank: 13
ICSU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 12
ICSU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 12
ICSU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 12
ICSU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 13
ICSU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 13

XSCS.L

XSCS.L Risk / Return Rank: 13
XSCS.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 13
XSCS.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 13
XSCS.L Omega Ratio Rank: 12
XSCS.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
XSCS.L Martin Ratio Rank: 14

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (ICSU.L) and Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D (XSCS.L). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	ICSU.L	XSCS.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.22	0.27	-0.05
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.43	0.50	-0.07
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.05	1.05	-0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.34	0.42	-0.08
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.82	1.02	-0.20
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ICSU.L Sharpe Ratio is 0.22, which is comparable to the XSCS.L Sharpe Ratio of 0.27. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ICSU.L and XSCS.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ICSU.L	XSCS.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.22	0.27	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59	0.60	-0.01
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.48	0.71	-0.23

Drawdowns

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ICSU.L drawdown since its inception was -18.54%, which is greater than XSCS.L's maximum drawdown of -14.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ICSU.L and XSCS.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	ICSU.L	XSCS.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.54%	-14.91%	-3.63%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.24%	-9.11%	-0.13%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.59%	-11.68%	+0.09%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-13.70%	-12.94%	-0.76%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.40%	-7.09%	-0.31%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.93%	-4.12%	-0.81%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.87%	3.78%	+0.09%

Volatility

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (ICSU.L) and Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D (XSCS.L) have volatilities of 6.57% and 6.46%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ICSU.L	XSCS.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.57%	6.46%	+0.11%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.97%	11.77%	+0.20%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.37%	14.24%	+0.13%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.45%	13.38%	+0.07%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.31%	14.40%	-0.09%

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

ICSU.L has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than XSCS.L's 0.12% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

ICSU.L vs. XSCS.L - Dividend Comparison

ICSU.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XSCS.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.95%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
ICSU.L iShares S&P 500 Consumer Staples Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
XSCS.L Xtrackers MSCI USA Consumer Staples UCITS ETF 1D	1.95%	2.11%	2.15%	2.20%	2.96%	1.95%	2.99%	2.41%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ICSU.L and XSCS.L in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.99, ICSU.L and XSCS.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, ICSU.L or XSCS.L?

On fees, XSCS.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ICSU.L or XSCS.L?

XSCS.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for ICSU.L.

What is the main difference between ICSU.L and XSCS.L?

ICSU.L tracks S&P 500 Capped 35/20 Consumer Staples Index, while XSCS.L tracks Cat 50%MSCI Wld/CD NR&50%MSCI Wld/CS NR. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Xtrackers. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for ICSU.L and 0.12% for XSCS.L.