Tesla’s 18.97% Weight in XLY Explains Why It Beat VCR by 9 Points in Five Years

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By Austin Smith Published

Quick Read

  • Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR) holds roughly 300 stocks and dilutes Tesla exposure across homebuilders and mid-caps, while Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) concentrates 18.97% in Tesla and 23.53% in Amazon, creating a 42.50% combined weighting in two names. Over five years XLY returned 44.8% versus VCR’s 35.8%, but over ten years VCR’s broader exposure delivered 261.29% against XLY’s 237.79%.

  • Tesla’s 26.35% one-month surge and 33.29% annual gain amplify XLY’s outperformance through its concentrated 18.97% weighting, while rising motor vehicle spending from $713.3 billion in January to $780.9 billion in March benefits both funds disproportionately through their mega-cap holdings.

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Tesla’s 18.97% Weight in XLY Explains Why It Beat VCR by 9 Points in Five Years

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The Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSEARCA:VCR | VCR Price Prediction) and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLY) track US consumer discretionary stocks, both are market-cap weighted, and both hold Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) as anchor positions. The decision between them hinges on one factor: how much Tesla you want to own.

What each fund is actually betting on

XLY tracks the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index, a roughly 50-stock slice limited to S&P 500 constituents. That narrow universe forces concentration. Amazon sits at 23.53% of the fund and Tesla at 18.97%, a combined 42.50% in two names, with the top three holdings totaling 50.44%. XLY bets that mega-cap discretionary leaders compound faster than the rest of the sector.

VCR tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index, a basket of roughly 300 stocks reaching into mid- and small-caps. Amazon and Tesla anchor the top, but VCR dilutes them across homebuilders, auto parts retailers, and specialty consumer brands that XLY cannot touch. XLY is a bet on a handful of stocks; VCR is a bet on the sector.

Where the difference shows up

Tesla is the swing factor. The stock is up 26.35% over the past month and 33.29% over the past year, even after a 0.99% year-to-date dip. That move lands harder on XLY’s 18.97% weighting than on VCR’s diluted exposure.

Over five years, XLY returned 44.8% against VCR’s 35.8%, a gap driven largely by Tesla and Amazon outpacing the broader sector. Over ten years the order flips: VCR returned 261.29% versus XLY’s 237.79%, when broader mid-cap participation rewarded VCR’s wider net. One-year returns are nearly identical: 11.15% for XLY, 10.13% for VCR.

The practical comparison

Factor VCR XLY
Holdings ~300+ ~50
Tesla weight Diluted 18.97%
Top 3 concentration Lower 50.44%
Expense ratio 0.10% 0.08%
Inception 2004 December 16, 1998

Fees are essentially a wash. Motor vehicle spending rose from $713.3 billion in January 2026 to $780.9 billion in March, a tailwind that benefits both funds but lands disproportionately on XLY through Tesla.

The verdict

If you want Tesla as a near-fifth of your discretionary exposure and believe Amazon and Tesla will lead the sector, XLY is the cleaner expression of that thesis at a lower fee. If Tesla’s volatility concerns you, or you want genuine exposure to mid-cap retailers, restaurants, and homebuilders, VCR is the more honest sector bet. The calculus flips the moment Tesla stumbles for an extended stretch, when XLY’s concentration stops being a feature.

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About the Author Austin Smith →

Austin Smith is a financial publisher with over two decades of experience in the markets. He spent over a decade at The Motley Fool as a senior editor for Fool.com, portfolio advisor for Millionacres, and launched new brands in the personal finance and real estate investing space.

His work has been featured on Fool.com, NPR, CNBC, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, AOL, Marketwatch, and many other publications. Today he writes for 24/7 Wall St and covers equities, REITs, and ETFs for readers. He is as an advisor to private companies, and co-hosts The AI Investor Podcast.

When not looking for investment opportunities, he can be found skiing, running, or playing soccer with his children. Learn more about me here.

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