Investors holding ETFs with exposure to Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA  ) are closely watching how the company's buyout by Sycamore Partners will impact their portfolios. As Walgreens prepares to go private, ETFs that currently hold its stock will need to readjust their allocations. Let's dive into how this transition could play out for some key ETFs.

ETFs With Walgreens Exposure: What's At Stake?

SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT  ): This ETF provides broad exposure to the retail sector, including Walgreens (almost 2% allocation). Since Walgreens is being delisted from the Nasdaq upon the deal's completion, XRT will need to rebalance its holdings, shifting funds to other retail stocks. This reallocation could create short-term volatility but will ultimately diversify its exposure further. The ETF was up 0.04% on Thursday.

Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV  ): As a fund focused on undervalued stocks, RPV has included Walgreens due to its relatively low valuation. With WBA exiting the public market, RPV will likely redistribute its assets toward other value stocks in the consumer sector. This fund also saw a marginal gain of 0.12% on Thursday.

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF (RSPS  ): RSPS applies an equal-weight strategy within the consumer staples sector, where Walgreens has been a key player. The buyout will remove WBA from its holdings, allowing other consumer staples stocks to gain weight in the index. The ETF gained 0.62% at market close on Thursday.

The Deal: Walgreens Goes Private

Walgreens has agreed to be taken private by Sycamore Partners in a $10 billion deal, offering shareholders $11.45 per share in cash, with additional potential payouts linked to the monetization of VillageMD. While this provides an immediate cash payout for Walgreens shareholders, it also means that ETFs holding WBA shares must adjust.

For now, Walgreens remains a publicly traded company, but as the deal progresses, ETFs will prepare to rebalance. Since none of these ETFs rely heavily on a single stock, the broader impact should be manageable. Retail-focused ETFs like XRT may see some short-term fluctuations, while value-oriented funds like RPV will likely scout for alternative investments. However, the Walgreens buyout will not upend their strategies.

The Walgreens buyout comes at a time when the retail sector is navigating mixed earnings reports. Several major retailers have reported varied results, reflecting shifting consumer spending habits amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. While some companies have exceeded expectations, others have issued cautious guidance, impacting sector-wide sentiment.