Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) Alternatives
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) belongs to the Utilities Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with XLU. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or funds that fit a different role in your portfolio.
Cheapest Alternatives to XLU
XLU charges 0.13% annually. Among ETFs in the Utilities Equities category, these options have the lowest expense ratios among XLU alternatives.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF | 0.08% | Oct 21, 2013 | XLU vs FUTY | |
| Vanguard Utilities ETF | 0.10% | Jan 26, 2004 | XLU vs VPU | |
| Invesco S&P SmallCap Utilities & Communication Ser... | 0.29% | Apr 7, 2010 | XLU vs PSCU | |
| State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium ... | 0.35% | Jul 29, 2025 | XLU vs XLUI | |
| Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF | 0.40% | Nov 1, 2006 | XLU vs RSPU |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to XLU
Among ETFs in the Utilities Equities category, these options rank highest on PortfoliosLab's risk-adjusted score, which accounts for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency over a 1-year period.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF | 92 | Jan 25, 2007 | XLU vs GII | |
| iShares Global Utilities ETF | 92 | Sep 21, 2006 | XLU vs JXI | |
| Global X U.S. Electrification ETF | 91 | Dec 17, 2024 | XLU vs ZAP | |
| First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | 90 | Aug 19, 2019 | XLU vs ECLN | |
| Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF | 87 | Mar 6, 2017 | XLU vs PAVE |
Top Performing XLU Alternatives (YTD)
XLU alternatives from the Utilities Equities category, sorted by year-to-date return.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | 13.60% | Aug 19, 2019 | XLU vs ECLN | |
| ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF | 12.06% | Apr 9, 2025 | XLU vs ELFY | |
| iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF | 11.79% | Jan 31, 2012 | XLU vs POWR | |
| iShares Infrastructure Active ETF | 11.38% | Jul 29, 2025 | XLU vs BILT | |
| First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 10.69% | May 8, 2007 | XLU vs FXU |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to XLU
XLU alternatives from the Utilities Equities category, sorted by annualized volatility over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Infrastructure Active ETF | 9.37% | Jul 29, 2025 | XLU vs BILT | |
| State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium ... | 10.43% | Jul 29, 2025 | XLU vs XLUI | |
| FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index... | 12.55% | Oct 8, 2013 | XLU vs NFRA | |
| First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | 12.78% | Aug 19, 2019 | XLU vs ECLN | |
| SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF | 13.22% | Jan 25, 2007 | XLU vs GII |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to XLU
XLU alternatives from the Utilities Equities category, sorted by maximum drawdown over the past year.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexShares STOXX Global Broad Infrastructure Index... | -7.84% | Oct 8, 2013 | XLU vs NFRA | |
| iShares Global Utilities ETF | -8.17% | Sep 21, 2006 | XLU vs JXI | |
| Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF | -8.35% | Nov 1, 2006 | XLU vs RSPU | |
| First Trust EIP Carbon Impact ETF | -8.45% | Aug 19, 2019 | XLU vs ECLN | |
| iShares U.S. Utilities ETF | -8.45% | Jun 20, 2000 | XLU vs IDU |
Other ETFs from State Street
Most popular State Street ETFs on PortfoliosLab, across asset classes.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 64 | -4.37% | Jan 22, 1993 | XLU vs SPY | |
| SPDR Gold Shares | Gold, Precious Metals | 87 | 8.57% | Nov 18, 2004 | XLU vs GLD | |
| State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Technology Equities | 69 | -7.57% | Dec 16, 1998 | XLU vs XLK | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | S&P 500, Large Cap Growth Equities | 66 | -8.12% | Sep 25, 2000 | XLU vs SPYG | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | S&P 500, Dividend | 30 | 6.32% | Oct 21, 2015 | XLU vs SPYD | |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust | Precious Metals, Gold | 88 | 8.57% | Jun 25, 2018 | XLU vs GLDM | |
| State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | Energy Equities | 73 | 37.91% | Dec 16, 1998 | XLU vs XLE | |
| SPDR Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF | Government Bonds | 100 | 0.85% | May 25, 2007 | XLU vs BIL | |
| SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities | 47 | -3.25% | Jan 14, 1998 | XLU vs DIA | |
| Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | Financials Equities | 14 | -9.40% | Dec 16, 1998 | XLU vs XLF |
Often Compared With XLU
What investors most often compare with XLU, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare XLU with Any Fund or Stock
Compare XLU with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.