AEP vs. XLU
AEP (American Electric Power Company, Inc.) is a stock, while XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index. Over the past 10 years, AEP returned 10.16%/yr vs 8.92%/yr for XLU. Their 0.77 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
AEP vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AEP achieves a 12.56% return, which is significantly higher than XLU's 5.28% return. Over the past 10 years, AEP has outperformed XLU with an annualized return of 10.16%, while XLU has yielded a comparatively lower 8.92% annualized return.
AEP
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- -7.70%
- 6M
- 8.37%
- YTD
- 12.56%
- 1Y
- 16.13%
- 3Y*
- 19.35%
- 5Y*
- 11.69%
- 10Y*
- 10.16%
- ALL TIME*
- 6.23%
XLU
- 1D
- -0.69%
- 1M
- -3.08%
- 6M
- 3.92%
- YTD
- 5.28%
- 1Y
- 6.26%
- 3Y*
- 13.58%
- 5Y*
- 9.34%
- 10Y*
- 8.92%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.66%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $506.06M | $573.81M | $668.56M | |
| $827.32M | $819.54M | $911.53M |
AEP vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 12.56% | 29.38% | 18.18% | -10.98% | 10.38% | 10.68% | -9.01% | 30.52% | 5.38% | 20.95% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 5.28% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between AEP and XLU is 0.82, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.82 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.77 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.83 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.85 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.77 |
The correlation between AEP and XLU has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.85 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
AEP vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
AEP
XLU
AEP vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AEP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.45 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.08 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.83 | 0.70 | +1.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.26 | 1.44 | +2.82 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
AEP vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AEP drawdown since its inception was -62.75%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AEP and XLU.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| AEP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.75% | -51.98% | -10.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.09% | -9.18% | +0.09% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.10% | -13.15% | +0.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.56% | -25.26% | -4.30% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -32.91% | -36.07% | +3.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.82% | -5.83% | -1.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -17.51% | -10.19% | -7.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.90% | 4.48% | -0.58% |
Volatility
AEP vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) has a higher volatility of 6.27% compared to State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) at 4.59%. This indicates that AEP's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| AEP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.27% | 4.59% | +1.68% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.62% | 12.01% | +2.61% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.82% | 15.00% | +3.82% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.12% | 17.34% | +2.78% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.07% | 19.30% | +1.77% |
Dividends
AEP vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
AEP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.96%, more than XLU's 2.70% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 2.96% | 3.24% | 3.87% | 4.15% | 3.34% | 3.37% | 3.41% | 2.87% | 3.39% | 3.25% | 3.61% | 3.69% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.70% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AEP and XLU have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AEP has higher volatility (6.27%) compared to XLU (4.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AEP dropped -62.75% vs XLU's -51.98%.
AEP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.88 vs 0.43), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for AEP and XLU
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer