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FXU vs. XLUI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

FXU vs. XLUI

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

FXU (First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund) and XLUI (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF) are both Utilities Equities funds. FXU is passively managed, while XLUI is actively managed. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure. FXU charges 0.62%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for XLUI.

Performance

FXU vs. XLUI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, FXU achieves a 6.16% return, which is significantly higher than XLUI's 4.99% return.

FXU

1D
-0.04%
1M
-3.16%
YTD
6.16%
6M
5.04%
1Y
13.42%
3Y*
17.52%
5Y*
11.68%
10Y*
9.21%

XLUI

1D
-0.18%
1M
-4.28%
YTD
4.99%
6M
3.61%
1Y
—
3Y*
—
5Y*
—
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

FXU vs. XLUI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025
FXU
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund		6.16%3.48%
XLUI
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF		4.99%0.51%

Correlation

The correlation between FXU and XLUI is 0.86, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 31, 2025

0.86

FXU vs. XLUI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
FXU
XLUI

Utilities

92.0%

-

Industrials

4.2%

-

Energy

3.7%

-

Basic Materials

-

-

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Financial Services

-

100.0%

Healthcare

-

-

Real Estate

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

FXU
92.0%
XLUI

-

Industrials

FXU
4.2%
XLUI

-

Energy

FXU
3.7%
XLUI

-

Basic Materials

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Communication Services

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Consumer Cyclical

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Consumer Defensive

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Financial Services

FXU

-

XLUI
100.0%

Healthcare

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Real Estate

FXU

-

XLUI

-

Technology

FXU

-

XLUI

-

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First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund

State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF

Often compared with FXU:
FXU vs. UTESFXU vs. XLUFXU vs. VPUFXU vs. IDUFXU vs. JXIFXU vs. PUIFXU vs. VOO
Often compared with XLUI:
XLUI vs. XLUXLUI vs. POWRXLUI vs. VPUXLUI vs. PAVEXLUI vs. FUTYXLUI vs. XLEXLUI vs. JXI

Return for Risk

FXU vs. XLUI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
FXU
FXU Risk / Return Rank: 2828
Overall Rank
FXU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2828
Sharpe Ratio Rank
FXU Sortino Ratio Rank: 2626
Sortino Ratio Rank
FXU Omega Ratio Rank: 2626
Omega Ratio Rank
FXU Calmar Ratio Rank: 3232
Calmar Ratio Rank
FXU Martin Ratio Rank: 3030
Martin Ratio Rank
XLUI
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.

FXU vs. XLUI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund (FXU) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI). 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.

FXUXLUIDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.02

—

—

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.45

—

—

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.18

—

—

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.56

—

—

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

4.43

—

—

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

FXU vs. XLUI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

FXUXLUIDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.02

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.71

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.50

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.42

0.60

-0.18

Drawdowns

FXU vs. XLUI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum FXU drawdown since its inception was -49.00%, which is greater than XLUI's maximum drawdown of -6.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FXU and XLUI.

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Drawdown Indicators

FXUXLUIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-49.00%

-6.01%

-42.99%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.63%

—

—

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-17.46%

—

—

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-21.87%

—

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.81%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-7.34%

-4.60%

-2.74%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.64%

-1.92%

-5.72%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.07%

—

—

Volatility

FXU vs. XLUI - Volatility Comparison

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Volatility by Period

FXUXLUIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.65%

—

—

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.14%

—

—

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

13.17%

11.12%

+2.05%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

16.58%

11.12%

+5.46%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.33%

11.12%

+7.21%

FXU vs. XLUI - Expense Ratio Comparison

FXU has a 0.62% expense ratio, which is higher than XLUI's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

FXU vs. XLUI - Dividend Comparison

FXU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.20%, less than XLUI's 12.81% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
FXU
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund		2.20%2.29%2.41%2.52%2.03%2.00%3.97%2.34%2.40%3.81%2.62%3.90%
XLUI
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF		12.81%7.12%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

FXU and XLUI have a correlation of 0.86, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

On fees, XLUI is cheaper at 0.35% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XLUI is cheaper with a 0.35% expense ratio, compared with 0.62% for FXU.

XLUI has the higher dividend yield at 12.81%, compared with 2.20% for FXU.

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.62% for FXU and 0.35% for XLUI.

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