NGG vs. XLU
NGG (National Grid plc) 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, NGG returned 6.81%/yr vs 8.92%/yr for XLU. Their 0.44 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship.
Performance
NGG vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NGG achieves a 6.11% return, which is significantly higher than XLU's 5.28% return. Over the past 10 years, NGG has underperformed XLU with an annualized return of 6.81%, while XLU has yielded a comparatively higher 8.92% annualized return.
NGG
- 1D
- -0.52%
- 1M
- -3.48%
- 6M
- -3.75%
- YTD
- 6.11%
- 1Y
- 15.90%
- 3Y*
- 14.50%
- 5Y*
- 11.07%
- 10Y*
- 6.81%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.33%
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $62.39M | $64.89M | $105.15M | |
| $827.32M | $819.54M | $911.53M |
NGG vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NGG National Grid plc | 6.11% | 35.88% | -1.26% | 18.82% | -12.68% | 29.02% | -0.75% | 38.53% | -13.76% | 4.94% |
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 NGG and XLU is 0.52, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.52 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.55 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.55 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.56 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2001 | 0.44 |
The correlation between NGG and XLU shifts across timeframes, from 0.44 (all time) to 0.56 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
NGG vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
NGG
XLU
NGG vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for National Grid plc (NGG) 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.
| NGG | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.42 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.16 | 1.08 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.30 | 0.70 | +0.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.02 | 1.44 | +1.58 |
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Drawdowns
NGG vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NGG drawdown since its inception was -54.85%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NGG and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NGG | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.85% | -51.98% | -2.87% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.15% | -9.18% | -4.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.76% | -13.15% | -7.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.20% | -25.26% | -13.94% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.20% | -36.07% | -3.13% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -12.62% | -5.83% | -6.79% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.39% | -10.19% | -3.20% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.06% | 4.48% | +1.58% |
Volatility
NGG vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
National Grid plc (NGG) has a higher volatility of 6.64% compared to State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) at 4.59%. This indicates that NGG'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.
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Volatility by Period
| NGG | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.64% | 4.59% | +2.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.30% | 12.01% | +6.29% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.46% | 15.00% | +6.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.32% | 17.34% | +4.98% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.03% | 19.30% | +3.73% |
Dividends
NGG vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
NGG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.05%, more than XLU's 2.70% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NGG National Grid plc | 4.05% | 4.03% | 11.81% | 5.20% | 5.18% | 4.75% | 5.32% | 4.94% | 6.51% | 14.95% | 5.07% | 4.73% |
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
NGG and XLU have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NGG has higher volatility (6.64%) compared to XLU (4.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NGG dropped -54.85% vs XLU's -51.98%.
NGG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.85 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.
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