SDP vs. XLU
Compare and contrast key facts about ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU).
SDP and XLU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. SDP is a passively managed fund by ProShares that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Index (-200%). It was launched on Jan 30, 2007. XLU is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both SDP and XLU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
SDP vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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SDP vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDP ProShares UltraShort Utilities | -14.15% | -22.59% | -30.11% | 18.95% | -12.54% | -33.14% | -36.27% | -35.57% | -9.31% | -22.03% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 8.25% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SDP achieves a -14.15% return, which is significantly lower than XLU's 8.25% return. Over the past 10 years, SDP has underperformed XLU with an annualized return of -21.71%, while XLU has yielded a comparatively higher 9.74% annualized return.
SDP
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 6.78%
- YTD
- -14.15%
- 6M
- -10.38%
- 1Y
- -27.33%
- 3Y*
- -19.65%
- 5Y*
- -18.82%
- 10Y*
- -21.71%
XLU
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- -3.18%
- YTD
- 8.25%
- 6M
- 6.77%
- 1Y
- 19.71%
- 3Y*
- 14.12%
- 5Y*
- 10.80%
- 10Y*
- 9.74%
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SDP vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
SDP has a 0.95% expense ratio, which is higher than XLU's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
SDP vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
SDP
XLU
SDP vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (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.
| SDP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.88 | 1.25 | -2.13 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.27 | 1.71 | -2.98 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.86 | 1.23 | -0.37 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.70 | 2.29 | -2.99 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.05 | 5.51 | -6.57 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SDP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.88 | 1.25 | -2.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.55 | 0.63 | -1.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.58 | 0.51 | -1.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.58 | 0.41 | -0.99 |
Correlation
The correlation between SDP and XLU is -0.93. This indicates that the assets' prices tend to move in opposite directions. Negative correlation can be particularly beneficial for diversification and risk management, as one asset may offset the losses of the other during market fluctuations.
Dividends
SDP vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
SDP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.26%, more than XLU's 2.59% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDP ProShares UltraShort Utilities | 4.26% | 3.99% | 4.66% | 3.04% | 0.56% | 0.00% | 0.13% | 0.87% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 2.59% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
SDP vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SDP drawdown since its inception was -99.56%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SDP and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SDP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.56% | -51.98% | -47.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -41.11% | -9.18% | -31.93% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -66.97% | -25.26% | -41.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -92.63% | -36.07% | -56.56% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -99.53% | -3.18% | -96.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -81.96% | -10.26% | -71.70% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 27.45% | 3.82% | +23.63% |
Volatility
SDP vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP) has a higher volatility of 9.55% compared to Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) at 5.09%. This indicates that SDP'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
| SDP | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.55% | 5.09% | +4.46% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.50% | 10.35% | +10.15% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 31.29% | 15.82% | +15.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 34.05% | 17.18% | +16.87% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 37.37% | 19.21% | +18.16% |