VPU vs. POWR
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF (POWR).
VPU and POWR are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VPU is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. POWR is an actively managed fund by iShares. It was launched on Jan 31, 2012.
Performance
VPU vs. POWR - Performance Comparison
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VPU vs. POWR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 8.24% | 16.46% | 23.04% | -7.45% | 1.06% | 17.40% | -0.74% | 24.89% | 4.38% | 12.44% |
POWR iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF | 12.26% | 10.81% | -1.30% | 3.66% | 42.54% | 42.03% | -28.30% | 8.44% | -11.74% | 9.69% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPU achieves a 8.24% return, which is significantly lower than POWR's 12.26% return. Over the past 10 years, VPU has outperformed POWR with an annualized return of 9.67%, while POWR has yielded a comparatively lower 8.88% annualized return.
VPU
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -2.05%
- YTD
- 8.24%
- 6M
- 5.69%
- 1Y
- 19.37%
- 3Y*
- 13.96%
- 5Y*
- 10.58%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
POWR
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- -1.18%
- YTD
- 12.26%
- 6M
- 11.01%
- 1Y
- 13.80%
- 3Y*
- 9.78%
- 5Y*
- 16.12%
- 10Y*
- 8.88%
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VPU vs. POWR - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than POWR's 0.40% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VPU vs. POWR — Risk / Return Rank
VPU
POWR
VPU vs. POWR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF (POWR). 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.
| VPU | POWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.25 | 0.64 | +0.62 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.71 | 0.94 | +0.76 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.14 | +0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.22 | 0.80 | +1.41 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.27 | 2.84 | +2.43 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VPU | POWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.25 | 0.64 | +0.62 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.70 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.35 | +0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.17 | +0.38 |
Correlation
The correlation between VPU and POWR is 0.24, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Dividends
VPU vs. POWR - Dividend Comparison
VPU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.56%, less than POWR's 7.04% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF | 2.56% | 2.73% | 3.02% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.70% | 3.17% | 2.83% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.63% |
POWR iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF | 7.04% | 7.56% | 4.36% | 4.16% | 4.82% | 3.94% | 3.96% | 5.71% | 3.17% | 3.11% | 2.75% | 3.42% |
Drawdowns
VPU vs. POWR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPU drawdown since its inception was -46.31%, smaller than the maximum POWR drawdown of -65.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPU and POWR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VPU | POWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.31% | -65.98% | +19.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -17.63% | +8.73% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.15% | -25.09% | -0.06% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.42% | -63.42% | +27.00% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.71% | -1.62% | -1.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.82% | -18.35% | +10.53% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.74% | 5.00% | -1.26% |
Volatility
VPU vs. POWR - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) is 4.99%, while iShares U.S. Power Infrastructure ETF (POWR) has a volatility of 5.66%. This indicates that VPU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than POWR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VPU | POWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.99% | 5.66% | -0.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.18% | 11.94% | -1.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.51% | 21.77% | -6.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 23.22% | -6.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.07% | 25.64% | -6.57% |