VPU vs. UTES
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (UTES).
VPU and UTES 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. UTES is an actively managed fund by Virtus Investment Partners. It was launched on Sep 23, 2015.
Performance
VPU vs. UTES - Performance Comparison
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VPU vs. UTES - 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% |
UTES Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF | 2.56% | 25.71% | 45.35% | -2.46% | 0.80% | 20.74% | -0.30% | 25.48% | 5.14% | 14.21% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VPU achieves a 8.24% return, which is significantly higher than UTES's 2.56% return. Over the past 10 years, VPU has underperformed UTES with an annualized return of 9.67%, while UTES has yielded a comparatively higher 12.94% 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%
UTES
- 1D
- 0.95%
- 1M
- -4.01%
- YTD
- 2.56%
- 6M
- -3.09%
- 1Y
- 25.28%
- 3Y*
- 23.12%
- 5Y*
- 16.60%
- 10Y*
- 12.94%
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VPU vs. UTES - Expense Ratio Comparison
VPU has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than UTES's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
VPU vs. UTES — Risk / Return Rank
VPU
UTES
VPU vs. UTES - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (UTES). 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 | UTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.25 | 1.12 | +0.14 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.71 | 1.55 | +0.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.21 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.22 | 1.93 | +0.29 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.27 | 4.77 | +0.50 |
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 | UTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.25 | 1.12 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 | 0.82 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 | 0.65 | -0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.55 | 0.72 | -0.17 |
Correlation
The correlation between VPU and UTES is 0.84, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VPU vs. UTES - Dividend Comparison
VPU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.56%, more than UTES's 1.46% 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% |
UTES Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF | 1.46% | 1.42% | 1.51% | 2.44% | 2.13% | 1.94% | 2.09% | 1.84% | 2.09% | 3.44% | 3.53% | 0.61% |
Drawdowns
VPU vs. UTES - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VPU drawdown since its inception was -46.31%, which is greater than UTES's maximum drawdown of -35.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VPU and UTES.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VPU | UTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.31% | -35.39% | -10.92% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -13.88% | +4.98% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.15% | -20.40% | -4.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.42% | -35.39% | -1.03% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.71% | -7.01% | +4.30% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.82% | -5.51% | -2.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.74% | 5.61% | -1.87% |
Volatility
VPU vs. UTES - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) is 4.99%, while Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (UTES) has a volatility of 8.04%. This indicates that VPU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UTES based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VPU | UTES | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.99% | 8.04% | -3.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.18% | 16.29% | -6.11% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.51% | 22.80% | -7.29% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.91% | 20.29% | -3.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.07% | 20.03% | -0.96% |