VUIAX vs. XLU
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VUIAX) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU).
VUIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Apr 28, 2004. 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.
Performance
VUIAX vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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VUIAX vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUIAX Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 7.79% | 16.39% | 23.03% | -7.49% | 1.13% | 17.16% | -0.90% | 24.97% | 4.45% | 12.49% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 8.77% | 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, VUIAX achieves a 7.79% return, which is significantly lower than XLU's 8.77% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VUIAX having a 9.59% annualized return and XLU not far ahead at 9.79%.
VUIAX
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -2.50%
- YTD
- 7.79%
- 6M
- 5.16%
- 1Y
- 18.84%
- 3Y*
- 13.78%
- 5Y*
- 10.44%
- 10Y*
- 9.59%
XLU
- 1D
- 0.48%
- 1M
- -1.98%
- YTD
- 8.77%
- 6M
- 6.26%
- 1Y
- 19.98%
- 3Y*
- 14.30%
- 5Y*
- 10.90%
- 10Y*
- 9.79%
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VUIAX vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
VUIAX has a 0.10% expense ratio, which is lower than XLU's 0.13% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VUIAX vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
VUIAX
XLU
VUIAX vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VUIAX) 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.
| VUIAX | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.24 | 1.27 | -0.03 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.69 | 1.73 | -0.04 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.23 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | 2.21 | +0.10 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.49 | 5.31 | +0.18 |
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
| VUIAX | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.24 | 1.27 | -0.03 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 | 0.64 | -0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.51 | -0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.54 | 0.41 | +0.13 |
Correlation
The correlation between VUIAX and XLU is 0.98, 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
VUIAX vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
VUIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.57%, which matches XLU's 2.58% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VUIAX Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares | 2.57% | 2.73% | 3.01% | 3.49% | 2.98% | 2.56% | 3.17% | 2.82% | 3.23% | 3.18% | 3.19% | 3.64% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 2.58% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
VUIAX vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VUIAX drawdown since its inception was -46.29%, smaller than the maximum XLU drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUIAX and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VUIAX | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -46.29% | -51.98% | +5.69% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.87% | -9.18% | +0.31% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.18% | -25.26% | +0.08% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.21% | -36.07% | -0.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.15% | -2.72% | -0.43% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.80% | -10.26% | +2.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.72% | 3.82% | -0.10% |
Volatility
VUIAX vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund Admiral Shares (VUIAX) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) have volatilities of 5.04% and 5.09%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VUIAX | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.04% | 5.09% | -0.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.22% | 10.36% | -0.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.59% | 15.79% | -0.20% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.96% | 17.18% | -0.22% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.13% | 19.21% | -0.08% |