XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XDWU.L (Xtrackers MSCI World Utilities UCITS ETF 1C) and SXLU.L (SPDR S&P US Utilities Select Sector UCITS ETF) are both Utilities Equities funds tracking the MSCI World/Utilities NR USD, from Xtrackers and State Street respectively. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, XDWU.L returned 8.86%/yr vs 8.49%/yr for SXLU.L. A 0.79 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XDWU.L charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for SXLU.L.

Performance

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Xtrackers MSCI World Utilities UCITS ETF 1C (XDWU.L) and SPDR S&P US Utilities Select Sector UCITS ETF (SXLU.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XDWU.L achieves a 4.59% return, which is significantly higher than SXLU.L's 1.45% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with XDWU.L having a 8.86% annualized return and SXLU.L not far behind at 8.49%.

XDWU.L

• 1D: -1.38%
• 1M: -5.78%
• YTD: 4.59%
• 6M: 4.09%
• 1Y: 14.91%
• 3Y*: 14.82%
• 5Y*: 8.86%
• 10Y*: 8.86%

SXLU.L

• 1D: -2.18%
• 1M: -6.82%
• YTD: 1.45%
• 6M: -0.04%
• 1Y: 8.59%
• 3Y*: 12.59%
• 5Y*: 8.41%
• 10Y*: 8.49%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
XDWU.L Xtrackers MSCI World Utilities UCITS ETF 1C	4.59%	26.14%	12.54%	0.30%	-3.57%	10.23%	4.86%	24.37%	0.63%	15.46%
SXLU.L SPDR S&P US Utilities Select Sector UCITS ETF	1.45%	15.70%	22.97%	-8.14%	2.07%	18.45%	-1.27%	25.13%	2.96%	10.96%

Correlation

The correlation between XDWU.L and SXLU.L is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.92
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.91
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.91
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.79
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 17, 2016	0.79

The correlation between XDWU.L and SXLU.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.79 (all time) to 0.92 (1 year), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XDWU.L	SXLU.L
Utilities	98.1%	100.0%
Industrials	1.4%	-
Energy	0.5%	-
Basic Materials	-	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-

Return for Risk

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

XDWU.L

XDWU.L Risk / Return Rank: 34
XDWU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 34
XDWU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 32
XDWU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 31
XDWU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
XDWU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 36

SXLU.L

SXLU.L Risk / Return Rank: 19
SXLU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
SXLU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
SXLU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 18
SXLU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 22
SXLU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 19

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers MSCI World Utilities UCITS ETF 1C (XDWU.L) and SPDR S&P US Utilities Select Sector UCITS ETF (SXLU.L). 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.

	XDWU.L	SXLU.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.19	0.60	+0.59
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.68	0.93	+0.75
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.20	1.11	+0.10
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.84	0.96	+0.89
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	5.63	2.03	+3.60
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XDWU.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.19, which is higher than the SXLU.L Sharpe Ratio of 0.60. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XDWU.L and SXLU.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XDWU.L	SXLU.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.19	0.60	+0.59
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.59	0.50	+0.10
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.64	0.47	+0.17
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.63	0.53	+0.10

Drawdowns

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XDWU.L drawdown since its inception was -33.87%, smaller than the maximum SXLU.L drawdown of -36.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XDWU.L and SXLU.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	XDWU.L	SXLU.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.87%	-36.20%	+2.33%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.05%	-8.93%	+0.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-17.56%	-18.41%	+0.85%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.92%	-26.18%	+4.26%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.87%	-36.20%	+2.33%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-7.90%	-8.93%	+1.03%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.47%	-6.21%	+0.74%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.64%	4.22%	-1.58%

Volatility

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Xtrackers MSCI World Utilities UCITS ETF 1C (XDWU.L) is 4.19%, while SPDR S&P US Utilities Select Sector UCITS ETF (SXLU.L) has a volatility of 4.96%. This indicates that XDWU.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SXLU.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XDWU.L	SXLU.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.19%	4.96%	-0.77%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.50%	11.51%	-1.01%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.48%	14.25%	-1.77%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.27%	16.99%	-1.72%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.87%	18.01%	-0.14%

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

XDWU.L has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than SXLU.L's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XDWU.L vs. SXLU.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither XDWU.L nor SXLU.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XDWU.L and SXLU.L in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.92, XDWU.L and SXLU.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, XDWU.L or SXLU.L?

On fees, SXLU.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XDWU.L or SXLU.L?

SXLU.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for XDWU.L.

What is the main difference between XDWU.L and SXLU.L?

Both ETFs track MSCI World/Utilities NR USD. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for XDWU.L and 0.15% for SXLU.L.