XLU vs. T
XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) is Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index, while T (AT&T Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, XLU returned 8.86%/yr vs 2.10%/yr for T. At a 0.46 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
XLU vs. T - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, XLU achieves a 6.68% return, which is significantly higher than T's -7.04% return. Over the past 10 years, XLU has outperformed T with an annualized return of 8.86%, while T has yielded a comparatively lower 2.10% annualized return.
XLU
- 1D
- -0.51%
- 1M
- 1.04%
- 6M
- 4.96%
- YTD
- 6.68%
- 1Y
- 10.31%
- 3Y*
- 12.84%
- 5Y*
- 10.03%
- 10Y*
- 8.86%
- ALL TIME*
- 7.72%
T
- 1D
- 0.64%
- 1M
- 2.62%
- 6M
- -2.84%
- YTD
- -7.04%
- 1Y
- -13.37%
- 3Y*
- 20.93%
- 5Y*
- 7.13%
- 10Y*
- 2.10%
- ALL TIME*
- 9.35%
XLU vs. T - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 6.68% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
T AT&T Inc. | -7.04% | 13.97% | 44.08% | -2.74% | 5.76% | -8.09% | -21.37% | 45.55% | -22.25% | -4.01% |
Correlation
The correlation between XLU and T is 0.21, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 1998 | 0.46 |
Over the past year, the correlation between XLU and T has dropped to 0.21 - well below their long-term average of 0.46, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
XLU vs. T — Risk / Return Rank
XLU
T
XLU vs. T - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and AT&T Inc. (T). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| XLU | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.27 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.70 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 0.92 | +0.21 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.13 | -0.46 | +1.59 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.34 | -1.03 | +3.37 |
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Drawdowns
XLU vs. T - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum XLU drawdown since its inception was -51.98%, smaller than the maximum T drawdown of -64.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLU and T.
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Drawdown Indicators
| XLU | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.98% | -64.15% | +12.17% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.18% | -28.89% | +19.71% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.26% | -28.89% | +11.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.26% | -32.01% | +6.75% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.07% | -42.35% | +6.28% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.58% | -21.57% | +16.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.20% | -15.74% | +5.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.42% | 12.94% | -8.52% |
Volatility
XLU vs. T - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is 4.30%, while AT&T Inc. (T) has a volatility of 9.59%. This indicates that XLU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than T based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| XLU | T | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.30% | 9.59% | -5.29% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.77% | 19.91% | -8.14% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.87% | 23.72% | -8.85% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.33% | 24.38% | -7.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.29% | 23.92% | -4.63% |
Dividends
XLU vs. T - Dividend Comparison
XLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.66%, less than T's 6.58% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T AT&T Inc. | 6.58% | 4.47% | 4.87% | 6.62% | 6.66% | 8.46% | 7.23% | 5.22% | 7.01% | 5.04% | 4.51% | 5.46% |
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | 2.66% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Frequently Asked Questions
XLU and T have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
T has higher volatility (9.59%) compared to XLU (4.30%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLU dropped -51.98% vs T's -64.15%.
XLU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.70 vs -0.57), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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