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XLU vs. XLUI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

XLU vs. XLUI

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) and XLUI (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF) are both Utilities Equities funds from State Street. XLU is passively managed, while XLUI is actively managed. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. XLU charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for XLUI.

Performance

XLU vs. XLUI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Loading charts...

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLU achieves a 3.55% return, which is significantly lower than XLUI's 5.18% return.

XLU

1D
1.86%
1M
-5.69%
YTD
3.55%
6M
1.36%
1Y
9.88%
3Y*
13.91%
5Y*
9.31%
10Y*
9.19%

XLUI

1D
1.50%
1M
-4.18%
YTD
5.18%
6M
3.54%
1Y
—
3Y*
—
5Y*
—
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

XLU vs. XLUI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025
XLU
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF		3.55%1.63%
XLUI
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF		5.18%0.51%

Correlation

The correlation between XLU and XLUI is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

Correlation
Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 31, 2025

0.94

XLU vs. XLUI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
XLU
XLUI

Utilities

100.0%

-

Basic Materials

-

-

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

100.0%

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Real Estate

-

-

Technology

-

-

Utilities

XLU
100.0%
XLUI

-

Basic Materials

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Communication Services

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Consumer Cyclical

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Consumer Defensive

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Energy

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Financial Services

XLU

-

XLUI
100.0%

Healthcare

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Industrials

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Real Estate

XLU

-

XLUI

-

Technology

XLU

-

XLUI

-

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State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF

State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF

Often compared with XLU:
XLU vs. VPUXLU vs. XLEXLU vs. XLPXLU vs. SPYXLU vs. FUTYXLU vs. UTESXLU vs. IDU
Often compared with XLUI:
XLUI vs. POWRXLUI vs. VPUXLUI vs. PAVEXLUI vs. FUTYXLUI vs. XLEXLUI vs. JXIXLUI vs. BILT

Return for Risk

XLU vs. XLUI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
XLU
XLU Risk / Return Rank: 2121
Overall Rank
XLU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2020
Sharpe Ratio Rank
XLU Sortino Ratio Rank: 1919
Sortino Ratio Rank
XLU Omega Ratio Rank: 2020
Omega Ratio Rank
XLU Calmar Ratio Rank: 2323
Calmar Ratio Rank
XLU Martin Ratio Rank: 2121
Martin Ratio Rank
XLUI
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.

XLU vs. XLUI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI). 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.

XLUXLUIDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

0.68

—

—

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.01

—

—

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.13

—

—

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.11

—

—

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

2.52

—

—

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XLU vs. XLUI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

XLUXLUIDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.68

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.54

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.48

—

—

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.40

0.62

-0.22

Drawdowns

XLU vs. XLUI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLU drawdown since its inception was -51.98%, which is greater than XLUI's maximum drawdown of -6.01%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLU and XLUI.

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Drawdown Indicators

XLUXLUIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-51.98%

-6.01%

-45.97%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.18%

—

—

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-17.26%

—

—

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.26%

—

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-36.07%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-7.38%

-4.43%

-2.95%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-10.22%

-1.91%

-8.31%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

4.07%

—

—

Volatility

XLU vs. XLUI - Volatility Comparison

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Volatility by Period

XLUXLUIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.41%

—

—

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.76%

—

—

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

14.56%

11.14%

+3.42%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.32%

11.14%

+6.18%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

19.26%

11.14%

+8.12%

XLU vs. XLUI - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLU has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than XLUI's 0.35% expense ratio.

Dividends

XLU vs. XLUI - Dividend Comparison

XLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.71%, less than XLUI's 12.78% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
XLU
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF		2.71%2.71%2.96%3.39%2.92%2.79%3.14%2.95%3.33%3.33%3.41%3.67%
XLUI
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF		12.78%7.12%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.94, XLU and XLUI 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.

On fees, XLU is cheaper at 0.08% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

XLU is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for XLUI.

XLUI has the higher dividend yield at 12.78%, compared with 2.71% for XLU.

Their fees differ too: 0.08% for XLU and 0.35% for XLUI.

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