XLUI vs. VPU

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI) and Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU).

XLUI and VPU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. XLUI is an actively managed fund by State Street. It was launched on Jul 29, 2025. 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.

Performance

XLUI vs. VPU - Performance Comparison

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

XLUI vs. VPU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
XLUI State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF	6.96%	0.51%
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF	7.79%	1.92%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLUI achieves a 6.96% return, which is significantly lower than VPU's 7.79% return.

XLUI

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: -0.70%
• YTD: 6.96%
• 6M: 4.66%
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VPU

• 1D: 0.02%
• 1M: -3.12%
• YTD: 7.79%
• 6M: 6.07%
• 1Y: 19.23%
• 3Y*: 13.81%
• 5Y*: 10.49%
• 10Y*: 9.62%

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

XLUI vs. VPU - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLUI has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than VPU's 0.10% expense ratio.

XLUI

State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF

VPU

Vanguard Utilities ETF

Return for Risk

XLUI vs. VPU — Risk / Return Rank

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

VPU

VPU Risk / Return Rank: 71
VPU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 73
VPU Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
VPU Omega Ratio Rank: 66
VPU Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
VPU Martin Ratio Rank: 61

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.

XLUI vs. VPU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

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

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	XLUI	VPU	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	—	1.25	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.62	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.51	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.10	0.55	+0.55

Correlation

The correlation between XLUI and VPU is 0.94, 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

XLUI vs. VPU - Dividend Comparison

XLUI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 8.25%, more than VPU's 2.57% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XLUI State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF	8.25%	7.12%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VPU Vanguard Utilities ETF	2.57%	2.73%	3.02%	3.49%	2.98%	2.70%	3.17%	2.83%	3.23%	3.18%	3.19%	3.63%

Drawdowns

XLUI vs. VPU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLUI drawdown since its inception was -6.01%, smaller than the maximum VPU drawdown of -46.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLUI and VPU.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLUI	VPU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-6.01%	-46.31%	+40.30%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	—	-8.90%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-25.15%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-36.42%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.30%	-3.12%	+1.82%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.88%	-7.82%	+5.94%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	—	3.74%	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	XLUI	VPU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	—	4.99%	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	—	10.18%	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.43%	15.54%	-5.11%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.43%	16.91%	-6.48%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	10.43%	19.07%	-8.64%