XNKY.DE vs. XLU

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XNKY.DE (Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF) and XLU (State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XNKY.DE is a Japan Equities fund tracking the Nikkei 225®, while XLU is a Utilities Equities fund tracking the Utilities Select Sector Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, XNKY.DE returned 12.43%/yr vs 10.42%/yr for XLU. At a 0.12 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. XNKY.DE charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.08%/yr for XLU.

Performance

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a €10,000 investment in Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (XNKY.DE) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

XNKY.DE is traded in EUR, while XLU is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the XLU values have been converted to EUR using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XNKY.DE achieves a 32.35% return, which is significantly higher than XLU's 6.66% return.

XNKY.DE

• 1D: -1.43%
• 1M: 6.07%
• YTD: 32.35%
• 6M: 33.84%
• 1Y: 59.86%
• 3Y*: 20.83%
• 5Y*: 12.43%
• 10Y*: —

XLU

• 1D: 1.17%
• 1M: 0.95%
• YTD: 6.66%
• 6M: 7.04%
• 1Y: 12.05%
• 3Y*: 11.18%
• 5Y*: 10.42%
• 10Y*: 8.85%

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

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
XNKY.DE Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF	32.35%	16.16%	14.34%	18.03%	-15.35%	3.16%	13.56%
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF	6.66%	2.26%	31.45%	-9.96%	7.73%	26.51%	-3.42%

Correlation

The correlation between XNKY.DE and XLU is 0.11, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.11
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.12
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.12
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 2, 2020	0.12

Return for Risk

XNKY.DE vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank

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

XNKY.DE

XNKY.DE Risk / Return Rank: 79
XNKY.DE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 79
XNKY.DE Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
XNKY.DE Omega Ratio Rank: 72
XNKY.DE Calmar Ratio Rank: 85
XNKY.DE Martin Ratio Rank: 74

XLU

XLU Risk / Return Rank: 26
XLU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 26
XLU Sortino Ratio Rank: 24
XLU Omega Ratio Rank: 24
XLU Calmar Ratio Rank: 30
XLU Martin Ratio Rank: 24

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.

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (XNKY.DE) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (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.

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.

	XNKY.DE	XLU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.53	0.79	+1.74
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.63	1.16	+2.47
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	1.15	+0.28
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.59	1.29	+3.30
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.91	2.63	+11.29

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XNKY.DE Sharpe Ratio is 2.53, which is higher than the XLU Sharpe Ratio of 0.79. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XNKY.DE and XLU, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XNKY.DE drawdown since its inception was -21.47%, smaller than the maximum XLU drawdown of -38.13%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XNKY.DE and XLU.

Drawdown Indicators

	XNKY.DE	XLU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-21.47%	-38.13%	+16.66%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.99%	-9.41%	-3.58%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-20.16%	-15.27%	-4.89%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-21.15%	-28.16%	+7.01%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-35.68%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.43%	-5.63%	+4.20%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.84%	-9.85%	+2.01%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.29%	4.60%	-0.31%

Volatility

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison

Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (XNKY.DE) has a higher volatility of 6.59% compared to State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) at 5.82%. This indicates that XNKY.DE's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XNKY.DE	XLU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.59%	5.82%	+0.77%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.61%	11.96%	+6.65%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	23.59%	15.35%	+8.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.57%	17.67%	+0.90%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.41%	19.96%	-1.55%

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison

XNKY.DE has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than XLU's 0.08% 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

XNKY.DE vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison

XNKY.DE has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XLU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.67%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XLU State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF	2.67%	2.71%	2.96%	3.39%	2.92%	2.79%	3.14%	2.95%	3.33%	3.33%	3.41%	3.67%
XNKY.DE Xtrackers Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XNKY.DE and XLU in my portfolio?

XNKY.DE and XLU have a correlation of 0.11, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XNKY.DE or XLU?

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.

Which ETF is cheaper, XNKY.DE or XLU?

XLU is cheaper with a 0.08% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for XNKY.DE.

What is the main difference between XNKY.DE and XLU?

XNKY.DE is categorized as Japan Equities, while XLU is Utilities Equities. XNKY.DE tracks Nikkei 225®, while XLU tracks Utilities Select Sector Index. They also come from different issuers: Xtrackers and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for XNKY.DE and 0.08% for XLU.