Compare/Updated Oct 26, 2026, refreshed every trading day
VPU vs XLU
Vanguard Utilities ETF against State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF: 4 years of returns, risk and today’s technical read, from Kavout’s own data.
XLU did slightly better over the 1,000-trading-day period: $1,000 invested on Oct 28, 2022 grew to $1,425, compared with $1,415 for VPU, a 42.5% versus 41.5% total return. XLU also led over one month, YTD, and one year, while VPU was marginally ahead over three years; six-month returns were identical at -6.6%. The difference is small, consistent with their 0.997 daily correlation and typical monthly performance gap of just 0.24 points. XLU had slightly higher 12-month volatility at 15.7% versus 15.3% for VPU, but a marginally smaller worst drawdown of -20.2% versus -20.5%. XLU’s expense ratio was also slightly lower at 0.08% versus 0.09%. Overall, XLU delivered the marginally better result with broadly comparable risk.
- Price is below its 200-day average ($189); 50-day at $181.
- RSI 61, neutral. Supertrend says buy. ADX 20, so the trend is developing.
- Price is below its 200-day average ($44); 50-day at $42.
- RSI 60, neutral. Supertrend says buy. ADX 21, so the trend is developing.
Head to head
Which has returned more, VPU or XLU?
VPU beat XLU in 25 of the last 48 months; XLU won the other 23. The typical monthly gap was 0.24 points.
Total return by period
Which is riskier?
Both: Dec 13, 2022 to Oct 2, 2023
- 0.997
- correlation of daily moves, 4 years
- 0.98
- VPU move per 1% in XLU
- 0.997
- correlation, last 12 months
Month by month
Of the last 48 months. The typical gap was 0.24 points.
When did they diverge?
| Month | VPU | XLU | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | +9.5% | +10.4% | -0.85 pts |
| December 2023 | +2.4% | +1.9% | +0.50 pts |
| June 2026 | +2.3% | +2.7% | -0.47 pts |
| October 2023 | +0.8% | +1.3% | -0.45 pts |
Where the numbers come from. 1000 daily adjusted closes per fund from the Kavout market-data API, dividends included. Signals and indicators are Kavout’s own, refreshed nightly. Every figure is calculated from those adjusted closes.
Holdings and fees
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