VPU — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares
Utilities Ranked #82 of 120 tracked ETFs · Issued by Vanguard
Overview
The Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares, trading under the ticker VPU, operates within the Utilities category managed by issuer Vanguard. This fund tracks 2 other ETFs in its specific category and holds an overall rank of #82 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all sectors. It has received an ETFValuer grade of C with a score of 57.2 out of 100, reflecting its current standing. The fund carries an expense ratio of 0.09% and offers a dividend yield of 2.20% to income-focused investors. With assets under management totaling $10.8 billion and a share price of $195.85, the fund demonstrates significant capital adoption. These metrics suggest a well-established vehicle that balances cost efficiency with substantial investor interest relative to its peers.
Recent performance data shows a daily decline of 0.71% followed by a slight weekly gain of 0.06%. Over the last month, the fund posted a return of 2.49%, while the three-month period resulted in a loss of 1.41%. The six-month horizon saw a recovery with a 7.01% gain, and year-to-date returns stand at 6.00%. The one-year return reached 13.58%, which is comparable to the closest category peer XLU that returned 13.71% over the same period. Extending the view to three years reveals a cumulative return of 47.36%, indicating a distinct divergence between short-term volatility and long-term growth trends.
The fund is classified with a Low volatility label and exhibits a beta of 0.50, suggesting it moves less than the broader market. A Sharpe ratio of 0.58 indicates the return generated per unit of risk taken is moderate relative to the risk-free rate. The maximum drawdown recorded is -17.34%, representing the largest peak-to-trough decline experienced by the fund. This combination of a low beta and low volatility label implies the fund tends to experience smaller price swings than the average equity. However, the Sharpe ratio and maximum drawdown figures together suggest that while the fund is less volatile, it still faces periods of significant decline that impact risk-adjusted returns.
AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.
VPU Top Holdings
| # | Holding | % of Net Assets | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NextEra Energy Inc | 11.92% | $1.31B |
| 2 | Constellation Energy Corp | 6.36% | $701M |
| 3 | Southern Co/The | 6.36% | $701M |
| 4 | Duke Energy Corp | 6.28% | $693M |
| 5 | American Electric Power Co Inc | 4.42% | $487M |
| 6 | Sempra | 3.88% | $428M |
| 7 | Vistra Corp | 3.64% | $401M |
| 8 | Dominion Energy Inc | 3.32% | $367M |
| 9 | Xcel Energy Inc | 3.04% | $336M |
| 10 | Entergy Corp | 2.95% | $325M |
Holdings as of 2026-02-28 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing.
Market Backdrop
10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.55% (as of 2026-07-07) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 16.13 (as of 2026-07-07) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.
Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.
VPU Performance History
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| 1-Day | -0.71% |
| 1-Week | +0.06% |
| 1-Month | +2.49% |
| 3-Month | -1.41% |
| 6-Month | +7.01% |
| YTD | +6.00% |
| 1-Year | +13.58% |
| 3-Year | +47.36% |
How VPU Compares to Other Utilities ETFs
| Rank | Grade | Ticker | Name | 1-Year | Exp. Ratio | AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #70 | C |
XLU | State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF | +13.71% | 0.08% | $23.1B |
| #82 | C |
VPU | Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares | +13.58% | 0.09% | $10.8B |