XLU — State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF
Utilities Ranked #70 of 120 tracked ETFs · Issued by State Street Investment Management
Overview
The State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is a utilities sector fund managed by State Street Investment Management. With $23.1 billion in assets under management, the fund trades at a price of $45.36 and carries an expense ratio of 0.08%. It currently holds an overall rank of #70 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and has received an ETFValuer grade of C with a score of 59.3 out of 100. The fund offers a dividend yield of 4.27%, which is notable given its classification within the Utilities category where ETFValuer tracks only two funds. The substantial asset size and low cost structure suggest significant investor adoption relative to the narrow scope of its specific category. This positioning places it as a central vehicle for exposure to the utilities sector among the limited options available in this segment.
Over the last day, the fund declined by 0.74% before recovering slightly to gain 0.04% over the past week. Monthly performance showed a positive trajectory with a 2.93% return, though the three-month period registered a decline of 1.34%. The six-month return accelerated to +7.66%, contributing to a year-to-date gain of 6.46%. Over the past year, the fund posted a return of 13.71%, which is comparable to its closest category peer VPU that returned 13.58%. The three-year return figure stands at 47.94%, indicating a strong cumulative performance over the longer term despite recent short-term fluctuations. This pattern reflects a divergence where short-term volatility exists alongside sustained long-term growth.
The fund is assigned a Low volatility label and exhibits a beta of 0.49, indicating it moves less than the broader market. A Sharpe ratio of 0.58 suggests the fund has generated moderate risk-adjusted returns relative to the risk taken. The maximum drawdown recorded for the fund is -17.26%, representing the largest peak-to-trough decline observed. This combination of a low beta and low volatility label implies the fund tends to experience smaller price swings than the general market in both up and down conditions. The moderate Sharpe ratio and defined maximum drawdown suggest a profile that balances downside protection with steady, albeit not aggressive, upside potential.
AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.
XLU Top Holdings
| # | Holding | % of Net Assets | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NextEra Energy Inc | 13.59% | $3.32B |
| 2 | Southern Co/The | 7.47% | $1.82B |
| 3 | Duke Energy Corp | 7.15% | $1.75B |
| 4 | Constellation Energy Corp | 6.11% | $1.49B |
| 5 | American Electric Power Co Inc | 4.98% | $1.22B |
| 6 | Sempra | 4.46% | $1.09B |
| 7 | Dominion Energy Inc | 3.71% | $906M |
| 8 | Entergy Corp | 3.57% | $872M |
| 9 | Exelon Corp | 3.52% | $860M |
| 10 | Vistra Corp | 3.36% | $821M |
Holdings as of 2026-03-31 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.
XLU Performance History
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| 1-Day | -0.74% |
| 1-Week | +0.04% |
| 1-Month | +2.93% |
| 3-Month | -1.34% |
| 6-Month | +7.66% |
| YTD | +6.46% |
| 1-Year | +13.71% |
| 3-Year | +47.94% |
How XLU 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 |