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FXUvsXLUETF Comparison
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) belong to the same industry segment: US Utilities. FXU's top 3 sector exposures are Utilities and Industrials. In contrast, XLU's top sector exposures are Utilities FXU is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.61%, versus 0.08% for XLU. FXU is up 11.13% year-to-date (YTD) with -$1.06B in YTD flows. XLU performs worse with 8.97% YTD performance, and +$947M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of FXU and XLU below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
FXU vs XLU performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | FXU XLU | +2.21%+2.77% | +11.73%+9.40% | +11.13%+8.97% | +28.98%+23.99% | +70.73%+55.93% | +92.99%+73.55% |
| Flows | FXU XLU | +$95K+$1.14B | -$1.02B+$914M | -$1.06B+$947M | +$213M+$3.18B | +$185M+$4.12B | +$342M+$6.85B |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | FXU XLU | +12.88%+14.74% | +14.78%+15.49% | +15.81%+16.24% | +16.65%+17.15% |
| Max drawdown | FXU XLU | -2.69%-3.26% | -8.51%-9.19% | -17.58%-18.42% | -21.82%-25.30% |
| Max drawdown duration | FXU XLU | 11d11d | 26d120d | 368d373d | 604d688d |
FXU | XLU | |
Last sale 3/13/2026 at 1:30 PM | $50.51 | $46.96 |
| Previous close 03/12/2026 | $49.98 | $46.50 |
| Consolidated volume 03/12/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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FXU | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
FXU | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $50.51 | $46.96 |
| 1D performance | +1.06% | +0.99% |
| AuM | $852.49 M | $24.64 B |
| E/R | 0.61% | 0.08% |
FXU | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | First Trust | SPDR |
| Benchmark | StrataQuant Utilities Index | S&P Utilities Select Sector Index |
| N° of holdings | 40 | 31 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | May 8, 2007 | December 16, 1998 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the FXU and XLU ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 12, 2026, FXU is up 11.13% year-to-date (YTD), while XLU has returned 8.97%. That puts FXU better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: FXU or XLU?
Year-to-date, the FXU ETF saw -$1.06B in flows, compared to +$947M for XLU.
Which ETF is more volatile: FXU or XLU?
Over the past year, FXU had a volatility of 14.78%, while XLU experienced 15.49%.
Which ETF is bigger: FXU or XLU?
As of March 12, 2026, FXU holds $852.49 M in assets under management (AUM), while XLU manages $24.64 B.
What sectors do the FXU and XLU ETFs invest in?
FXU leans toward sectors like Utilities. Meanwhile, XLU focuses on Utilities.
What are the top holdings of the FXU ETF and XLU ETF?
FXU top holdings include CONSOLIDATED EDISON, UGI and NFG. XLU holds in its top three: NEXTERA ENERGY, SOUTHERN and DUKE ENERGY.
Which ETF is more diversified: FXU or XLU?
FXU holds 40 securities with 56.87% of its assets in the top 15. XLU has 31 securities and a top 15 weight of 72.53%.
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