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VPUvsFXUETF Comparison
Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) belong to the same industry segment: US Utilities. VPU's top 3 sector exposures are Utilities, Industrials and Energy. In contrast, FXU's top sector exposures are Utilities, Industrials VPU is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.09%, versus 0.61% for FXU. VPU is up 7.73% year-to-date (YTD) with +$178M in YTD flows. FXU performs better with 10.29% YTD performance, and -$1.06B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of VPU and FXU below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
VPU vs FXU performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | VPU FXU | +3.13%+3.04% | +7.35%+11.01% | +7.73%+10.29% | +22.19%+27.95% | +53.53%+69.42% | +71.59%+94.12% |
| Flows | VPU FXU | +$106M+$95K | +$225M-$1.02B | +$178M-$1.06B | +$747M+$218M | +$1.26B+$185M | +$1.93B+$342M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | VPU FXU | +14.33%+12.83% | +15.19%+14.77% | +15.93%+15.81% | +17.02%+16.66% |
| Max drawdown | VPU FXU | -3.21%-2.69% | -8.87%-8.51% | -18.60%-17.58% | -25.15%-21.82% |
| Max drawdown duration | VPU FXU | 10d10d | 120d26d | 373d368d | 688d604d |
VPU | FXU | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 2:07 PM | $200.73 | $49.99 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $199.30 | $49.62 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
VPU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
VPU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $200.73 | $49.99 |
| 1D performance | +0.72% | +0.74% |
| AuM | $8.65 B | $845.99 M |
| E/R | 0.09% | 0.61% |
VPU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | Vanguard | First Trust |
| Benchmark | MSCI US IMI Utilities 25/50 Index | StrataQuant Utilities Index |
| N° of holdings | 66 | 40 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | January 26, 2004 | May 8, 2007 |
| 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 VPU and FXU ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, VPU is up 7.73% year-to-date (YTD), while FXU has returned 10.29%. That puts FXU better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: VPU or FXU?
Year-to-date, the VPU ETF saw +$178M in flows, compared to -$1.06B for FXU.
Which ETF is more volatile: VPU or FXU?
Over the past year, VPU had a volatility of 15.19%, while FXU experienced 14.77%.
Which ETF is bigger: VPU or FXU?
As of March 11, 2026, VPU holds $8.65 B in assets under management (AUM), while FXU manages $845.99 M.
What sectors do the VPU and FXU ETFs invest in?
VPU leans toward sectors like Utilities. Meanwhile, FXU focuses on Utilities.
What are the top holdings of the VPU ETF and FXU ETF?
VPU top holdings include NEXTERA ENERGY, SOUTHERN and DUKE ENERGY. FXU holds in its top three: CONSOLIDATED EDISON, UGI and NFG.
Which ETF is more diversified: VPU or FXU?
VPU holds 67 securities with 64.51% of its assets in the top 15. FXU has 40 securities and a top 15 weight of 56.87%.
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