XLUvsFXUETF Comparison
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State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) and First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) belong to the same industry segment: US Utilities. XLU's top 1 sector exposures are Utilities. In contrast, FXU's top sector exposures are Utilities, Energy and Business Services. XLU is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.08%, versus 0.61% for FXU. XLU is up 3.12% year-to-date (YTD) with +$439M in YTD flows. FXU performs better with 5.64% YTD performance, and -$1.07B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XLU 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.
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XLU vs FXU performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 09/08/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XLU FXU | +0.70%-2.72% | +0.51%-1.15% | +3.12%+5.64% | +8.11%+9.72% | +50.37%+70.42% | +44.61%+67.32% |
| Flows | XLU FXU | -$88M-$19M | +$456M-$23M | +$439M-$1.07B | +$1.03B-$995M | +$2.94B+$248M | +$5.59B+$325M |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XLU FXU | +14.46%+14.50% | +15.34%+13.74% | +16.44%+15.70% | +17.42%+16.69% |
| Max drawdown | XLU FXU | -8.78%-7.58% | -10.39%-9.02% | -13.20%-11.79% | -25.30%-21.82% |
| Max drawdown duration | XLU FXU | 44d68d | 191d148d | 89d78d | 688d604d |
Trading data
XLU | FXU | |
Last sale 9/9/2026 at 1:30 PM | $42.94 | $47.04 |
| Previous close 09/08/2026 | $43.45 | $47.57 |
| Consolidated volume 09/08/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of August 31, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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XLU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 9/9/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
XLU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $42.94 | $47.04 |
| 1D performance | -1.17% | -1.11% |
| AuM | $22.53 B | $788.96 M |
| E/R | 0.08% | 0.61% |
Characteristics
XLU | FXU | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | State Street Investment Management | First Trust |
| Benchmark | S&P Utilities Select Sector Index | StrataQuant Utilities Index |
| N° of holdings | 31 | 40 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | December 16, 1998 | May 8, 2007 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
XLU
USA
99.7%
Other
0.3%
FXU
USA
99.6%
Other
0.4%
Sectors
XLU
Utilities
99.7%
Other
0.3%
FXU
Utilities
87.61%
Energy
9.26%
Other
3.13%
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Diversification
XLU
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
72.23%
FXU
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
57.85%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of July 31, 2026
XLU
NextEra Energy, Inc.
13.07%
The Southern Co.
7.68%
Duke Energy Corp.
7.05%
Constellation Energy Corp.
6.05%
American Electric Power Co., Inc.
5.01%
Dominion Energy, Inc.
4.39%
Sempra
4.17%
Entergy Corp.
3.55%
Xcel Energy, Inc.
3.52%
Vistra Corp.
3.39%
Exelon Corp.
3.38%
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
2.89%
PG&E Corp.
2.76%
Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc.
2.75%
WEC Energy Group, Inc.
2.57%
FXU
UGI Corp.
4.65%
National Fuel Gas Co.
4.61%
PG&E Corp.
4.52%
The AES Corp.
4.27%
Edison International
4.25%
Eversource Energy
4.23%
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
4.15%
Exelon Corp.
4.10%
Essential Utilities, Inc.
3.58%
Duke Energy Corp.
3.29%
PPL Corp.
3.28%
Evergy, Inc.
3.26%
OGE Energy Corp.
3.26%
MDU Resources Group, Inc.
3.25%
Pinnacle West Capital Corp.
3.15%
Frequently asked questions about XLU and FXU
How have the XLU and FXU ETFs performed in 2026?
As of September 8, 2026, XLU is up 3.12% year-to-date (YTD), while FXU has returned 5.64%. That puts FXU better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XLU or FXU?
Year-to-date, the XLU ETF saw +$439M in flows, compared to -$1.07B for FXU.
Which ETF is more volatile: XLU or FXU?
Over the past year, XLU had a volatility of 15.34%, while FXU experienced 13.74%.
Which ETF is bigger: XLU or FXU?
As of September 8, 2026, XLU holds $22.53 B in assets under management (AUM), while FXU manages $788.96 M.
What sectors do the XLU and FXU ETFs invest in?
XLU leans toward sectors like Utilities. Meanwhile, FXU focuses on Utilities and Energy.
What are the top holdings of the XLU ETF and FXU ETF?
XLU top holdings include NextEra Energy, Inc., The Southern Co. and Duke Energy Corp.. FXU holds in its top three: UGI Corp., National Fuel Gas Co. and PG&E Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: XLU or FXU?
XLU holds 31 securities with 72.23% of its assets in the top 15. FXU has 40 securities and a top 15 weight of 57.85%.
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