Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) Performance
VPU total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +1.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.3% total return
- 5 years
- +7.8% a year
- 10 years
- +9.1% a year
- Since first price
- +9.4% a year since 2004
VPU trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VPU total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +6.7% | +6.7% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −7.1% | −7.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.6% | −7.9% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +1.5% | −0.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −3.3% | −5.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +61.9%+17.4%/yr | +48.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +45.9%+7.8%/yr | +25.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +139.1%+9.1%/yr | +75.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +303.9%+9.8%/yr | +147.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +380.6%+8.2%/yr | +147.4% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJan 30, 2004 | +676.5%+9.4%/yr | +269.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VPU vs SPY
From Jan 30, 2004: VPU grew to $77,652, SPY to $101,402.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VPU returns by calendar year
17 of 21 full years positive. Best 2014 (+27.0%), worst 2008 (−27.9%). 2026 is year to date.
VPU annual returns table
| Year | VPU | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +1.5% | −15.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +16.5% | −8.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +23.0% | −9.7% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −7.4% | −20.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +1.1% | −20.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +17.4% | −8.4% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −0.7% | −36.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +24.9% | −5.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +4.4% | −9.0% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.4% | −6.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +17.6% | −11.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −4.8% | −16.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +27.0% | −9.3% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +14.9% | −11.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +1.8% | −9.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +19.0% | −12.0% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +7.1% | −9.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +11.3% | −25.1% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −27.9% | −38.9% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +17.0% | −12.2% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +21.7% | −6.4% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +14.6% | −11.9% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VPU largest drawdowns
Now 8.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 2007 | −46.3% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 6, 2012 | 1.2 years | 4.5 years |
| Feb 18, 2020 | −36.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 12, 2021 | 34 days | 1.5 years |
| Sep 12, 2022 | −25.1% | Oct 2, 2023 | Aug 1, 2024 | 1.1 years | 1.9 years |
| Jan 29, 2015 | −16.1% | Sep 4, 2015 | Mar 8, 2016 | 7 months | 1.1 years |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −15.6% | Sep 28, 2026 | not yet | 7 months | 8 months so far |
| Apr 8, 2022 | −15.3% | Jun 17, 2022 | Aug 12, 2022 | 2 months | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VPU risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +13.6% | +7.4% | +8.1% | +9.1% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 16.5% | 15.1% | 14.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.65 | 0.30 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.03 | 0.45 | 0.65 | — |
| Best month | +9.5% | +9.8% | +10.3% | +10.3% |
| Worst month | −8.1% | −11.2% | −11.2% | −12.9% |
| Best 12 months | +41.1% | +41.1% | +41.1% | +41.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −7.2% | −12.8% | −12.8% | −32.1% |
| Positive months | 69% | 62% | 62% | 66% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.34 | 0.57 | 0.50 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.29 | 0.55 | 0.50 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VPU rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 262 | −32.1% | +12.2% | +41.1% | 82% |
| 3-year (a year) | 238 | −8.2% | +10.8% | +24.6% | 87% |
| 5-year (a year) | 214 | +0.8% | +9.6% | +16.1% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 154 | +6.5% | +9.4% | +13.3% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2004. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VPU performance overview
Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) returned −3.3% over the past year and +9.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2004 it has returned +9.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $77,652. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −46.3%, from Dec 10, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 3.2 years to get back to the old high. VPU finished 17 of its 21 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2014 (+27.0%) and the worst 2008 (−27.9%). Volatility has been 14.0% a year.
Related: VPU chart, VPU holdings, VPU dividends, VPU valuation. See the VPU overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VPU performance FAQ
What is the VPU return over the past year?
VPU returned −3.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.9%.
What is the average annual return of VPU?
VPU has returned +7.8% a year over 5 years, +9.1% a year over 10 years, +9.4% a year since January 30, 2004 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VPU be worth?
$10,000 invested in VPU at its first recorded close on January 30, 2004 would be worth about $77,652 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VPU?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −27.9%. The best was 2014 at +27.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VPU?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −46.3% between December 10, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on June 6, 2012, 3.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VPU?
Over the past 3 years VPU had an annualized volatility of 14.8% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.65 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).