Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) Performance
XLU total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +1.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −3.1% total return
- 5 years
- +8.0% a year
- 10 years
- +9.3% a year
- Since first price
- +7.5% a year since 1998
XLU trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | XLU total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +7.1% | +7.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −7.2% | −7.9% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.4% | −7.7% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +1.8% | −0.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −3.1% | −5.8% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +61.8%+17.4%/yr | +47.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.1%+8.0%/yr | +26.6% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +143.1%+9.3%/yr | +77.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +302.8%+9.7%/yr | +144.0% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +375.5%+8.1%/yr | +138.8% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 22, 1998 | +649.2%+7.5%/yr | +185.4% | — | — | — |
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: XLU vs SPY
From Dec 22, 1998: XLU grew to $74,924, SPY to $101,831.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
XLU returns by calendar year
21 of 27 full years positive. Best 2014 (+28.7%), worst 2008 (−28.9%). 2026 is year to date.
XLU annual returns table
| Year | XLU | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +1.8% | −16.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +16.0% | −8.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +23.3% | −9.7% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −7.2% | −20.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +1.4% | −20.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +17.7% | −9.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +0.5% | −36.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +25.9% | −5.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | +3.9% | −8.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.0% | −7.5% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +16.1% | −12.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −4.9% | −15.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +28.7% | −9.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +13.1% | −12.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +1.0% | −9.9% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | +19.6% | −11.3% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +5.3% | −9.4% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +11.7% | −24.5% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −28.9% | −39.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +18.4% | −11.7% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +20.9% | −7.6% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +16.4% | −11.9% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +23.6% | −8.6% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +26.5% | −17.6% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −28.8% | −45.1% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −13.0% | −17.8% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
| 2000 | +22.5% | −15.9% | −9.7% | −36.1% | — |
| 1999 | −3.2% | −12.0% | +20.4% | — | — |
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.
XLU largest drawdowns
Now 9.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 13, 2000 | −52.3% | Oct 9, 2002 | Feb 14, 2005 | 1.8 years | 4.2 years |
| Dec 10, 2007 | −46.5% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 14, 2012 | 1.2 years | 4.5 years |
| Feb 18, 2020 | −36.1% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 5, 2021 | 34 days | 1.5 years |
| Sep 12, 2022 | −25.3% | Oct 2, 2023 | Aug 1, 2024 | 1.1 years | 1.9 years |
| Jul 21, 1999 | −23.0% | Feb 25, 2000 | Sep 8, 2000 | 7 months | 1.1 years |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −16.0% | Sep 28, 2026 | not yet | 7 months | 8 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
XLU risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +13.5% | +7.5% | +8.2% | +7.2% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 16.7% | 15.4% | 15.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.63 | 0.30 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.01 | 0.45 | 0.66 | — |
| Best month | +10.4% | +10.4% | +10.6% | +13.2% |
| Worst month | −8.0% | −11.3% | −11.3% | −14.7% |
| Best 12 months | +41.6% | +41.6% | +41.6% | +42.3% |
| Worst 12 months | −7.0% | −12.7% | −12.7% | −33.8% |
| Positive months | 69% | 62% | 62% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.32 | 0.56 | 0.48 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.26 | 0.52 | 0.47 | — |
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.
XLU rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 323 | −33.8% | +11.7% | +42.3% | 78% |
| 3-year (a year) | 299 | −11.9% | +10.0% | +26.9% | 80% |
| 5-year (a year) | 275 | −1.5% | +9.4% | +22.5% | 98% |
| 10-year (a year) | 215 | +2.3% | +9.0% | +12.9% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 1998. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
XLU performance overview
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) returned −3.1% over the past year and +9.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 1998 it has returned +7.5% a year, turning $10,000 into about $74,924. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −52.3%, from Dec 13, 2000 to Oct 9, 2002, and it took 2.4 years to get back to the old high. XLU finished 21 of its 27 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2014 (+28.7%) and the worst 2008 (−28.9%). Volatility has been 15.2% a year.
Related: XLU chart, XLU holdings, XLU dividends, XLU valuation. See the XLU overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
XLU performance FAQ
What is the XLU return over the past year?
XLU returned −3.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 5.8%.
What is the average annual return of XLU?
XLU has returned +8.0% a year over 5 years, +9.3% a year over 10 years, +7.5% a year since December 22, 1998 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in XLU be worth?
$10,000 invested in XLU at its first recorded close on December 22, 1998 would be worth about $74,924 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for XLU?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −28.9%. The best was 2014 at +28.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of XLU?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −52.3% between December 13, 2000 and October 9, 2002. It recovered to the old high on February 14, 2005, 2.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is XLU?
Over the past 3 years XLU had an annualized volatility of 15.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.63 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).