VOO vs XLUI
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF vs State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF
Which is better, VOO or XLUI?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | VOO | XLUI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $997.4B | $28M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 15.34% |
| Holdings | 509 | 7 |
| YTD Return | +11.55%Best | +3.70% |
| 1Y Return | +17.54%Best | +4.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.71% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5% | 9.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9% | -7.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,057Best | $10,496 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 7, 2010 | Jul 29, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.1 years).
VOO vs XLUI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
VOO vs XLUI Performance
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLUI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VOO returned +17.54% while XLUI returned +4.40%. Year to date, VOO is up 11.55% versus a gain of 3.70% for XLUI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 9.5% for XLUI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -8.9% for VOO and -7.1% for XLUI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VOO charges 0.03% per year while XLUI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VOO currently yields 1.04% against 15.34% for XLUI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 505 holdings in VOO and 2 in XLUI, totalling 99.9% and 99.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, VOO as of Jun 30, 2026 and XLUI as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in VOO and 2 in XLUI, against full books of 509 and 7.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VOO and XLUI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, VOO or XLUI?
VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XLUI charges 0.35%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VOO or XLUI?
Over the past year VOO returned +17.54% vs +4.40% for XLUI, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VOO annualized +18.54% vs +4.50% for XLUI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VOO or XLUI?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 9.5% for XLUI. Worst drawdown: VOO -8.9% vs XLUI -7.1%.
Should I hold both VOO and XLUI?
VOO and XLUI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.03, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, VOO or XLUI?
VOO yields 1.04% while XLUI yields 15.34%, so XLUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLUI better than VOO?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.