Should You Invest in the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)?

Core Insights - The Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is a passively managed ETF launched on December 16, 1998, providing broad exposure to the Utilities sector of the equity market [1] - XLU is the largest ETF in the Utilities - Broad segment, with assets exceeding $21.55 billion, and aims to match the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index [3] Cost and Performance - XLU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.08%, making it the least expensive option in its category, and offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.65% [4] - The ETF has gained approximately 15.32% year-to-date and 18.3% over the past year, with a trading range between $73.09 and $87.32 in the last 52 weeks [7] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF is fully allocated to the Utilities sector, with Nextera Energy Inc (NEE) representing about 12.11% of total assets, and the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 59.19% of total assets [5][6] Risk Profile - XLU has a beta of 0.55 and a standard deviation of 17.86% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile with more concentrated exposure than its peers [7] Alternatives - XLU holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential for investors seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment [8] - Other alternatives include Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF (FUTY) and Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU), with respective assets of $1.98 billion and $7.42 billion [9]