Core Insights - The First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) provides broad exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs category, having debuted on 05/08/2007 [1] - FXU is managed by First Trust Advisors and has accumulated over $1.73 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index, which uses a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks [6] Fund Characteristics - FXU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.63% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.08% [7] - The fund has a heavy allocation to the Utilities sector, representing 97.6% of its portfolio [8] - The top three holdings include Edison International (4.23%), Evergy, Inc., and Pg&e Corporation, with the top 10 holdings accounting for 40.08% of total assets [9] Performance Metrics - As of 08/21/2025, FXU has increased by approximately 19.58% year-to-date and 28.29% over the past year [11] - The ETF has a beta of 0.63 and a standard deviation of 17.29% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [11] - FXU has 41 holdings, providing more concentrated exposure compared to its peers [11] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Utilities/Infrastructure segment include Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), with VPU having $7.42 billion and XLU $21.55 billion in assets [13] - VPU has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to FXU, while XLU has an expense ratio of 0.08% [13]

Core Insights - The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (RSPU) debuted on November 1, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs category [1] - RSPU is managed by Invesco and has amassed assets over $454.72 million, making it an average-sized ETF in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities Plus Index, which equally weights the common stocks of utilities sector companies in the S&P 500 [5] Fund Characteristics - RSPU has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.40% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.38% [6] - The ETF's heaviest allocation is in the Utilities sector, accounting for approximately 100% of the portfolio, with top holdings including Vistra Corp (3.67%), Constellation Energy Corp, and Nrg Energy Inc [7][8] - The top 10 holdings represent about 33.33% of RSPU's total assets under management [8] Performance Metrics - RSPU has gained approximately 16.35% year-to-date and is up about 23.84% over the last year as of August 11, 2025 [9] - The ETF has traded between $62.69 and $76.68 in the past 52 weeks [9] - RSPU has a beta of 0.56 and a standard deviation of 17.45% for the trailing three-year period, indicating more concentrated exposure than its peers [10] Alternatives - Investors seeking to outperform the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment may consider alternatives such as the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), which have significantly larger assets of $7.4 billion and $21.27 billion respectively [12] - VPU has an expense ratio of 0.09% and XLU has an expense ratio of 0.08%, making them cheaper options compared to RSPU [12]

Core Insights - The First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (FXU) is a passively managed ETF launched on May 8, 2007, providing broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market [1] - FXU has gained popularity among retail and institutional investors due to its low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making it suitable for long-term investment [1] Fund Overview - FXU is sponsored by First Trust Advisors and has assets exceeding $1.68 billion, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in the Utilities - Broad segment [3] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index, which uses a modified equal-dollar weighted methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index [4] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for FXU are 0.63%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs in the sector, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.12% [5] Sector Exposure and Holdings - FXU has a significant allocation in the Utilities sector, comprising approximately 97.6% of its portfolio [6] - The top holdings include Edison International (EIX) at 4.23%, followed by Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) and PG&E Corporation (PCG), with the top 10 holdings accounting for about 40.08% of total assets [7] Performance Metrics - As of July 28, 2025, FXU has increased by about 17.43% year-to-date and approximately 32.34% over the past year, with a trading range between $34.34 and $44.12 in the last 52 weeks [8] - The ETF has a beta of 0.64 and a standard deviation of 17.33% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk with more concentrated exposure than its peers [8] Alternatives - FXU has a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), suggesting it may not be the best option for investors seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment [9] - Alternative ETFs include the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) with $7.29 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.09%, and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) with $20.72 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.08% [10]

Core Insights - The Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF (FUTY) is a passively managed ETF launched on 10/21/2013, designed to provide broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market [1] - The ETF has gained popularity among institutional and retail investors due to its low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency [1] Index Details - Sponsored by Fidelity, FUTY has over $1.90 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Utilities - Broad segment [3] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the MSCI USA IMI Utilities Index, which reflects the utilities sector's performance in the U.S. equity market [3] Costs - FUTY has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.08%, making it the least expensive product in its category [4] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.69% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF is heavily allocated in the Utilities sector, with approximately 99.90% of its portfolio [5] - Nextera Energy Inc (NEE) constitutes about 10.92% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 53.49% of total assets under management [6] Performance and Risk - As of 07/22/2025, FUTY has returned roughly 12.50% year-to-date and 22.41% over the past year [7] - The fund has traded between $45.51 and $54.12 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.58 and a standard deviation of 17.72% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [7] Alternatives - FUTY holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong expected performance based on asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [8] - Other ETFs in the utilities space include Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), with VPU having $7.22 billion in assets and XLU $20.31 billion [9]

Group 1 - Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) has reached a 52-week high and has increased by 19.7% from its 52-week low price of $151.69 per share [1] - The underlying index for VPU is the MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index, which includes stocks from large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies in the utilities sector, with an annual fee of 9 basis points [2] - The utility sector is currently appealing to investors seeking safety in defensive investments due to uncertain trade policies, as it is a low-beta sector that offers protection from significant market fluctuations [3] Group 2 - VPU is expected to maintain strong performance in the near term, indicated by a positive weighted alpha of 17.41, suggesting potential for further gains [4]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the challenges of selecting the best Vanguard ETF to invest in, highlighting the overwhelming number of options available and the current market dynamics that influence investment decisions. Group 1: ETF Selection Challenges - There are over 12,000 ETFs available, making the selection process difficult for investors [1] - Vanguard alone offers 94 ETFs, adding to the complexity of choosing the right fund [1] Group 2: Valuation Concerns - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is typically a default choice but has a high price-to-earnings ratio of 26, raising valuation concerns [4] - The S&P 500 Shiller CAPE ratio is near its third-highest level ever, which also affects growth-oriented Vanguard funds like the Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) [4] Group 3: Performance and Risks - The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) has performed well this year with a 24% increase, but potential tariffs from the Trump administration could negatively impact European stocks [5] - The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) could be a good option if rate cuts are anticipated, but tariffs may lead to inflation concerns [6] Group 4: Recommended ETF - The Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) is recommended as the best option for investing $500 currently, owning 69 utility stocks with over 61% in electric utilities [7] - The fund's valuation is more reasonable at approximately 20.8 times earnings, and it is less affected by tariffs and inflation [8] - The Vanguard Utilities ETF offers a dividend yield of 2.83%, making it attractive for defensive investors [9] Group 5: Future Considerations - The Vanguard Utilities ETF may not be the best-performing fund in the long term, but it is currently the most suitable choice given the market uncertainties [11][12]