XLU vs SPY — 26-Year Performance Comparison
Utilities vs S&P 500 — backtested 1999–2024
SPY wins$76,190 vs $53,539 on $10,000 over 26 years
XLUUtilities
Final value$53,539
CAGR+6.7%
Max drawdown-48.7%
Best year+52% (2000)
Years won12 of 26
SPYS&P 500
Final value$76,190
CAGR+8.1%
Max drawdown-37.6%
Best year+32% (2013)
Years won14 of 26
Growth of $10,000
1999–2024XLUSPY
XLU$53,539
SPY$76,190
50/50 mix$70,604
50/50 blend: $70,604 (+7.8%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between XLU and SPY would have landed between the two — slightly lower CAGR than SPY but less volatility. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: XLU vs SPY
| Year | XLU | SPY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +23.4% | +23.3% | XLU |
| 2023 | -10.2% | +26.3% | SPY |
| 2022 | -0.9% | -18.2% | XLU |
| 2021 | +17.7% | +28.7% | SPY |
| 2020 | -0.6% | +18.4% | SPY |
| 2019 | +26.3% | +31.5% | SPY |
| 2018 | +4.4% | -4.4% | XLU |
| 2017 | +12.1% | +21.8% | SPY |
| 2016 | +16.3% | +12.0% | XLU |
| 2015 | -4.8% | +1.4% | SPY |
| 2014 | +29.0% | +13.7% | XLU |
| 2013 | +13.2% | +32.4% | SPY |
| 2012 | +1.4% | +16.0% | SPY |
| 2011 | +20.0% | +2.1% | XLU |
| 2010 | +5.5% | +15.1% | SPY |
| 2009 | +11.5% | +26.5% | SPY |
| 2008 | -29.0% | -37.0% | XLU |
| 2007 | +20.2% | +5.5% | XLU |
| 2006 | +21.3% | +15.8% | XLU |
| 2005 | +16.5% | +4.9% | XLU |
| 2004 | +23.9% | +10.9% | XLU |
| 2003 | +21.9% | +28.7% | SPY |
| 2002 | -29.0% | -22.1% | SPY |
| 2001 | -27.7% | -11.9% | SPY |
| 2000 | +51.5% | -9.1% | XLU |
| 1999 | -14.0% | +21.0% | SPY |
More comparisons
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