On this episode of the “ETF of the Week” podcast, VettaFi's head of research, Todd Rosenbluth, discussed the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) with Chuck Jaffe of Money Life. The pair discussed several topics related to the ETF, in order to give investors a deeper understanding of it.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLU | XLU Price Prediction) has quietly become one of the more interesting trades in the market because it sits at the intersection of two crosscurrents.
VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.” For more news, information, and analysis, visit our Sector Investing Content Hub.
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF is poised for accelerated earnings growth amid surging domestic power demand. Rising infrastructure investment needs enable U.S. Utilities to redeploy more capital and expand book value faster than historical trends. Partnerships with private equity funds allow utilities to capture developer/operator premiums and increase capital churn.
For those looking to gain targeted exposure, sectors such as utilities that offer a bit of a defensive tilt may not be a bad idea. After all, if the last few months are any indication, macroeconomic uncertainty is likely not going to slow down any time soon.
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF is upgraded from Sell to Hold after recent underperformance versus equities. XLU remains 5.5% below its all-time high, with support at $44.50 and resistance at $46.50–$47.50; year-to-date return is 6.6%. Scenario analysis yields a modest 1.3% expected price return, with Utilities' defensive appeal offset by competition from higher-yielding bonds.
Looking for broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market? You should consider the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on December 16, 1998.
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is downgraded to Sell after reaching an all-time high, with limited upside and potential downside risk. XLU's recent rally is driven by sector rotation into Value and away from Growth, but its 2.5% yield lags alternatives like AGG's 3.9%. I expect XLU to underperform cash and see a year-end price decline of 7.8%, with a total return of -5.3%.
Designed to provide broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market, the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on December 16, 1998.
The State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) faces a policy shift as the EPA rescinds the 2009 endangerment finding, impacting coal plant retirements. Surging electricity demand, driven by AI infrastructure and data centers, challenges the feasibility of phasing out coal generation as previously planned. Coal-friendly policies are a net negative for IPPs like CEG and VST, but largely neutral for regulated utilities such as NEE, SO, DUK, D, and AEP.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLU) generates income by holding dividend-paying utility companies and passing those dividends to shareholders.
Index investors and so-called Bogleheads (those who love the Vanguard ETFs) may not be all too fond of the sector ETFs, especially when you consider that simply buying the S&P 500 covers most of one's bases when it comes to diversification.