UTES vs XLU
Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF compared with State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
UTES
Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
XLU
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- XLU yields more today: 2.61% vs 1.31% (forward).
- UTES has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs 3.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
- Both pay every quarter.
- XLU has the longer streak of annual increases: 7 years vs 1.
- Over the last year XLU delivered the higher total return: +5.9% vs -2.1% (price change plus payouts).
- XLU is cheaper to own: 0.08% vs 0.49% expense ratio.
- XLU has the steadier distribution: consistency 93/100 vs 80/100.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | UTES | XLU |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $76.17 | $43.45 |
| TTM yield | 1.56% | 2.75% |
| Forward yield | 1.31% | 2.61% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.00 | $1.136 |
| Payment frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Sep 21, 2026 (est.) | Sep 21, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | 0.49% | 0.08% |
| 1-year payout growth | +26.4% | +4.9% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | +6.2% | +3.9% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 1 year | 7 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 80/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | -2.1% | +5.9% |
| 1-year price return | -3.6% | +3.1% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | 1.2B | 21.8B |
| Years paying | 10.7 | 27.5 |
| Sector / category | Utilities | Utilities |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| UTES | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 131.3 | 230.1 |
| Income per year | $131 | $261 |
| Income per month (avg) | $11 | $22 |
At forward yields, before taxes. Model UTES · Model XLU
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTES Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 | $0.25 | Est. |
| UTES Dec 21, 2026 | Jan 4, 2027 | $0.25 | Est. |
| UTES Mar 22, 2027 | Apr 5, 2027 | $0.25 | Est. |
| XLU Sep 21, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 | $0.284 | Est. |
| XLU Dec 21, 2026 | Jan 4, 2027 | $0.284 | Est. |
| XLU Mar 22, 2027 | Apr 5, 2027 | $0.284 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
UTESXLU
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, UTES or XLU?
XLU currently has the higher trailing yield: UTES yields 1.56% and XLU yields 2.75%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do UTES and XLU pay?
UTES pays every quarter and XLU pays every quarter. UTES's next ex-date is Sep 21, 2026 and XLU's is Sep 21, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, UTES or XLU?
UTES has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs 3.9%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is UTES or XLU better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. UTES and XLU differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.