All charts and data below are CPI-U inflation-adjusted and with dividends reinvested. (Why?)
XLU real return snapshot: after CPI-U inflation, XLU returned +1.06% over the past year and +0.89% YTD, with dividends reinvested. Since Dec. 22, 1998, XLU is up +275.72% in real purchasing-power return, or +4.91%/yr, and is currently −9.01% below its real total-return high on Feb. 27, 2026.
Data ending Wed Aug. 12, 2026
| Tue 1998-12-22💬 to Wed 2026-08-12 |
Overall
Return |
Exponential
Trendline |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLU × |
+275.72%
+4.91%/yr |
+5.98%/yr
R2=0.901 |
||||
| Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund Exchange-Traded Fund | ||||||
| Tue 1998-12-22💬 to Wed 2026-08-12 |
Start
Value |
End
Value |
|---|---|---|
| XLU × |
$10,000.00
1998-12-22 |
$37,572.18
2026-08-12 |
| YTD | YoY | |
|---|---|---|
| XLU × | +0.89% | +1.06% |
|
Current
Drawdown |
Worst
Drawdown |
|
|---|---|---|
| XLU × |
−9.01%
on 2026-08-12 from 2026-02-27 peak |
−54.13%
on 2002-10-09 from 2000-12-13 peak |
| Period ending Wed 2026-08-12 | 1 yr | 2 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XLU × | +1.06% |
+18.43% +8.82%/yr |
+36.12% +10.82%/yr |
+22.16% +4.08%/yr |
+70.23% +5.46%/yr |
| Year | XLU |
|---|---|
| 2026 (YTD) | +0.89% |
| 2025 | +13.00% |
| 2024 | +19.86% |
| 2023 | −10.17% |
| 2022 | −4.73% |
| 2021 | +9.97% |
| 2020 | −0.84% |
| 2019 | +23.12% |
| 2018 | +1.99% |
| 2017 | +9.73% |
| 2016 | +13.72% |
| 2015 | −5.62% |
| 2014 | +27.78% |
| 2013 | +11.39% |
| 2012 | −0.68% |
| 2011 | +16.19% |
| 2010 | +3.76% |
| 2009 | +8.75% |
| 2008 | −28.97% |
| 2007 | +13.76% |
| 2006 | +17.92% |
| 2005 | +12.53% |
| 2004 | +19.69% |
| 2003 | +24.13% |
| 2002 | −30.43% |
| 2001 | −14.33% |
| 2000 | +18.46% |
| 1999 | −5.72% |
| 1998 | +1.38% |
