VPU
Vanguard Utilities ETF

Price: $164.82
Change: $3.96 (-0.02%)
Category: Utilities Equities
Last Updated:

Vitals

Issuer Vanguard
Brand Vanguard
Structure ETF
Expense Ratio 0.09%
ETF Home Page Home page
Inception Jan 26, 2004

Analyst Report

This Vanguard ETF offers exposure to the domestic utilities sector, a corner of the U.S. market that has historically exhibited low volatility and often features an attractive distribution yield. As a sector-specific ETF, VPU is probably more appealing to investors looking to establish a shorter-term tactical tilt or make a sector rotation play than it is to those building a long-term, buy-and-hold portfolio (though utilities generally receive a relatively small weight in broad-based equity ETFs, meaning that a complementary holding could result in more balanced sector weightings).


Like most Vanguard ETFs, VPU is among the cheapest options available for investors seeking exposure to the asset class represented (XLU and FUI are also low cost options for utilities exposure). This ETF may be available for commission free trading in Vanguard accounts, potentially increasing the appeal to cost conscious investors. Another noteworthy element of this ETF is the impressive depth of holdings; VPU has considerably more individual stocks than XLU. This ETF does a relatively good job of offering up balanced exposure; though a few stocks account for significant chunks of assets, the concentration is not as significant as in some other products (those seeking to avoid cap-weighting might prefer RYU as a tool for achieving access to the utilities sector).

ETF Database Themes

Asset Class Equity
Asset Class Size Multi-Cap
Asset Class Style Value
Sector (General) Utilities
Sector (Specific) Broad
Region (General) North America
Region (Specific) U.S.

FactSet Classifications

Segment Equity: U.S. Utilities
Category Sector
Focus Utilities
Niche Broad-based
Strategy Vanilla
Weighting Scheme Market Cap

Trading Data

Open - Volume -
Day Lo - Day Hi -
  • Open
  • Volume
  • Day Lo
  • Day Hi
  • 52 Week Lo $135.61
  • 52 Week Hi $177.37
  • AUM $6,652.1 M
  • Shares 39.2 M

Historical Trading Data

  • 1 Month Avg. Volume 295,171
  • 3 Month Avg. Volume 215,656

Alternative ETFs in the ETF Database Utilities Equities Category

Type Symbol Expense Ratio Assets Avg. Daily Vol YTD Return
Cheapest FUTY 0.08% $1.7 B 185,757 1.48%
Largest (AUM) XLU 0.09% $17.8 B 11 M 1.03%
Most Liquid (Volume) XLU 0.09% $17.8 B 11 M 1.03%
Top YTD Performer INFR 0.59% $11.4 M 1,273 11.85%

Alternative ETFs in the FactSet Equity: U.S. Utilities Segment

Type Symbol Expense Ratio Assets Avg. Daily Vol YTD Return
Cheapest FUTY 0.08% $1.7 B 185,757 1.48%
Largest (AUM) XLU 0.09% $17.8 B 11 M 1.03%
Most Liquid (Volume) XLU 0.09% $17.8 B 11 M 1.03%
Top YTD Performer FXU 0.64% $1.5 B 1 M 5.20%

Top 15 Holdings

Concentration Analysis

This section compares how balanced and deep this ETF is relative to its peers.

Holdings Comparison

VPU ETF Database Category Average FactSet Segment Average
Number of Holdings 70 67 43
% of Assets in Top 10 50.74% 41.57% 48.48%
% of Assets in Top 15 64.75% 55.54% 64.82%
% of Assets in Top 50 97.79% 91.27% 99.47%

Size Comparison

VPU ETF Database Category Average FactSet Segment Average
Large (>12.9B) 89.08% 71.78% 87.85%
Mid (>2.7B) 10.08% 23.10% 11.84%
Small (>600M) 0.62% 3.88% 0.16%
Micro (<600M) 0.10% 0.69% 0.02%

VPU Valuation

This section compares the P/E ratio of this ETF to its peers.

VPU
P/E Ratio
22.50
ETF Database Category Average
P/E Ratio
15.53
FactSet Segment Average
P/E Ratio
15.08

VPU Dividend

This section compares the dividend yield of this ETF to its peers.

VPU ETF Database Category Average FactSet Segment Average
Dividend $ 1.23 $ 0.43 $ 0.49
Dividend Date 2025-03-25 N/A N/A
Annual Dividend Rate $ 5.06 $ 1.41 $ 1.95
Annual Dividend Yield 2.98% 2.33% 2.44%

VPU Price and Volume Charts

View charts featuring VPU price and volume data.

VPU Fund Flows Charts

View charts featuring ETF fund flow data.

5 Day Net Flows: 4.25 M 1 Month Net Flows: -69.22 M 3 Month Net Flows: -93.84 M 6 Month Net Flows: 65.45 M 1 Year Net Flows: 479.1 M 3 Year Net Flows: -23.92 M 5 Year Net Flows: 1.34 B 10 Year Net Flows: 2.8 B

VPU Price vs Flows AUM Influence Charts

View charts that break down the influence that fund flows and price had on overall assets.

5 Day Net AUM Change: 110.4 M
1 Month Net AUM Change: -106.77 M
3 Month Net AUM Change: -209.01 M
6 Month Net AUM Change: -149.04 M
1 Year Net AUM Change: 1.53 B
3 Year Net AUM Change: 22.98 M
5 Year Net AUM Change: 2.82 B
10 Year Net AUM Change: 4.84 B

Realtime Rating

The adjacent table gives investors an individual Realtime Rating for VPU on several different metrics, including liquidity, expenses, performance, volatility, dividend, concentration of holdings in addition to an overall rating. The "A+ Metric Rated ETF" field, available to ETF Database Pro members, shows the ETF in the Utilities Equities with the highest Metric Realtime Rating for each individual field. To view all of this data, sign up for a free 14-day trial for ETF Database Pro. To view information on how the ETF Database Realtime Ratings work, click here.

Metric Metric Realtime Rating A+ Metric Rated ETF
Liquidity A XLU
Expenses A FUTY
Performance
Volatility
Dividend
Concentration

A+ Overall Rated ETF:

VPU Expenses & Fees

This section compares the cost efficiency of this ETF to its peers.

Expenses Ratio Analysis

VPU
Expense Ratio
0.09%
ETF Database Category Average
Expense Ratio
0.44%
FactSet Segment Average
Expense Ratio
0.35%

Tax Analysis

Max ST Capital Gains Rate 39.60%
Max LT Capital Gains Rate 20.00%
Tax On Distributions Qualified dividends
Distributes K1 No
ESG Themes and Scores
6.51/10
ESG Score
52.42%
Global Percentile
39.0%
Peer Percentile
    • Revenue Exposure to Environmental Impact (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Severe Environment Controversies (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Sustainable Impact Solutions (%)
      5.28%
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Weighted Average Carbon Intensity (Tons of CO2e / $M Sales)
      1750.83
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Fossil Fuel Reserves (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • High Impact Fossil Fuel Reserves (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Water Stress High Risk Business Segment (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Water Stress High Risk Geography (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Water Stress Exposure Moderate (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Water Stress Exposure High (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Water Stress Exposure Low (%)
      Higher improves ESG score
    • Revenue Exposure to Energy Efficiency (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Alternative Energy (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Green Building (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Pollution Prevention (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Water Sustainability (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Social Impact (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Sustainable Impact Solutions (%)
      5.28%
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • SRI Exclusion Criteria (%)
      64.82%
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Affordable Real Estate (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Education (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Major Disease Treatment (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Nutrition (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to Sanitation (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Revenue Exposure to SME Finance (%)
      Higher is better, no ESG score impact
    • Human Rights Norms Violation (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Human Rights Norms Violation OR Watch List (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Severe Human Rights Controversies (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Labor Norms Violation (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Labor Norms Violation OR Watch List (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Severe Labor Controversies (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Severe Customer Controversies (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Global Compact Compliance Violation (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Global Compact Compliance Violation OR Watch List (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Catholic Values Fail (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Islamic Non-Compliant (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Adult Entertainment Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Alcohol Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Gambling Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Nuclear Power Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Tobacco Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Weapons Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Controversies Weapons Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Civilian Firearms Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Civilian Firearms Retailer (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Civilian Firearms Producer (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Direct Predatory Lending Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Genetic Engineering Involvement (%)
      Higher is worse, no ESG score impact
    • Severe Governance Controversies (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Board Flag (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Lack of Independent Board Majority (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Board Independence (0-25%) (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Board Independence (25-50%) (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Board Independence (50-75%) (%)
      Higher improves ESG score
    • Board Independence (75-100%) (%)
      Higher improves ESG score
    • No Female Directors (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Three OR More Female Directors (%)
      Higher improves ESG score
    • Females Represent 30% of Directors (%)
      Higher improves ESG score
    • Entrenched Board (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Overboarding (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Negative Director Votes (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Ownership AND Control Flag (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • One Share One Vote (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • No Annual Director Elections (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Does Not Use Majority Voting (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Significant Votes Against Pay Practices (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Controlling Shareholder (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Controlling Shareholder Concerns (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Cross Shareholdings (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Poison Pill (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Pay Flag (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • No Pay Performance Link (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Lack of Internal Pay Equity (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Executive Pay Non-Disclosure (%)
      Lower improves ESG score
    • Accounting Flag (%)
      Lower improves ESG score

VPU Performance

This section shows how this ETF has performed relative to its peers. Returns over 1 year are annualized.

VPU ETF Database
Category Average
Factset Segment
Average
1 Month Return -3.28% -3.18% -3.20%
3 Month Return -2.44% -2.88% -2.43%
YTD Return 1.59% 0.67% 1.66%
1 Year Return 20.03% 16.23% 20.20%
3 Year Return 2.94% 3.74% 4.10%
5 Year Return 8.71% 9.62% 8.75%

Geographic Exposure

The following charts reflect the geographic spread of VPU's underlying holdings.

Region Percentage
North, Central and South America 99.55%
Other 0.43%
Country Percentage
United States 99.55%
Other 0.43%

Holdings Analysis

The following charts reflect the allocation of VPU's underlying holdings.

Sector Percentage
Utilities 98.45%
Distribution Services 0.53%
Energy Minerals 0.51%
CASH 0.43%
Producer Manufacturing 0.05%
Process Industries 0.01%
Market Cap Percentage
Large 89.08%
Mid 10.08%
Small 0.62%
Micro 0.1%
Region Percentage
Asset Percentage
Share/Common/Ordinary 99.55%
CASH 0.43%
Sector Percentage
Utilities 98.45%
Distribution Services 0.53%
Energy Minerals 0.51%
CASH 0.43%
Producer Manufacturing 0.05%
Process Industries 0.01%

VPU Technicals

Volatility Analysis

This section shows how the volatility of this ETF compares to the peer group ETF Database Category.

5 Day Volatility 100.77%
20 Day Volatility 28.78%
50 Day Volatility 21.69%
200 Day Volatility 19.31%
Beta 0.54
Standard Deviation 9.91%
5 Day Volatility
100.77%
Rank
7 of 21

20 Day Volatility
28.78%
Rank
15 of 21

50 Day Volatility
21.69%
Rank
14 of 21

200 Day Volatility
19.31%
Rank
12 of 21

Beta
0.54
Rank
17 of 20

Standard Deviation
9.91%
Rank
1 of 21

Technicals

  • 20 Day MA $166.79
  • 60 Day MA $168.02
  • MACD 15 Period -1.53
  • MACD 100 Period -2.62
  • Williams % Range 10 Day 35.43
  • Williams % Range 20 Day 44.51
  • RSI 10 Day 45
  • RSI 20 Day 47
  • RSI 30 Day 48
  • Ultimate Oscillator 52

Bollinger Bands

  • Lower Bollinger (10 Day) $157.52
  • Upper Bollinger (10 Day) $171.66
  • Lower Bollinger (20 Day) $159.45
  • Upper Bollinger (20 Day) $174.24
  • Lower Bollinger (30 Day) $160.90
  • Upper Bollinger (30 Day) $173.78

Support & Resistance

  • Support Level 1 $162.45
  • Support Level 2 $160.09
  • Resistance Level 1 $167.66
  • Resistance Level 2 $170.51

Stochastic

  • Stochastic Oscillator %D (1 Day) 38.11
  • Stochastic Oscillator %D (5 Day) 59.42
  • Stochastic Oscillator %K (1 Day) 45.11
  • Stochastic Oscillator %K (5 Day) 67.41

Tradability

  • Tracking Difference Median (%) -0.12
  • Tracking Difference Max Upside (%) -0.09
  • Tracking Difference Max Downside (%) -0.17
  • Median Premium Discount (%) 0.01
  • Maximum Premium Discount (%) 0.18
  • Average Spread (%) 9.50
  • Average Spread ($) 9.50

Financial Advisor Report

ETF Database's Financial Advisor Reports are designed as an easy handout for clients to explain the key information on a fund. Includes new analyst insights and classification data.

Fact Sheet

Fact sheets are issued by the ETF provider and framed by ETF Database. Information contained within the fact sheet is not guaranteed to be timely or accurate.

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Analyst Report Authors

ETF Database analysts have a combined 50 years in the ETF and Financial markets, covering every asset class and investment style. The team monitors new filings, new launches and new issuers to make sure we place each new ETF in the appropriate context so Financial Advisors can construct high quality portfolios.

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Copyright MSCI ESG Research LLC [2018]. All Rights Reserved. MSCI ESG Research LLC’s (“MSCI ESG”) Fund Metrics products (the “Information”) provide environmental, social and governance data with respect to underlying securities within more than 23,000 multi-asset class Mutual Funds and ETFs globally. MSCI ESG is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. MSCI ESG materials have not been submitted, to nor received approval from, the US SEC or any other regulatory body. None of the information constitutes an offer to buy or sell, or a promotion or recommendation of, any security, financial instrument or product or trading strategy, nor should it be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis, forecast or prediction. None of the Information can be used to determine which securities to buy or sell or when to buy or sell them. The Information is provided “as is” and the user of the Information assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information. All Information is provided solely for your internal use, and may not be reproduced or redisseminated in any form without express prior written permission from MSCI. Neither MSCI ESG nor any of its affiliates or any third party involved in or related to creating any Information makes any express or implied warranties, representations or guarantees, and in no event will MSCI ESG or any such affiliate or third party have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) relating to any Information. More information on MSCI ESG Fund Metrics, provided by MSCI ESG Research LLC, can be found at https://www.msci.com/esg-fund-metrics.
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