GUT vs XLU: Correlation
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) (GUT) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) show a moderate relationship: their 3-year correlation of weekly returns is 0.42.
Data as of 2026-08-27 · refreshed every trading day · weekly returns · methodology
How correlated are GUT and XLU?
Across a 3-year window, the weekly returns of GUT and XLU correlate at 0.42, moderate. The past 12 months show a weaker link (0.24) than the 3-year average (0.42). Stretching to 5 years gives 0.40, with an annualized covariance of 142.4 %².
Among the 14 assets we track against GUT, XLU ranks #4 by 3-year correlation. On 12-month performance GUT holds a 14.4-point edge, +18.5% against +4.1%.
How is this computed?
Pearson correlation on weekly returns: ρ(A,B) = cov(rA, rB) / (σA · σB), over windows of 52, 156 and 260 weeks. Covariance is annualized (×52) and expressed in %². Full definitions on the methodology page.
GUT vs XLU: side by side
| GUT (Gabelli Utility Trust (The)) | XLU (Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | +18.5% | +4.1% |
| 5-year return | +29.5% | +46.3% |
| Volatility (ann.) | 21.5% | 15.8% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.37 | 0.26 |
| Max drawdown (3Y) | -28.7% | -13.1% |
| Market cap | – | – |
| P/E (trailing) | 11.9 | – |
| Dividend yield | 9.39% | 2.70% |
| Expense ratio | – | 0.08% |
| Assets under management | – | $23.1B |
| Sector / category | US Listed | Sector ETF |
XLU is an Utilities fund from State Street Investment Management: $23.1B under management, 31 holdings, a 0.08% expense ratio, a 2.70% trailing dividend yield.
Year-by-year returns
| Year | GUT | XLU |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -1.1% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | -21.1% | -7.2% |
| 2024 | +6.0% | +23.3% |
| 2025 | +33.1% | +16.0% |
| 2026 | +13.7% | +2.5% |
Calendar-year price returns; the current year is year-to-date as of the data date above.
Are GUT and XLU good diversifiers for each other?
A fair diversifier. At 0.42, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
FAQ
What is the correlation between GUT and XLU?
As of 2026-08-27, the correlation of weekly returns between GUT and XLU is 0.42 over 3 years, 0.24 over 1 year and 0.40 over 5 years.
Is XLU a good diversifier for GUT?
A fair diversifier. At 0.42, enough of each asset's movement is its own that the pair has smoothed outcomes historically.
What does a correlation of 0.42 mean?
A reading of 0.42 sits on a scale from −1 (opposite moves) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (identical moves). Correlation captures direction, not magnitude or performance.
Use this data
$ curl https://www.pairbook.io/api/v1/pairs/gut-vs-xlu.json
Drop this badge in a README or notebook; it updates with the data:
[](https://www.pairbook.io/pair/gut-vs-xlu/)
The core API is free. Terms and every endpoint in the API documentation.
Related comparisons
Hubs: GUT correlations · XLU correlations