BUI vs XLF
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, BUI or XLF?
Each has led over a different period.
XLF has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 1Y, XLF over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BUI is less concentrated, with 39.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | BUI | XLF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $687M | $51.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.99% | 1.40% |
| Holdings | 54 | 160 |
| YTD Return | +3.71%Best | +0.47% |
| 1Y Return | +6.35%Best | +4.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.33% | +19.43%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.84% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 18.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -43.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,585 | $15,260Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6%Best | 57.3% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Dec 16, 1998 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.9 years).
BUI vs XLF growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 14.9 years both funds cover.
BUI vs XLF Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors. Over the past year BUI returned +6.35% while XLF returned +4.02%. Year to date, BUI is up 3.71% versus a gain of 0.47% for XLF.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +15.33% per year against +19.43% for XLF; over five years the annualized figures are +7.84% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, XLF has the edge at +11.59% annualized vs +4.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XLF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 16.6% for BUI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -48.3% for BUI and -43.3% for XLF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUI charges 1.07% per year while XLF charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $8 annually, a gap of $99 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.99% against 1.40% for XLF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 54 holdings in BUI and 77 in XLF, totalling 101.1% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 73 days apart, BUI as of Jun 30, 2026 and XLF as of Sep 11, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 77 in XLF, against full books of 54 and 160.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 76 positions for XLF that do not appear in our book for BUI (99.5% of the fund), and 32 for BUI that do not appear in XLF (69.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BUI and XLF you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BUI or XLF?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while XLF charges 0.08%. XLF is the cheaper option, by $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or XLF?
Over the past year BUI returned +6.35% vs +4.02% for XLF, so BUI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BUI annualized +4.44% vs +11.59% for XLF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or XLF?
XLF has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 16.6% for BUI. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs XLF -43.3%.
Should I hold both BUI and XLF?
BUI and XLF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUI or XLF?
BUI yields 10.99% while XLF yields 1.40%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLF better than BUI?
XLF has a lower expense ratio. BUI led over 1Y, XLF over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BUI is less concentrated, with 39.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.