U.S. utility stocks roared higher on Tuesday, notching fresh highs not seen since late 2024, as investors rotated toward defensive assets while Washington’s trade policy outlook became increasingly muddled.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLU) climbed 1.8% during Tuesday trading, pushing the benchmark ETF to levels last seen in early December 2024.
That gain cemented a 6.3% year-to-date advance, more of any other S&P 500 sector. It outpaced technology stocks by 15 percentage points and the consumer discretionary sector by 18 percentage points.
| ETF Name | % Change YTD |
|---|---|
| Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | +6.32% |
| Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLP) | +3.50% |
| Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLRE) | +2.24% |
| Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLF) | +1.70% |
| Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLI) | +1.28% |
| Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLC) | +0.86% |
| Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLB) | -0.51% |
| Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLV) | -2.42% |
| Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLE) | -6.05% |
| Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLK) | -8.15% |
| Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLY) | -11.99% |