VPU Performance — Vanguard Utilities Index Fund
Data updated: 2026-07-29
VPU returned +4.90% year to date and +11.87% over one year to May 2026. Annualised returns are +14.40% over 3 years and +9.56% over 5 years. The fund trailed its Utilities Equity category average: $100 invested three years ago grew to $150, against $152 for the category, and to $112 over one year, against $113. Volatility over the past three years was 14.89% a year. In the 12 months to May 2026 the fund took in a net $1.1B, and assets reached $10.58B.
VPU Growth of $100
What $100 invested in Vanguard Utilities Index Fund grew to, compounded from monthly returns reported on SEC Form N-PORT, against the Utilities Equity category average over the same months.
| Period | VPU | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year (Jun 2025 – May 2026) | $112 | $113 |
| 3 years (Jun 2023 – May 2026) | $150 | $152 |
| 5 years (Jun 2021 – May 2026) | $158 | $160 |
| Since data start (Sep 2019 – May 2026) | $171 | $176 |
VPU Trailing Returns
Total returns to May 2026, from SEC N-PORT.
| Period | Total return |
|---|---|
| YTD | +4.90% |
| 1 year | +11.87% |
| 3 years (annualised) | +14.40% |
| 5 years (annualised) | +9.56% |
VPU Annual Returns
Calendar-year total returns of Vanguard Utilities Index Fund, compounded from monthly SEC N-PORT returns. Partial years show the months covered.
| Year | Total return |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–May) | +4.90% |
| 2025 | +16.39% |
| 2024 | +23.07% |
| 2023 | −7.47% |
| 2022 | +1.11% |
| 2021 | +17.33% |
| 2020 | −0.84% |
| 2019 (Sep–Dec) | +4.35% |
VPU Monthly Returns
Monthly total returns as reported on SEC Form N-PORT.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +1.6% | +9.5% | −3.2% | +2.2% | −4.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.9% | +1.9% | +0.3% | +0.2% | +3.6% | +0.4% | +4.9% | −1.3% | +4.3% | +1.9% | +1.8% | −5.1% |
| 2024 | −3.3% | +1.4% | +6.9% | +1.6% | +8.7% | −5.4% | +7.0% | +4.4% | +6.2% | −1.2% | +4.1% | −7.9% |
| 2023 | −1.6% | −5.7% | +4.4% | +1.5% | −5.6% | +1.4% | +2.3% | −6.3% | −5.7% | +0.9% | +5.1% | +2.4% |
| 2022 | −3.4% | −1.8% | +9.7% | −4.3% | +4.5% | −5.1% | +5.7% | +0.2% | −11.2% | +2.6% | +7.0% | −0.9% |
| 2021 | −1.0% | −5.6% | +10.2% | +3.9% | −2.4% | −1.8% | +3.9% | +3.7% | −6.2% | +5.1% | −1.6% | +9.4% |
| 2020 | +6.1% | −10.1% | −9.9% | +3.2% | +4.2% | −4.7% | +7.2% | −2.5% | +0.5% | +4.8% | +1.5% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +4.0% | −0.8% | −2.1% | +3.3% |
VPU Risk
Risk measures from monthly returns over Jun 2023 – May 2026.
- 3-year volatility (annualised): 14.89%
- 3-year Sharpe ratio: 0.66 (vs 4.5% risk-free rate)
- Best month: +9.53% (Feb 2026)
- Worst month: −7.92% (Dec 2024)
VPU Fund Flows
Monthly money in and out of Vanguard Utilities Index Fund, from SEC Form N-PORT.
- 12-month net flow: $1.1B
- 12-month gross sales (incl. reinvestments): $1.8B
- Sales ÷ redemptions: 2.48×
| Month | Sales | Redemptions | Net flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $74.4M | $54.5M | $19.8M |
| Apr 2026 | $132.4M | $73.4M | $59.0M |
| Mar 2026 | $250.6M | $72.7M | $177.9M |
| Feb 2026 | $98.4M | $39.1M | $59.3M |
| Jan 2026 | $113.4M | $65.4M | $48.0M |
| Dec 2025 | $145.8M | $40.3M | $105.5M |
| Nov 2025 | $200.6M | $38.1M | $162.5M |
| Oct 2025 | $205.5M | $72.0M | $133.6M |
| Sep 2025 | $140.1M | $73.7M | $66.5M |
| Aug 2025 | $174.7M | $50.7M | $123.9M |
| Jul 2025 | $65.5M | $75.3M | −$9.8M |
| Jun 2025 | $205.8M | $72.8M | $133.0M |
VPU Assets Under Management
Net assets of Vanguard Utilities Index Fund by report date, from SEC N-PORT filings.
| Report date | Net assets |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | $10.58B |
| 2026-02-28 | $11.03B |
| 2025-11-30 | $10.30B |
| 2025-08-31 | $9.24B |
| 2025-05-31 | $8.71B |
| 2025-02-28 | $8.47B |
| 2024-11-30 | $8.77B |
| 2024-08-31 | $8.00B |
| 2024-05-31 | $7.29B |
| 2024-02-29 | $6.23B |
| 2023-11-30 | $6.08B |
| 2023-08-31 | $6.52B |
For information only. Not investment advice: figures are as reported in SEC filings and may contain errors or be out of date. Past performance does not guarantee future results.