Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF vs Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF trades at $87.92, while Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $43.02. The key difference: Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| VXUS | XLU | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Sector/Thematic | — |
52-Week High | $88.41 | $47.73 |
52-Week Low | $72.17 | $41.86 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
VXUS trades at $88.08, down 0.37% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The ETF offers broad international stock exposure, excluding U.S. equities, with a low expense ratio of 0.06% as of Vanguard's latest disclosure in 2026. Recent news highlights institutional buying and long-term growth potential amid U.S. market concentration concerns.
Outlook is positive for diversification benefits and valuation discounts relative to U.S. stocks, supported by analyst optimism. Risks include foreign tax credit limitations in IRAs and emerging market volatility. Wall Street sentiment leans bullish due to improved global growth prospects.
XLU trades at $43.45, up 0.86% today, with a mixed technical picture showing bullish overall signals but bearish moving averages. The utilities ETF faces conflicting narratives around AI power demand versus regulatory headwinds, with recent news highlighting both defensive appeal and concerns about concentrated AI exposure. Support levels cluster around $42-43 while resistance sits at $44.
The ETF's outlook balances defensive utility characteristics against AI-driven growth potential. Key opportunities include inflation hedging and dividend income, while risks center on regulatory intervention and uneven AI benefits across the portfolio. Current sentiment reflects cautious optimism as investors weigh utility stability against transformative power demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
VXUS is a comprehensive, low-cost ETF that tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, providing exposure to over 8,500 stocks in both developed and emerging markets outside the United States. It serves as a foundational building block for international diversification, allowing investors to own a market-cap-weighted slice of the entire non-U.S. investable equity universe in a single vehicle.
Read more on VXUS →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities; independent power and renewable electricity producers; and gas utilities. The fund is non-diversified.
Read more on XLU →