VPU ETF returns, drawdowns and dividends
Vanguard Utilities ETF
VPU lost 6.97% over the past year with dividends reinvested (-9.51% on price alone), based on closing prices through Oct. 2, 2026. Over the last 5.2 years (since July 16, 2021) it gained 39.89% with dividends reinvested, or +6.65% a year. Its largest fall from a peak over the past year was 17.28%, and it closed 16.14% below its highest close since July 16, 2021 ($205.87 on Feb. 27, 2026). It pays dividends quarterly: $5.20 per share over the last 12 months, a trailing yield of 3.01%.
Prices through the close of · Updated after every US trading day · Source: Yahoo Finance
VPU returns by period
Total return assumes every dividend is reinvested at the closing price on its ex-dividend date. Price return is the change in the closing price alone. The 3 and 5 year rows also show the yearly rate (CAGR).
| Period | Since | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -5.82% | -6.50% | |
| 3 months | -11.96% | -12.60% | |
| 6 months | -12.53% | -13.74% | |
| Year to date | -4.77% | -6.70% | |
| 1 year | -6.97% | -9.51% | |
| 3 years | +55.25% (+15.79%/yr) | +41.92% (+12.38%/yr) | |
| 5 years | +39.89% (+6.65%/yr) | +19.16% (+3.42%/yr) |
VPU returns by calendar year
| Year | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to Oct 2) | -4.77% | -6.70% |
| 2025 | +16.47% | +13.23% |
| 2024 | +23.06% | +19.22% |
| 2023 | -7.46% | -10.62% |
| 2022 | +1.04% | -1.94% |
VPU drawdowns and recovery
Max drawdown is the largest fall from a previous peak close to a later close within the period. The deepest fall in the stored history was 28.19%, from $169.41 on Sept. 12, 2022 to $121.65 on Oct. 2, 2023; the price was back at its earlier peak on Sept. 13, 2024, 347 days after the low.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Max drawdown, 1 year | 17.28% |
| Max drawdown, 3 years | 17.28% |
| Max drawdown, 5 years | 28.19% |
| 52-week closing high | $205.87 Feb. 27, 2026 |
| 52-week closing low | $170.29 Sept. 28, 2026 |
| Latest close | $172.65 Oct. 2, 2026 |
VPU dividends
VPU paid $5.20 per share in the last 12 months over 4 payments, a trailing yield of 3.01% at the latest close. The most recent ex-dividend date was Sept. 23, 2026 ($1.26 per share). Trailing yield is historical, not a forecast or an SEC 30-day yield.
| Year | Dividends per share | Payments |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | $3.84 | 3 |
| 2025 | $5.04 | 4 |
| 2024 | $4.93 | 4 |
| 2023 | $4.78 | 4 |
| 2022 | $4.58 | 4 |
Compare VPU with
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- QYLD +23.05%
- VPL +37.17%
1-year return, total where available. Chart VPU against any other ETF in the return explorer, or browse all ETF pages.
About these numbers
- Calculated by FindETFStock from daily closing prices and ex-dividend amounts reported by Yahoo Finance, starting July 16, 2021.
- "5 years" is measured from the first stored close, about five years back; a fund or stock with a shorter history shows "Since first close" instead.
- Returns are before taxes and assume dividends are reinvested at the ex-date close with no costs.
- Past performance does not predict future results. This is not investment advice; see the financial disclaimer and methodology.