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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

VIS vs XLI: Vanguard Industrials, or the Sector SPDR?

A head-to-head of Vanguard Industrials and Industrial Select Sector SPDR covering construction and cost.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • VISInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • XLIInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

VIS has lagged XLI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.31% total return against 18.51%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XLI has compounded at 13.49% a year, against 13.33% for VIS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Sep 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VIS11.10%18.31%19.45%12.48%13.33%10.86%17.7%0.751.11-20.8%
XLI11.53%18.51%19.62%12.56%13.49%10.76%16.7%0.811.18-18.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Sep 2004” measures every fund from September 29, 2004 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricVISXLI
Full nameVanguard Industrials ETFState Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF
IssuerVanguardState Street
Underlying indexMSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 IndexIndustrial Select Sector Index
Last Close$336.71 as of September 4, 2026$175.27 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution yield0.90%1.01%
Distribution Safety Score™ 100100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.90%1.01%
Expense ratio0.09%0.08%
AUM$7.88B$31.7B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTracks the MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index.Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date09/23/200412/16/1998
Beta1.111.02
Last dividend$0.76$0.444
Ex-dividend date06/24/202606/22/2026

Bottom lineVIS and XLI are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Fees and payouts are close too, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.

Two US industrials sector books

Both hold US industrials. Index construction and cost decide whether a second fund adds anything.

VISXLI
SectorUS industrialsUS industrials
Expense ratio0.09%0.08%
Fund size$7.88B$31.7B
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4650B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VIS.

See all Vanguard ETFs
State Street
ETFs179
Total AUM$2124B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on XLI.

See all State Street ETFs

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Quick verdict

VIS (Vanguard Industrials ETF) and XLI (State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

XLI offers the higher yield at 1.01% vs 0.90% for VIS. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

XLI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.09%.

They have different reference exposures: VIS is linked to MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index while XLI is linked to Industrial Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

XLI is the larger fund by assets ($31.7B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VIS would generate roughly $7.50/month, while XLI would produce $8.42/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VIS yield0.90%
XLI yield1.01%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.92

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VIS would cost approximately $90 in fees vs $80 for XLI (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

VIS ER0.09%
XLI ER0.08%

Strategy & risk

VIS tracks MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index, while XLI tracks Industrial Select Sector Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.11 for VIS and 1.02 for XLI, making XLI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VIS beta1.11
XLI beta1.02

Fund details

VIS is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/23/2004) with $7.88B in assets. XLI is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $31.7B in assets.

VIS AUM$7.88B
XLI AUM$31.7B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VIS and XLI?

VIS (Vanguard Industrials ETF) and XLI (State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF) both hold US industrials. Index and breadth differ. Cost is 0.09% versus 0.08%; size is $7.88B versus $31.7B. Distributions are 0.90% and 1.01% as of September 2026.

What is the current distribution yield for VIS and XLI?

VIS currently distributes 0.90% and XLI 1.01%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is VIS or XLI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. XLI currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Can I hold both VIS and XLI?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is VIS or XLI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: VIS scores 100, XLI scores 100. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, VIS or XLI?

VIS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while XLI charges 0.08%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in VIS vs XLI generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in VIS would generate roughly $7.50 per month ($90.00 annually). The same in XLI would produce about $8.42 per month ($101.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VIS or XLI?

VIS has lagged XLI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.31% total return against 18.51%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XLI has compounded at 13.49% a year, against 13.33% for VIS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VIS vs XLI — at a glance

Generated August 29, 2026.

Overview

VIS and XLI are both broad-market industrials ETFs that track different versions of the U.S. industrial sector. The key distinction is scope: VIS captures a wider universe of industrials companies; XLI focuses on the largest 60–70 names in the sector.

How they differ

XLI is significantly larger ($31.7B in AUM versus VIS's $7.88B) and has a longer track record, having launched in 1998 compared to VIS's 2004 inception. XLI also carries lower systematic risk with a beta of 1.02 versus VIS's 1.11, reflecting its large-cap tilt and tighter concentration in mega-cap industrial names. Both charge minimal expense ratios (0.08% for XLI versus 0.09% for VIS), but XLI offers a slightly higher distribution rate of 1.01% against VIS's 0.90%, both paid quarterly. The real trade-off is breadth: VIS includes smaller and mid-cap industrials that XLI excludes, giving it higher volatility but potential exposure to smaller growth-oriented companies within the sector.

Who each is best for

VIS: Fits investors seeking comprehensive exposure across the full industrial sector spectrum—from small manufacturers to large conglomerates—and who accept the higher beta that comes with a broader, less concentrated portfolio.

XLI: Designed for investors who prefer exposure anchored to the largest, most liquid industrial companies and want to minimize sector-level volatility through a large-cap bias.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration in cyclical earnings: Both funds carry meaningful cyclical risk tied to manufacturing orders, capital expenditure cycles, and economic growth. Industrial stocks typically underperform in recession; neither fund hedges this exposure.
  • Beta differentiation: XLI's lower beta (1.02) will lag VIS (1.11) during strong upmarket runs in industrials, potentially by 0.5–1.0% annualized in persistent bull markets, offsetting its smaller drawdowns in downturns.
  • Small-cap versus large-cap valuation gap: VIS's inclusion of smaller industrials exposes it to valuation swings in companies with thinner trading liquidity and higher earnings volatility than the mega-cap incumbents XLI holds; the two funds' price performance may diverge in periods when small-cap and large-cap industrials trade at different multiples.
  • Sector overlap and differentiation risk: Holdings likely overlap significantly, but their different universes mean performance during sector rotations may diverge—for example, if mid-cap industrials outperform their large-cap peers, VIS should outrun XLI.

Bottom line

If you want comprehensive sector breadth and are comfortable with higher volatility, VIS offers exposure to smaller industrials alongside large-cap holdings; if you prioritize the largest, most stable industrial names with lower systematic risk, XLI's large-cap concentration and established AUM base fit that profile. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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