A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Industrials ETF and State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VIS.
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.
Tracks the MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index.
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
09/23/2004
12/16/1998
Beta
1.1
1.01
Last dividend
$0.7600
$0.4440
Ex-dividend date
06/24/2026
09/21/2026
Bottom lineVIS and XLI are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: XLI is cheaper at 0.09% vs 0.10%.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
VIS has outpaced XLI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.30% total return against 21.03%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLI has compounded at 13.91% a year, ahead of VIS at 13.83%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows 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.
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 0.98% vs 0.87% 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 0.09% compared to 0.10%.
They track different benchmarks: VIS is linked to MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index while XLI tracks Industrial Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XLI is the larger fund by assets ($31.1B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, VIS would generate roughly $7.25/month, while XLI would produce $8.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
VIS yield0.87%
XLI yield0.98%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, VIS would cost approximately $100 in fees vs $90 for XLI (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
VIS ER0.10%
XLI ER0.09%
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 1.1 for VIS and 1.01 for XLI, indicating XLI is less volatile relative to the market.
VIS beta1.1
XLI beta1.01
Fund details
VIS is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/23/2004) with $7.81B in assets. XLI is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $31.1B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
What is the difference between VIS and XLI?
VIS (Vanguard Industrials ETF) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Industrials 25/50 Index, while XLI (State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF) tracks Industrial Select Sector Index with an index approach. They are issued by Vanguard and State Street respectively.
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.
Which has lower fees, VIS or XLI?
VIS has an expense ratio of 0.10% while XLI charges 0.09%. 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 $7.25 per month ($87.00 annually). The same in XLI would produce about $8.17 per month ($98.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, VIS or XLI?
VIS has outpaced XLI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.30% total return against 21.03%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — XLI has compounded at 13.91% a year, ahead of VIS at 13.83%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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