Utility stocks were one of the surprising sectors of 2014, as these conservative companies raced higher on the back of falling interest rates. This sector is known as one of the more defensive-minded areas of the market, alongside healthcare and consumer staples companies.
Last year, the sector benchmark Utilities SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLU) gained an astounding 28.74 percent, as long-dated treasuries and other interest-rate sensitive asset classes soared. However, the first quarter of 2015 saw a spike in interest rates that utilities have been unable to recover from.
Utilities SPDR
XLU tracks 32 large-cap companies engaged in electric, gas and other power-generating businesses.
The largest holdings in XLU include:
- Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: li>
/www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/15/04/5391612/utility-etf-stumbles-in-first-quarter-interest-rate-spike alt=Utility ETF Stumbles in First-Quarter Interest Rate Spike>Full story available on Benzinga.com
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