---
title: "Weekly Recap | VG Utilities +0.86%, ahead of the S&P 500"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/298089846.md"
description: "VPU.US climbed 0.86% this week to close at $186.35, while the S&P 500 edged up only 0.09%, leaving the fund ahead of the benchmark by roughly 0.77 percentage points. The week started soft: Monday (31 Aug) dipped to $181.33, the low of the week, before four straight sessions of steady gains. Friday (4 Sep) touched $186.96 and settled near the week’s high. The 3.09% intraweek range came with average daily volume of about 267.6k shares, about 15.67% above the 20-week median."
datetime: "2026-09-05T04:32:50.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/298089846.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/298089846.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/298089846.md)
generator: "portal-rs"
---

# Weekly Recap | VG Utilities +0.86%, ahead of the S&P 500

## The Week

VPU.US climbed 0.86% this week to close at $186.35, while the S&P 500 edged up only 0.09%, leaving the fund ahead of the benchmark by roughly 0.77 percentage points. The week started soft: Monday (31 Aug) dipped to $181.33, the low of the week, before four straight sessions of steady gains. Friday (4 Sep) touched $186.96 and settled near the week’s high. The 3.09% intraweek range came with average daily volume of about 267.6k shares, about 15.67% above the 20-week median. The move was modest but broad-based across the utility complex.

## Sector News

This week’s utility narrative centred on power demand and AI infrastructure. Several reports pointed to utilities and REITs raising capex and lifting full-year 2026 guidance, with AI-driven load growth seen as a buffer against elevated long-term rates. At the single-stock level, shareholders approved the proposed merger between NextEra Energy (NEE) and Dominion Energy, one of the larger corporate events in the sector. Broker views diverged: JPMorgan cut its price target for Sempra to $102, while Jefferies upgraded the stock to buy. The latest session’s flow data showed medium-sized money rotating out and small-lot money rotating in, with no clear direction overall.

## The Week Ahead

Macro data picks up next week. On Thursday, 10 Sep, the US releases final demand PPI, core PPI, initial jobless claims, existing home sales, and holds a 10-year Treasury auction. These prints will shape rate expectations and the valuation backdrop for utilities. Also worth tracking is whether the Dominion-NextEra merger passes the next regulatory steps after shareholder approval this week, which could keep the sector’s deal theme in focus.

## In Short

VPU posted a low-volatility gain and outperformed the broader market this week. On valuation, the fund trades around 1.67 times book, with a dividend yield near 2.77%; its trailing P/E is less useful given negative TTM earnings. Price remains below the 20-day moving average, but the week’s low of $181.33 marks the bottom of a 60-session range, suggesting a cautious rebound rather than a decisive breakout. Flows were mixed between medium and small lots, so no strong marginal signal emerges. The week ahead hinges on PPI and the Treasury auction, along with any follow-through from utility sector M&A activity.

*This article is generated by LongbridgeAI from market data, for information only and not investment advice.*

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- [VPU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VPU.US.md)

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> **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**