New York, Jan 24, 2026, 13:36 EST — Market closed.
U.S. utilities stocks ended the week under pressure, with the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) slipping to $42.56 on Friday, down 0.35% for the day and roughly 2% lower on the week. XLU, which follows a group of S&P 500 utilities, often serves as a go-to gauge for the sector’s daily moves. (StockAnalysis)
The S&P 500 Utilities index mirrored this trend, closing Friday down 0.4% and slipping about 2% over the week — underperforming for a sector usually favored for its steady cash flows. (Investing)
Why it matters now: sectors sensitive to rates can’t absorb much more upside in bond yields. The U.S. 10-year Treasury closed Friday at 4.24%, tightening the squeeze on dividend-heavy utilities as they vie against safer yields. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)
Utilities closed the week on a cautious note. The S&P 500 eked out a 0.1% gain on Friday, but the Dow slipped 0.6%. Each of the major U.S. indexes logged weekly losses following a turbulent run marked by tariff threats and deal fallout. (AP News)
Bond action was uneven this week. CME Group reported the 10-year yield ended near 4.25%, slipping back from a peak of around 4.30% earlier in the week. (CME Group)
In utilities, the usual pattern showed: regulated companies outperformed the weaker players. NextEra Energy slipped 0.3% on Friday, Duke Energy lost 0.2%, and Southern Co barely moved. Exelon, however, fell roughly 1.2%.
Utilities often act as “bond proxies”—stocks investors turn to for income when growth is hard to find. But that can change fast when Treasury yields climb, making the sector’s dividends less attractive and pushing up financing costs.
Next week’s calendar adds to the pressure. The Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, scheduled for Jan. 27-28, often influences rate-sensitive stocks—even if the Fed holds rates steady. (Federal Reserve)
Earnings will drive the sector soon. NextEra Energy, a major player in utilities indexes, plans to release its Q4 and full-year 2025 results before the NYSE opens on Tuesday, Jan. 27, the company announced. (Nexteraenergy)
Macro jitters haven’t disappeared. “The acute phase seems to be behind us,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services Group, referring to the market’s recent geopolitical shocks. Still, Chris Galipeau, senior market strategist at Franklin Templeton, cautioned that with valuations running high, “the earnings bar had better be met.” (Reuters)
In the utility sector, Essential Utilities announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.3426 per share. The payout is scheduled for March 2, to shareholders on record as of Feb. 9 — the kind of steady news that holds appeal for income-focused investors, even amid rising rates. (Essential)
The risk is clear: a rebound in long-term yields would probably keep utilities under strain. On top of that, the sector grapples with political and regulatory pushback over rising customer bills as rate requests pile up. S&P Global Market Intelligence has highlighted a record volume of utility rate requests for 2025, driven by affordability concerns. (S&P Global)
What’s next on the radar: traders are set to dissect the Fed’s Jan. 28 decision for clues on rate changes, then pivot swiftly to NextEra’s earnings released a day prior. On the wider rates front, the BEA calendar flags U.S. international trade data for Jan. 29—one of the upcoming macro reports likely to move yields. (Bea)
