sometimes utility stocks can feel downright sleepy and that can be comforting when markets get messy but you shouldn’t overlook the growth potential that could add some pep to an already attractive sector the utilities select sector spdr exchangetraded fund ticker xlu has returned 02 including reinvested dividends in 2022 easily outpacing the sp 500 17 drop despite some hiccups due to rising yields which typically hurt incomeoriented stocks the sector has done exactly what investors hoped it would—protect their cash during difficult times