iShares S&P/TSX Cap. Utilities (XUT.TO)

 Equal-weight vs. market-cap weight, that's the difference. Both are defensive, pay good dividends and have had good runs. He would trim utilities and get more into software tech. He wouldn't enter this now. Doesn't see another run ahead. 

Utility index holding about 15 names including FTS, EMA, and H. Very defensive, low beta (about half that of the TSX). Not a bad place to be for the income-focused investor looking for stability. Longer term, if interest rates move higher, then valuations and prices will come down. Risks for utilities include regulatory decisions and capex overruns. 
 
Not a sector he likes or holds right now. This ETF (38%) has underperformed the TSX (95%) over last 5 years. Yield is ~3.9%.

Good exposure to the space without using covered calls (which sacrifice upside potential).

Utilities are a very low-volatility sector, so the premiums are lower compared to oil/gas. He suggests holding both this and ZWU-T. Utilities are a top sector, because valuations are so reasonable (hard to find that in this market). ZWU will give you covered calls, but XUT will give you upside. So, own both, half and half.

XUT is market cap, ZUT is equal weighted. ZUT gives you more exposure to smaller players. HOG gives you more pipeline and energy services business, which acts similarly to utilities. It also hedges you on the downside. Could be a compliment to the other utility ETFs.

XEI has a fair exposure to the overall business cycle with broad based holdings. You want to focus on areas of the market that have less impact from issues in the financial markets. He would opt more for a utility ETF (XUT) that is more of a regulated sector with a agreed return on capital and more likely to be sustained.

An ETF for utilities. A great defensive sector with amazing performance lately. XUT-T is good, but 60% is in the top 4 holdings (inculding Fortis and Algonquin); 4% yield and 55 basis point cost. ZUT-T is more diversified and equal-weight. ZWU is also equal weight but does covered calls to create extra income, which sells future income for gains today; yields 6%. Given the strong performance of utilities in the past year, covered calls have lagged.

Although you get pretty good yields of around 4%, interest rates are moving higher, and yields are moving higher on the 5 year and 10 year, which is going to have an effect on utility companies. Utility companies generally are not good dividend growers. If they can grow their dividends, they are going to be affected from a capital appreciation/capital depreciation standpoint on their prices. He is not a big fan of utilities at this point.

Half the names are really solid. A steady dividend. No harm done recently so maybe a good place to be.

There was a rally in bonds, so utilities would respond to something like that. Also, low interest rates have been a huge help. Their day in the sun is kind of over with. This has to do with sector rotation, and he would have a tendency to move on.

A lot of people are chasing yield but utilities are not in favour this time of year. Technicals are not favorable right now. Stay away from this and go toward the cyclicals. Get in in July.