Best Sector ETFs This Year
Which slices of the market are leading — and by how much
Updated July 24, 2026
The fastest way to read where the market’s leadership sits is to rank the sector funds. Each one is a clean bet on a slice of the economy — technology, energy, financials, health care, and the industry sub-groups within them — so the spread between top and bottom is a map of what’s working and what’s out of favor right now.
Returns are shown against the S&P 500, so you can see which sectors are actually beating the index versus merely rising with it. A sector leading over one year and three months is in a genuine run; one leading over a year but lagging lately may be rolling over.
| # | Stock | 1Y return | vs S&P 500 | 3M | 1M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETFETF | +92.4% | +74.7% | +20.9% | −10.1% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF — up +92.4% over the past year, +74.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF (NEW)ETF | +76.6% | +59.0% | −10.8% | −10.4% |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF (NEW) — up +76.6% over the past year, +59.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETFETF | +70.8% | +53.2% | +8.6% | +8.0% |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF — up +70.8% over the past year, +53.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | CHATRoundhill Generative AI & Technology ETFETF | +66.2% | +48.6% | +10.3% | −14.5% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF — up +66.2% over the past year, +48.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | OIHVanEck Oil Services ETFETF | +65.9% | +48.3% | −2.3% | −1.4% |
| VanEck Oil Services ETF — up +65.9% over the past year, +48.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | LITGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETFETF | +63.7% | +46.1% | −18.5% | −18.4% |
| Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF — up +63.7% over the past year, +46.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | GDXVanEck Gold Miners ETFETF | +46.8% | +29.2% | −25.0% | −10.8% |
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF — up +46.8% over the past year, +29.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | IBBiShares Biotechnology ETFETF | +42.8% | +25.2% | +6.5% | +8.5% |
| iShares Biotechnology ETF — up +42.8% over the past year, +25.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETFETF | +42.1% | +24.4% | −1.6% | −6.3% |
| First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF — up +42.1% over the past year, +24.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX FundETF | +41.9% | +24.3% | +7.8% | +7.9% |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund — up +41.9% over the past year, +24.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETFETF | +38.9% | +21.2% | +5.5% | +9.7% |
| iShares Global Energy ETF — up +38.9% over the past year, +21.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | XLESPDR Energy Select Sector ETFETF | +37.6% | +19.9% | +8.4% | +9.1% |
| SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF — up +37.6% over the past year, +19.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | IYZiShares U.S. Telecommunications ETFETF | +35.3% | +17.7% | −6.0% | −3.4% |
| iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF — up +35.3% over the past year, +17.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | TANInvesco Solar ETFETF | +35.1% | +17.4% | −7.0% | −12.3% |
| Invesco Solar ETF — up +35.1% over the past year, +17.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | XLKSPDR Technology Select Sector ETFETF | +34.7% | +17.1% | +13.9% | −5.3% |
| SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF — up +34.7% over the past year, +17.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | PBWInvesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETFETF | +34.0% | +16.3% | −11.6% | −20.8% |
| Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF — up +34.0% over the past year, +16.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | ICLNiShares Global Clean Energy ETFETF | +32.3% | +14.6% | −8.4% | −13.2% |
| iShares Global Clean Energy ETF — up +32.3% over the past year, +14.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETFETF | +32.1% | +14.5% | +12.4% | −4.2% |
| iShares U.S. Technology ETF — up +32.1% over the past year, +14.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | AIQGlobal X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETFETF | +31.8% | +14.2% | +8.4% | −10.3% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — up +31.8% over the past year, +14.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | KBWBInvesco KBW Bank ETFETF | +31.6% | +14.0% | +11.2% | +3.6% |
| Invesco KBW Bank ETF — up +31.6% over the past year, +14.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | IHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETFETF | +29.5% | +11.8% | +23.5% | +7.7% |
| iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF — up +29.5% over the past year, +11.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETFETF | +27.8% | +10.1% | +5.8% | +6.1% |
| VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF — up +27.8% over the past year, +10.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | MLPXGlobal X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETFETF | +26.1% | +8.5% | +9.5% | +7.3% |
| Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF — up +26.1% over the past year, +8.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | ITAiShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETFETF | +22.6% | +5.0% | +3.5% | −1.1% |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF — up +22.6% over the past year, +5.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | XLVSPDR Health Care Select Sector ETFETF | +22.5% | +4.8% | +9.3% | +7.9% |
| SPDR Health Care Select Sector ETF — up +22.5% over the past year, +4.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||