Best Sector ETFs This Year
Which slices of the market are leading — and by how much
Updated August 17, 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 | +95.1% | +74.7% | +1.6% | +3.3% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF — up +95.1% over the past year, +74.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF (NEW)ETF | +81.3% | +61.0% | −4.1% | +14.8% |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF (NEW) — up +81.3% over the past year, +61.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETFETF | +75.8% | +55.5% | +16.7% | +3.6% |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF — up +75.8% over the past year, +55.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | OIHVanEck Oil Services ETFETF | +75.3% | +54.9% | −4.6% | +11.7% |
| VanEck Oil Services ETF — up +75.3% over the past year, +54.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | CHATRoundhill Generative AI & Technology ETFETF | +72.4% | +52.0% | +9.4% | +14.1% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF — up +72.4% over the past year, +52.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | LITGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETFETF | +62.0% | +41.6% | −13.5% | +9.3% |
| Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF — up +62.0% over the past year, +41.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | GDXVanEck Gold Miners ETFETF | +54.9% | +34.6% | −4.2% | +26.0% |
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF — up +54.9% over the past year, +34.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX FundETF | +47.7% | +27.3% | +5.1% | +8.8% |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund — up +47.7% over the past year, +27.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | IBBiShares Biotechnology ETFETF | +44.6% | +24.2% | +15.7% | +4.6% |
| iShares Biotechnology ETF — up +44.6% over the past year, +24.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | XLESPDR Energy Select Sector ETFETF | +44.6% | +24.2% | +6.6% | +8.6% |
| SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF — up +44.6% over the past year, +24.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | PBWInvesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETFETF | +42.6% | +22.2% | −16.1% | +5.1% |
| Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF — up +42.6% over the past year, +22.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | XLKSPDR Technology Select Sector ETFETF | +41.6% | +21.2% | +5.9% | +7.0% |
| SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF — up +41.6% over the past year, +21.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | IYZiShares U.S. Telecommunications ETFETF | +41.4% | +21.0% | +0.9% | +9.4% |
| iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF — up +41.4% over the past year, +21.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETFETF | +41.3% | +20.9% | +2.9% | +7.5% |
| iShares Global Energy ETF — up +41.3% over the past year, +20.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | AIQGlobal X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETFETF | +40.8% | +20.4% | +2.8% | +8.2% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — up +40.8% over the past year, +20.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | TANInvesco Solar ETFETF | +39.5% | +19.1% | −20.0% | −4.1% |
| Invesco Solar ETF — up +39.5% over the past year, +19.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETFETF | +37.9% | +17.5% | +5.1% | +5.3% |
| iShares U.S. Technology ETF — up +37.9% over the past year, +17.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | SKYYFirst Trust Cloud Computing ETFETF | +36.6% | +16.2% | +29.1% | +21.2% |
| First Trust Cloud Computing ETF — up +36.6% over the past year, +16.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETFETF | +35.0% | +14.7% | −4.8% | +2.0% |
| First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF — up +35.0% over the past year, +14.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | KBWBInvesco KBW Bank ETFETF | +34.0% | +13.7% | +18.2% | +1.3% |
| Invesco KBW Bank ETF — up +34.0% over the past year, +13.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | ICLNiShares Global Clean Energy ETFETF | +32.0% | +11.6% | −17.7% | −0.8% |
| iShares Global Clean Energy ETF — up +32.0% over the past year, +11.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETFETF | +30.0% | +9.6% | +8.9% | +0.9% |
| VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF — up +30.0% over the past year, +9.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | IHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETFETF | +29.6% | +9.2% | +11.0% | +1.3% |
| iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF — up +29.6% over the past year, +9.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | ITAiShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETFETF | +28.7% | +8.3% | +12.8% | +9.7% |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF — up +28.7% over the past year, +8.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | BUGGlobal X Cybersecurity ETFETF | +27.6% | +7.2% | +38.5% | +5.8% |
| Global X Cybersecurity ETF — up +27.6% over the past year, +7.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||