Best Sector ETFs This Year
Which slices of the market are leading — and by how much
Updated October 23, 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 | XLESPDR Energy Select Sector ETFETF | +57.9% | +44.1% | +18.8% | +10.8% |
| SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF — up +57.9% over the past year, +44.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX FundETF | +57.6% | +43.8% | +14.8% | +9.0% |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund — up +57.6% over the past year, +43.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETFETF | +55.7% | +41.9% | −3.9% | −12.2% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF — up +55.7% over the past year, +41.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETFETF | +54.6% | +40.8% | +17.9% | +10.1% |
| iShares Global Energy ETF — up +54.6% over the past year, +40.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | OIHVanEck Oil Services ETFETF | +49.7% | +35.9% | +3.0% | +0.8% |
| VanEck Oil Services ETF — up +49.7% over the past year, +35.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | BUGGlobal X Cybersecurity ETFETF | +42.9% | +29.1% | +31.3% | +7.0% |
| Global X Cybersecurity ETF — up +42.9% over the past year, +29.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETFETF | +39.3% | +25.5% | −0.7% | −4.2% |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF — up +39.3% over the past year, +25.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | IBBiShares Biotechnology ETFETF | +35.0% | +21.2% | +10.3% | −0.7% |
| iShares Biotechnology ETF — up +35.0% over the past year, +21.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | XLKSPDR Technology Select Sector ETFETF | +28.4% | +14.6% | +5.1% | −5.9% |
| SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF — up +28.4% over the past year, +14.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETFETF | +26.4% | +12.6% | +6.3% | −5.4% |
| iShares U.S. Technology ETF — up +26.4% over the past year, +12.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | MLPXGlobal X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETFETF | +24.7% | +10.9% | −0.3% | +3.5% |
| Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF — up +24.7% over the past year, +10.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | SKYYFirst Trust Cloud Computing ETFETF | +24.5% | +10.7% | +23.2% | +0.3% |
| First Trust Cloud Computing ETF — up +24.5% over the past year, +10.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETFETF | +24.5% | +10.7% | +3.3% | +3.4% |
| VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF — up +24.5% over the past year, +10.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF (NEW)ETF | +23.8% | +10.0% | −6.2% | −15.3% |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF (NEW) — up +23.8% over the past year, +10.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | AIQGlobal X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETFETF | +23.6% | +9.8% | +6.8% | −5.6% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — up +23.6% over the past year, +9.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | CHATRoundhill Generative AI & Technology ETFETF | +23.6% | +9.8% | −6.2% | −16.4% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF — up +23.6% over the past year, +9.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | XLVSPDR Health Care Select Sector ETFETF | +22.8% | +9.0% | +9.7% | +5.5% |
| SPDR Health Care Select Sector ETF — up +22.8% over the past year, +9.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | KRESPDR S&P Regional Banking ETFETF | +19.9% | +6.1% | −4.1% | +2.1% |
| SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF — up +19.9% over the past year, +6.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | IYZiShares U.S. Telecommunications ETFETF | +19.2% | +5.4% | −5.4% | −7.5% |
| iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF — up +19.2% over the past year, +5.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | IHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETFETF | +18.3% | +4.5% | +6.5% | +9.8% |
| iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF — up +18.3% over the past year, +4.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | KBWBInvesco KBW Bank ETFETF | +16.6% | +2.8% | −9.3% | −1.7% |
| Invesco KBW Bank ETF — up +16.6% over the past year, +2.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | XLBSPDR Materials Select Sector ETFETF | +16.2% | +2.4% | −0.2% | +3.3% |
| SPDR Materials Select Sector ETF — up +16.2% over the past year, +2.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | IYKiShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETFETF | +11.2% | −2.6% | +2.6% | +7.9% |
| iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF — up +11.2% over the past year, −2.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | XLPSPDR Consumer Staples Select Sector ETFETF | +10.7% | −3.1% | +3.4% | +8.0% |
| SPDR Consumer Staples Select Sector ETF — up +10.7% over the past year, −3.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | KIESPDR S&P Insurance ETFETF | +9.9% | −3.9% | −2.8% | +5.5% |
| SPDR S&P Insurance ETF — up +9.9% over the past year, −3.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||