Best Sector ETFs This Year
Which slices of the market are leading — and by how much
Updated September 6, 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 | +95.6% | +77.0% | −0.5% | −0.8% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF — up +95.6% over the past year, +77.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF (NEW)ETF | +80.8% | +62.2% | +12.4% | +5.3% |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF (NEW) — up +80.8% over the past year, +62.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETFETF | +75.3% | +56.6% | +27.3% | +6.0% |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF — up +75.3% over the past year, +56.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | CHATRoundhill Generative AI & Technology ETFETF | +67.5% | +48.8% | −1.2% | +1.8% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF — up +67.5% over the past year, +48.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | OIHVanEck Oil Services ETFETF | +65.8% | +47.2% | +3.1% | +9.0% |
| VanEck Oil Services ETF — up +65.8% over the past year, +47.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | LITGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETFETF | +57.8% | +39.1% | −5.3% | +2.4% |
| Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF — up +57.8% over the past year, +39.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | GDXVanEck Gold Miners ETFETF | +53.7% | +35.1% | +25.9% | +18.3% |
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF — up +53.7% over the past year, +35.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | IBBiShares Biotechnology ETFETF | +51.0% | +32.3% | +25.8% | +9.8% |
| iShares Biotechnology ETF — up +51.0% over the past year, +32.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX FundETF | +45.0% | +26.4% | +10.8% | +10.8% |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund — up +45.0% over the past year, +26.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | XLESPDR Energy Select Sector ETFETF | +43.8% | +25.2% | +11.1% | +10.1% |
| SPDR Energy Select Sector ETF — up +43.8% over the past year, +25.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | XLKSPDR Technology Select Sector ETFETF | +42.6% | +24.0% | +3.9% | +1.1% |
| SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF — up +42.6% over the past year, +24.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | AIQGlobal X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETFETF | +41.5% | +22.8% | −0.2% | +1.5% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — up +41.5% over the past year, +22.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETFETF | +41.3% | +22.6% | +7.7% | +7.9% |
| iShares Global Energy ETF — up +41.3% over the past year, +22.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETFETF | +38.5% | +19.9% | +5.0% | +1.1% |
| iShares U.S. Technology ETF — up +38.5% over the past year, +19.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | IYZiShares U.S. Telecommunications ETFETF | +33.6% | +14.9% | −0.1% | −2.1% |
| iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF — up +33.6% over the past year, +14.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | PPHVanEck Pharmaceutical ETFETF | +28.3% | +9.6% | +8.0% | +3.2% |
| VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF — up +28.3% over the past year, +9.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | PBWInvesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETFETF | +27.8% | +9.2% | −22.0% | −5.5% |
| Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF — up +27.8% over the past year, +9.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | KBWBInvesco KBW Bank ETFETF | +27.6% | +8.9% | +9.2% | +0.0% |
| Invesco KBW Bank ETF — up +27.6% over the past year, +8.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | SKYYFirst Trust Cloud Computing ETFETF | +26.4% | +7.8% | +14.8% | +7.3% |
| First Trust Cloud Computing ETF — up +26.4% over the past year, +7.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | XLVSPDR Health Care Select Sector ETFETF | +24.8% | +6.1% | +12.1% | +4.3% |
| SPDR Health Care Select Sector ETF — up +24.8% over the past year, +6.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | MLPXGlobal X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETFETF | +24.2% | +5.5% | +2.8% | +2.1% |
| Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF — up +24.2% over the past year, +5.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | ICLNiShares Global Clean Energy ETFETF | +24.0% | +5.4% | −16.7% | −1.9% |
| iShares Global Clean Energy ETF — up +24.0% over the past year, +5.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | BUGGlobal X Cybersecurity ETFETF | +22.9% | +4.3% | +17.5% | +1.6% |
| Global X Cybersecurity ETF — up +22.9% over the past year, +4.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | IHFiShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETFETF | +21.2% | +2.6% | +10.6% | +2.6% |
| iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF — up +21.2% over the past year, +2.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETFETF | +18.1% | −0.5% | −15.0% | −10.3% |
| First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF — up +18.1% over the past year, −0.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||