Best Sector ETFs This Year
Which slices of the market are leading — and by how much
Updated June 20, 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 | +151.3% | +126.3% | +71.5% | +16.9% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF — up +151.3% over the past year, +126.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 2 | LITGlobal X Lithium & Battery Tech ETFETF | +123.8% | +98.8% | +22.6% | −1.6% |
| Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF — up +123.8% over the past year, +98.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 3 | CHATRoundhill Generative AI & Technology ETFETF | +121.7% | +96.7% | +63.7% | +18.6% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF — up +121.7% over the past year, +96.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 4 | PBWInvesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETFETF | +112.8% | +87.8% | +34.6% | +5.0% |
| Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF — up +112.8% over the past year, +87.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 5 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF (NEW)ETF | +98.7% | +73.8% | +23.7% | +3.9% |
| Global X Copper Miners ETF (NEW) — up +98.7% over the past year, +73.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 6 | TANInvesco Solar ETFETF | +86.5% | +61.5% | +9.8% | −3.7% |
| Invesco Solar ETF — up +86.5% over the past year, +61.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 7 | XBISPDR S&P Biotech ETFETF | +70.2% | +45.2% | +17.0% | +6.8% |
| SPDR S&P Biotech ETF — up +70.2% over the past year, +45.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 8 | AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETFETF | +68.0% | +43.0% | +21.5% | +4.4% |
| First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF — up +68.0% over the past year, +43.0% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 9 | ICLNiShares Global Clean Energy ETFETF | +66.1% | +41.2% | +16.8% | −2.0% |
| iShares Global Clean Energy ETF — up +66.1% over the past year, +41.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 10 | AIQGlobal X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETFETF | +59.5% | +34.5% | +41.0% | +8.0% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF — up +59.5% over the past year, +34.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 11 | XLKSPDR Technology Select Sector ETFETF | +58.5% | +33.5% | +41.5% | +8.1% |
| SPDR Technology Select Sector ETF — up +58.5% over the past year, +33.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 12 | OIHVanEck Oil Services ETFETF | +57.5% | +32.6% | −0.4% | −14.5% |
| VanEck Oil Services ETF — up +57.5% over the past year, +32.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 13 | GDXVanEck Gold Miners ETFETF | +55.7% | +30.7% | +3.0% | −4.5% |
| VanEck Gold Miners ETF — up +55.7% over the past year, +30.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 14 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETFETF | +53.5% | +28.6% | +37.5% | +5.9% |
| iShares U.S. Technology ETF — up +53.5% over the past year, +28.6% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 15 | IYZiShares U.S. Telecommunications ETFETF | +48.0% | +23.1% | +6.6% | −3.1% |
| iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF — up +48.0% over the past year, +23.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 16 | JETSU.S. Global Jets ETFETF | +43.3% | +18.3% | +28.7% | +17.2% |
| U.S. Global Jets ETF — up +43.3% over the past year, +18.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 17 | IBBiShares Biotechnology ETFETF | +38.1% | +13.1% | +7.4% | +3.4% |
| iShares Biotechnology ETF — up +38.1% over the past year, +13.1% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 18 | KBWBInvesco KBW Bank ETFETF | +37.8% | +12.8% | +20.2% | +8.1% |
| Invesco KBW Bank ETF — up +37.8% over the past year, +12.8% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 19 | ITAiShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETFETF | +33.7% | +8.7% | +7.4% | +7.0% |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF — up +33.7% over the past year, +8.7% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 20 | MISLFirst Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETFETF | +31.3% | +6.3% | +1.3% | +1.2% |
| First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF — up +31.3% over the past year, +6.3% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 21 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX FundETF | +27.5% | +2.5% | −7.2% | −10.1% |
| First Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund — up +27.5% over the past year, +2.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 22 | XLISPDR Industrial Select Sector ETFETF | +27.2% | +2.2% | +11.9% | +6.0% |
| SPDR Industrial Select Sector ETF — up +27.2% over the past year, +2.2% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 23 | KRESPDR S&P Regional Banking ETFETF | +26.9% | +1.9% | +13.8% | +3.7% |
| SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF — up +26.9% over the past year, +1.9% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 24 | URAGlobal X Uranium ETFETF | +26.5% | +1.5% | +2.9% | −0.5% |
| Global X Uranium ETF — up +26.5% over the past year, +1.5% versus the S&P 500. | |||||
| 25 | BOTZGlobal X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETFETF | +23.6% | −1.4% | +14.2% | −2.2% |
| Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF — up +23.6% over the past year, −1.4% versus the S&P 500. | |||||