##  [# Sectors In Review: March 2020](/sections/etf-report-departments/sectors-review-march-2020) 

 

# Sectors In Review: March 2020

 

 

January was a mixed bag for sector ETFs.



 

 

 

 

 [![HeatherBell_green_bg](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2023-03/heather2.png?itok=5J9vBlda)](/contributors/heather-bell) 

[By Heather Bell](/contributors/heather-bell)

 Mar 01, 2020

 Edited by: Heather Bell

 

 

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January was a mixed bag for sector ETFs, with some funds recording steep losses. The worst performer was the [**SPDR S&amp;P Oil &amp; Gas Exploration &amp; Production ETF (XOP)**](/XOP), which was down 19.38% for the month, while the [**iShares U.S. Oil Equipment &amp; Services ETF (IEZ)**](/IEZ) and [**SPDR S&amp;P Metals &amp; Mining ETF (XME)**](/XME) were down 17.42% and 14.93%, respectively. The [**iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV)**](/IGV) led the positive performers, with a gain of 6.73%, while the [**Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU)**](/XLU) was up 6.62% and the [**Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU)**](/VPU) increased by 6.06%. During the month, sector ETFs pulled in nearly $3.5 billion, led by a $1.2 billion gain in the [**Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI)**](/XLI), a $1.1 billion increase for the [**Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY)**](/XLY) and an $804.4 million gain for the [**Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)**](/XLF). Outflows were less dramatic, as the [**Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP)**](/XLP) lost $420.7 million; the [**Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE)**](/XLE) decreased by $176.4 million and the [**iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (IYR)**](/IYR) lost $125.1 million.

![](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2020/03/SectorsInReviewMarchFig1.jpg)

[![SectorsInReview](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2020/03/SectorsInReviewMarchFig2.jpg)](/sites/default/files/images/Magazines/ETF%20Report/2020/03/SectorsInReviewMarchFig2b.jpg)

*For a larger view, please click on the image above.*



*Sources: Bloomberg and FactSet. Data from 11/30/2019 to 12/31/2019. ETFs chosen to represent each sector based on the most liquid ETF in each segment of the ETF.com ETF Classification System.*





 

 

 [ Heather Bell ](/contributors/heather-bell) 

 

 

  Heather Bell is a former managing editor of etf.com. She has also held editorial positions at Dow Jones Indexes and Lehman Brothers. Bell is a…   [View Bio](/contributors/heather-bell)

 



 

 


 Related Topics  [Blackrock](http://www.etf.com/topics/blackrock) 

 [Broad-based](http://www.etf.com/topics/broad-based) 

 [Consumer Cyclicals](http://www.etf.com/topics/consumer-cyclicals) 

 [Consumer Discretionary](http://www.etf.com/topics/consumer-discretionary) 

 [Consumer Staples](http://www.etf.com/topics/consumer-staples)