Sectors In Review: August 2019

June was a very strong month for sector ETFs. The SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) led the top performers, with a gain of 17.71%, followed by the SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) and the iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ), which were up 14.86% and 11.86%. respectively. The worst performer, the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) was still up 1.71% for the month. The iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (IYR) was up 1.82% and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) rose 3.28%. Flows were muted overall, and the top gainer, the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP), pulled in just $885.1 million. It was followed by the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB), which had inflows of $806.2 million, and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), which pulled in $636.5 million. At the other end of the spectrum, the fund that lost the most was the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK), which had outflows of $491.4 million. Meanwhile, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) lost $313.3 million, and the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) lost $224.9 million.

Sources: Bloomberg and FactSet. Data from 05/31/2019 to 06/30/2019. ETFs chosen to represent each sector based on the most liquid ETF in each segment of the ETF.com ETF Classification System.