Sectors In Review: January 2019

November was mostly positive for sector ETFs. The top-performing fund was the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV), which was up 7.03% for the month; it was followed by the iShares Transportation Average ETF (IYT), which was up 6.53%, and the iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI), which was up 5.44%. Although only a few funds notched negative returns, the worst performer was down quite a bit. The iShares U.S. Oil Equipment & Services ETF (IEZ) fell 11.36% during the month, while the SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) and the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) fell 9.26% and 5.24%, respectively. Flows were dominated by the Select Sector SPDR family, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) pulling in more than any other ETF, at $901.4 million, XLV gaining $607.4 million and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) pulling in $402.5 million. In terms of outflows, the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) led outflows, with a loss of $256.3 million, followed by the First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund (FDN), which lost $247.2 million, and the iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology ETF (IBB), which lost $203.8 million.

Source: Bloomberg. Data from 10/31/2018 to 11/30/2018. ETFs chosen to represent each sector based on the most liquid ETF in each segment of the ETF.com ETF Classification System.