ETF List Two

 

Technology Winners

We believe any discussion on tech shares has to start with semiconductor stocks. Two ETFs with strong returns in that segment are:

• SPDR® S&P Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:XSD) — up 59.1% YTD (covered here)
• VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:SMH) — up 51.95% YTD

From there we'll move to funds with more distinct themes, like artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous driving, blockchain, clean energy technologies, cloud computing, communication services, cybersecurity, digitalization, e-commerce, e-sports, financial technology (fintech), 5G, innovation, machine learning, robotics, social media, software or work-from-home.

In those arenas we have the following funds (all listed in alphabetical order):

• ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKF) — up 105.7% YTD
• ARK Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKK) — up 159.3% YTD (covered here)
• Amplify Transformational Data Sharing (NYSE:BLOK) — up 84.8% YTD (covered here)
• BlueStar Israel Technology ETF (NYSE:ITEQ) — up 60.1% YTD
• Defiance 5G Next Gen Connectivity ETF (NYSE:FIVG) — up 28.1% YTD (covered here)
• Direxion Work From Home ETF (NYSE:WFH) — up 52.3% since late July when it began trading (covered here)
• Global X Cloud Computing (NASDAQ:CLOU) — up 78.8% YTD (covered here)
• Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT) — up 122.4% YTD
• Innovator Loup Frontier Tech (NYSE:LOUP) — up 84.6% YTD
• Invesco DWA Technology Momentum ETF (NASDAQ:PTF) — up 83.6% YTD
• iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF (NYSE:IHAK) — up 52.3% YTD (covered here)
• iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN) — up 137.8% YTD (covered here)
• KraneShares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility Index (NYSE:KARS) — up 67.8% YTD
• O'Shares Global Internet Giants (NYSE:OGIG) — up 105.3% YTD
• ProShares Long Online Short Stores (NYSE:CLIX) — up 89.2% YTD
• SPDR® FactSet Innovative Technology ETF (NYSE:XITK) — up 31.7% YTD
• VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF (NYSE:ESPO) — up 31.7% YTD (covered here)
• Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VGT) — up 45.2% YTD
• WisdomTree Growth Leaders Fund (NYSE:PLAT) — up 58.9% YTD

Other Winners

But 2020 was not all about technology. Here are several other exchange-traded funds that have returned double-digit or greater gains since the start of the year:

• ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (NYSE:ARKG) — up 203.1% YTD
• Global X MSCI China Consumer Disc ETF (NYSE:CHIQ) — up 31.7% YTD (covered here)
• iShares MSCI India ETF (NYSE:INDA) — up 13.1% YTD (covered here)
• iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) — up 27.5% YTD (covered here)
• iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:SLV) — up 46.5% YTD (covered here)
• Kraneshares MSCI China Environment (NYSE:KGRN) — up 133.6% YTD
• Robo Global® Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETF (NYSE:HTEC) — up 66.4% YTD (covered here)
• SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) — up 22.9% YTD (covered here)
• SPDR® S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE:XHB) — up 28.4% YTD (covered here)
• Vanguard Materials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VAW) — up 15.5% YTD (covered here)
• Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VCR) — up 44.9% YTD

Losers: ETFs That Had A Tough 2020

Volatility during the year has once again shown the importance of having a diversified portfolio. Although many sectors have recovered from their spring-lows, a significant number of funds are still down for the year.

Contrarian investors who expect a rotation into some of these segments in 2021 may want to research them further. We previously covered several ETFs that could see a positive trend in the coming months. Here are a number of ETFs that have not had positive returns in 2020:

• Alerian MLP ETF (NYSE:AMLP) — down 39.4% YTD
• Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF (NYSE:GYLD) — down 17.8% YTD
• Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping (NYSE:BDRY) — down 50.8% YTD
• Financial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE:XLF) — down 5.5% YTD (covered here)
• First Trust Latin America AlphaDEX® Fund (NASDAQ:FLN) — down 15.2% YTD
• First Trust Natural Gas ETF (NYSE:FCG) — down 50.8% YTD
• Invesco DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund (NYSE:UUP) — down 6.2% YTD (covered here)
• Invesco Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF (NYSE:PEJ) — down 12.1% YTD (covered here)
• Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (NASDAQ:KBWY) — down 33.3% YTD
• iShares Edge MSCI Intl Value Factor ETF (NYSE:IVLU) — down 6.4% YTD (covered here)
• iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (NYSE:EWU) — down 13.8% YTD (covered here)
• iShares North American Natural Resources ETF (NYSE:IGE) — down 23.1% YTD
• The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:XLRE) — down 6.4% YTD (covered here)
• SPDR® S&P Insurance ETF (NYSE:KIE) — down 6.4% YTD (covered here)
• U.S. Global Jets ETF (NYSE:JETS) — down 29.1% YTD (covered here)
• Utilities Select Sector SPDR® Fund (NYSE:XLU) — down 4.8% YTD (covered here)
• Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VDE) — down 36.5% YTD
• Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VFH) — down 5.7% YTD