December Jobs Data Put Focus on These Sector ETFs & Stocks

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy added 50,000 jobs in December 2025, lower than the revised 56,000 in November and below the Dow Jones estimate of 73,000, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4%, better than the forecast of 4.5% [1] Wage Growth - Average hourly earnings increased by 0.3% sequentially, aligning with forecasts, while the annual increase of 3.8% exceeded expectations by 0.2 percentage points [2] Sector Performance Healthcare - Healthcare employment rose by 21,000 jobs in December, with hospital employment increasing by 16,000. The sector averaged 34,000 jobs added per month in 2025, slower than the 56,000 average in 2024 [3] - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), with 30% exposure to the pharma industry and significant allocations to healthcare providers, equipment, biotech, and life sciences, is positioned to benefit from this moderate momentum [4] - HCA Healthcare (HCA), ranked 3 (Hold), is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the U.S., with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 12.42% on average [5] Food Services & Drinking Places - Employment in food services and drinking places added 27,000 jobs in December, with an average monthly gain of 12,000 jobs in 2025, consistent with the previous year's performance [6] - The AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF (EATZ) is a potential investment opportunity, with Restaurant Brands International (QSR), ranked 2 (Buy), being a notable stock pick in this sector [6] Retail Trade - Retail trade experienced a net loss of 25,000 jobs, with 5,000 jobs gained in electronics and appliance retailing offset by losses in warehouse clubs, supercenters, and food and beverage retailers [7] - Target (TGT), ranked 3, offers a diverse range of products and has about 5% exposure to the Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF (RDIV) [8] Summary of Sector Trends - Healthcare jobs are steadily increasing, keeping XLV in focus amid moderate sector momentum [9] - Food services hiring remains resilient, supporting investment opportunities in EATZ and QSR [9] - Retail sector faces job losses despite gains in electronics, creating selective pressure on stocks like TGT [9]