Core Insights - Retail sales in January 2026 decreased by 0.2%, which is better than the expected decline of 0.3% and follows a flat reading in December 2025 [1] - Total retail and food services sales for January 2026 were estimated at $733.5 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3.2% [1] - Retail trade sales also fell by 0.2% from December 2025 but showed a 3.0% increase compared to the previous year [1] Retail Sales Breakdown - Core retail sales, excluding automobiles, remained flat in January, unchanged from December's reading, and were lower than the expected growth of 0.1% [1] - Year-over-year, core retail sales increased by 3.9% [1] - Retail sales control purchases, which exclude motor vehicles, gasoline, building materials, and food services, rose by 0.3% in January, surpassing the expected growth of 0.2% [1] Long-term Trends - Monthly retail sales have been above historical regression lines since March 2021, indicating sustained consumer spending likely due to pent-up demand from the pandemic [1] - Current control purchases are up 4.9% compared to one year ago, showing reduced volatility compared to headline retail sales [1] - The year-over-year percent change in retail sales indicates a consistent upward trend, with current sales up 3.2% compared to the previous year [1]

Core Insights - U.S. retail sales were flat in December 2025, unchanged from the previous month and below the expected growth of 0.4% [1] - Total retail sales for December 2025 were $735.0 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 2.4%, the smallest annual growth since September 2024 [1] - Core retail sales, excluding automobiles, were also flat in December, with a year-over-year increase of 3.3%, marking the smallest annual growth since November 2024 [1] Retail Sales Performance - Retail trade sales remained virtually unchanged from November 2025, with a year-over-year increase of 2.1% [1] - Nonstore retailers experienced a significant year-over-year increase of 5.3%, while food service and drinking places saw a 4.7% increase compared to December 2024 [1] - The period from October 2025 to December 2025 showed total sales up 3.0% compared to the same period a year ago [1] Control Purchases Analysis - Retail sales control purchases, which exclude motor vehicles, gasoline, building materials, and food services, fell by 0.1% in December, down from November's 0.2% increase [1] - Year-over-year control purchases increased by 3.5%, the smallest annual growth since August 2024 [1] - The control purchases series is considered a more consistent and reliable economic indicator compared to headline retail sales [1]

Core Insights - The Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) has undergone a November rebalance to adapt to the changing e-commerce landscape, emphasizing sector diversification and the inclusion of healthcare and consumer staples companies [1][4]. Group 1: Portfolio Adjustments - IBUY added six new positions, with the highest target weightings of 2.42% allocated to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) and FIGS Inc. (FIGS), highlighting the growth of e-commerce in niche markets [2]. - The fund increased its international exposure by adding Rvrc Holding AB and Apotea AB from Sweden, as well as Hong Kong-based JD Health International Inc (6618), each with target weights of approximately 0.73% [3]. Group 2: Sector Diversification - The inclusion of healthcare-focused online retailers reflects the structural shift of e-commerce impacting various sectors of the economy [4]. - The adjustments in IBUY's composition indicate a dynamic online retail theme, reducing reliance on cyclical discretionary spending by incorporating consumer staples and healthcare companies [5]. Group 3: Market Observations - As Black Friday sales figures are anticipated, investors in IBUY will monitor not only traditional retail sales but also the broader adoption of digital commerce across different sectors [6].

Core Insights - The discussion focused on the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) and its performance in the current market environment [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - The Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) is highlighted as a significant investment vehicle for those interested in online retail [1] - The podcast features insights from Todd Rosenbluth, who is the Head of Research at VettaFi, providing expert analysis on the ETF's strategy and market positioning [1] Group 2: Market Context - The conversation takes place within the context of broader market trends affecting online retail and ETFs [1] - The podcast aims to inform investors about potential opportunities and strategies related to the online retail sector [1]

Core Insights - The Census Bureau's Advance Retail Sales Report for September indicates that consumer spending was lower than expected, with a 0.2% increase in headline sales compared to the anticipated 0.4% growth [1] - Total retail and food services sales for September 2025 reached $733.3 billion, marking a 4.3% increase from September 2024 [1] - Core retail sales, excluding automobiles, rose by 0.3% in September, down from 0.6% in August, and are up 4.1% year-over-year [4] Retail Sales Performance - Retail trade sales increased by 0.1% from August 2025 and 3.9% from the previous year, with nonstore retailers seeing a 6.0% increase and food service establishments up 6.7% year-over-year [2] - Monthly retail sales have shown consistent growth since March 2021, reflecting pent-up consumer demand post-pandemic, with a year-over-year increase of 4.3% [3] Control Purchases Analysis - Retail sales control purchases, which provide a more stable view of the economy, fell by 0.1% in September, contrasting with the expected 0.3% growth [5] - Year-over-year, control purchases are up 4.2%, indicating a steady trend despite the recent monthly decline [6] Market Implications - The retail sales data is likely to influence interest in various retail-focused ETFs, including SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) and VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) [8]

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is a smart beta ETF launched on June 19, 2006, designed to provide broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary sector [1] - XRT has accumulated over $284.35 million in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the S&P Retail Select Industry Index, which is a modified equal weight index representing the retail sub-industry of the S&P Total Market Index [6] Fund Characteristics - XRT has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, positioning it as one of the cheaper options in the ETF space [7] - The fund offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [7] - The portfolio is heavily allocated to the Consumer Discretionary sector, comprising approximately 78.7% of total assets [8] Holdings and Performance - Etsy Inc (ETSY) is the largest holding, accounting for about 1.77% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 16.11% of total assets under management [9] - As of November 7, 2025, XRT has experienced a year-to-date loss of approximately -0.37% and a one-year increase of about 1.3% [11] - The fund has a beta of 1.24 and a standard deviation of 23.78% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [11] Alternatives - Alternatives to XRT include the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) and the VanEck Retail ETF (RTH), with respective assets of $147.61 million and $253.07 million [13] - IBUY has an expense ratio of 0.65%, while RTH has an expense ratio of 0.35% [13]

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) is a passively managed ETF launched on June 19, 2006, providing broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary - Retail segment of the equity market [1][3] - The ETF has assets over $240.88 million and aims to match the performance of the S&P Retail Select Industry Index [3][4] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.3% [5] Sector Overview - The Consumer Discretionary - Retail sector is ranked 8th among the 16 Zacks sectors, placing it in the top 50% [2] - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 78.4% in the Consumer Discretionary sector, followed by Consumer Staples [6] Holdings and Performance - Etsy Inc (ETSY) is the largest holding at about 1.77% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 16.11% of total assets [7] - The ETF has gained about 2.64% year-to-date and approximately 6.45% over the past year, with a trading range between $62.11 and $88.49 in the last 52 weeks [8] Risk Assessment - The ETF has a beta of 1.24 and a standard deviation of 23.73% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8] Alternatives - Alternatives to XRT include the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) and the VanEck Retail ETF (RTH), with IBUY having $153.02 million in assets and RTH having $255.46 million [11]

Core Insights - The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) is a passively managed fund launched on December 20, 2011, aimed at providing exposure to the Consumer Discretionary - Retail segment of the equity market [1][3] Fund Overview - RTH has accumulated assets of over $252.67 million, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF [3] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the MVIS US Listed Retail 25 Index, which includes various retail distribution companies [4] Cost Structure - The annual operating expense ratio for RTH is 0.35%, making it one of the more cost-effective options in the market [5] - The ETF has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.71% [5] Sector Exposure and Holdings - Approximately 58.3% of RTH's portfolio is allocated to the Consumer Discretionary sector, with Consumer Staples and Healthcare following [6] - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) constitutes about 20.42% of total assets, with Walmart Inc (WMT) and Costco Wholesale Corp (COST) also among the top holdings [7] - The top 10 holdings represent around 71.58% of total assets under management [7] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, RTH has returned approximately 9.39%, and it has increased by about 24.22% over the last 12 months as of August 12, 2025 [8] - The ETF has traded between $199.86 and $245.705 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.89 and a standard deviation of 15.79% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [8] Alternatives - RTH carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to the Consumer Discretionary ETFs [9] - Other alternatives include the Amplify Online Retail ETF (IBUY) and the SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT), with respective assets of $149.21 million and $324.20 million [10]