Market Trends & Performance - Big bank stocks have performed strongly this year, with the six largest US banks reporting strong Q3 results exceeding expectations [2][5] - The sixth-largest bank in the US earned approximately $41 billion, a 19% year-over-year increase [3] - Regional banks have underperformed due to higher exposure to commercial real estate and pressured sectors, lacking the tailwinds from trading and investment banking that benefited big banks [6] - Anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts could further benefit banks, particularly with a steeper yield curve and resilient economy, potentially widening net interest margins and strengthening loan demand [7] ETF Analysis - The Financial Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) is a popular and cheap bank ETF with $54 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 8 basis points, holding S&P 500 financial stocks [8] - Berkshire Hathaway, with a 12% weighting, is a top holding in XLF, but its underperformance has slightly impacted XLF's overall returns [9][10] - The Invesco KBW Bank ETF (KBWB) holds money center banks, regional banks, and thrift institutions, with a higher weighting towards bigger banks, managing $59 billion in assets with a 35 basis points expense ratio [11][12] - The SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) focuses on US regional banks, following an equal weighting scheme with approximately 140 holdings, $37 billion in assets, and a 35 basis points expense ratio [14] Investment Opportunities & Risks - Major banks are leading in AI adoption, reporting measurable cost savings and efficiency gains [5] - Banks are positioned to benefit from lighter regulatory scrutiny [4] - KBWB has shown the best performance, up about 28%, XLF is up about 12%, and KRE is up about 10% year to date [15]