Core Insights - The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Technology - Broad segment of the equity market and has been passively managed since its launch on December 16, 1998 [1] Fund Overview - XLK has amassed assets over $90.51 billion, making it the largest ETF in the Technology - Broad segment [3] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the Technology Select Sector Index before fees and expenses [3] - The fund has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.08%, making it one of the least expensive options in the market [5] Sector and Holdings - The Technology Select Sector Index includes various industries such as computers & peripherals, software, telecommunications, and semiconductors [4] - The ETF has a 100% allocation in the Information Technology sector [6] - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) accounts for approximately 14.79% of total assets, with Apple Inc (AAPL) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT) also being significant holdings; the top 10 holdings represent about 61.36% of total assets [7] Performance Metrics - As of February 11, 2026, the ETF has lost about 0.99% year-to-date but is up approximately 21.36% over the past year [8] - The ETF has traded between $89.865 and $152.065 in the past 52 weeks [8] - It has a beta of 1.23 and a standard deviation of 22.74% over the trailing three-year period, indicating medium risk [8] Investment Ranking - XLK holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [10] - Other alternatives in the space include iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), with respective assets of $20.36 billion and $112.72 billion [11]

Three of the smallest sectors in the S&P 500 delivered the index's strongest performance in January, while the two largest sectors weighed on returns. The broad market index gained modest ground last month, with the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) up 0.6%, according to ETF Database. Beneath that muted headline number, though, sector performance told a much different story. The $32.7 billion State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) jumped 14.4% in January, leading all sectors despite energy ...

Core Insights - The article compares two technology-focused ETFs, the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and the Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (FTEC), highlighting their differences in diversification, holdings, and risk [1][2]. Cost and Size - Both XLK and FTEC have an identical expense ratio of 0.08% and XLK has a significantly larger asset under management (AUM) of $92 billion compared to FTEC's $17 billion [3]. - XLK offers a slightly higher dividend yield of 0.54% versus FTEC's 0.43% [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, XLK experienced a maximum drawdown of -33.56%, while FTEC had a slightly larger drawdown of -34.95% [4]. - An investment of $1,000 would have grown to $2,129 in XLK and $2,210 in FTEC over the same period [4]. Portfolio Composition - FTEC tracks the MSCI USA IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index and holds 289 stocks, with its top three positions (Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple) comprising over 44% of its assets [5]. - XLK has only 70 holdings, with its top three stocks making up just under 40% of the fund [6]. Diversification and Holdings - FTEC is more diversified with over four times as many holdings as XLK, but it has a heavier concentration in its top three holdings [8]. - The difference in concentration could lead to varying total returns based on the performance of Nvidia, Microsoft, or Apple [9]. Liquidity Considerations - XLK's larger AUM provides greater liquidity, allowing for larger transactions without significant price swings, which may be a consideration for investors [10].

Core Viewpoint - A noticeable split is forming within the technology sector, with blockchain and digital asset companies significantly outperforming traditional tech leaders in early 2026 [1] Performance Comparison - The Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF (BLOK) has increased by 11.78% year-to-date as of January 27, 2026, while the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has only risen by 2.83% during the same period [1] Reasons for BLOK's Outperformance - BLOK's active management and exposure to dynamic segments of the digital asset market contribute to its strong performance [1] - The crypto market revival, particularly the renewed strength of Bitcoin and Ethereum, has positively impacted companies supporting the crypto ecosystem [1] - BLOK includes companies applying blockchain technology to enterprise use cases, which are seeing growing institutional adoption [1] - Unlike XLK, BLOK has a broader exposure to smaller, faster-growing companies, reducing concentration risk and allowing individual winners to significantly impact performance [1] Key Holdings Contributing to BLOK's Performance - Cipher Mining (CIFR) - 3.73% weight, focused on industrial-scale bitcoin mining [1] - Robinhood Markets (HOOD) - 3.74% weight, benefiting from increased retail crypto trading volumes [1] - CleanSpark (CLSK) - 3.77% weight, known for sustainable bitcoin mining practices [1] - Hut 8 Corp. (HUT) - 4.08% weight, expanding into high-performance computing and AI data center hosting [1] - Galaxy Digital (GLXY) - 5.00% weight, providing investment banking and asset management services in the digital asset space [1] Key Themes to Monitor - Mining stocks are a major performance driver, with three of the top five holdings directly tied to bitcoin production [1] - Companies like Hut 8 and Galaxy Digital are diversifying into AI infrastructure and data center services, adding a second growth narrative [1] - BLOK's active management strategy allows it to focus on outperforming infrastructure plays while capping individual positions around 5%, avoiding top-heavy exposure typical of traditional tech ETFs [1]

Core Insights - The iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) focuses specifically on semiconductor companies, while the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) offers broader exposure to the technology sector at a lower cost [1][5] Fund Comparison - SOXX consists of 30 positions entirely within the technology sector, heavily weighted towards semiconductors, with major holdings in Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, and Nvidia [2] - XLK holds approximately 70 stocks, covering a wide range of technology subindustries, including hardware, software, IT services, and communications equipment, with top positions in Nvidia (13.72%), Apple (12.82%), and Microsoft (11.17%) [3] Performance Metrics - SOXX has achieved a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1%, but has also faced significant volatility, including a maximum drawdown of over 45% in 2022 [6] - XLK has a five-year CAGR of 18.6% and a maximum drawdown of 33.5%, indicating greater stability compared to SOXX [7] Cost and Yield - The expense ratio for SOXX is 0.34%, while XLK is significantly lower at 0.08%, with yields of 0.62% for SOXX and 0.55% for XLK [4][6] Investor Suitability - More conservative investors may prefer XLK due to its lower fees and reduced historical drawdowns, while aggressive investors might be attracted to SOXX's higher returns and concentrated sector focus [8]

Core Viewpoint - A new ETF issuer, VegaShares, has filed with the SEC for 16 highly leveraged funds, despite previous warnings from the SEC regarding the violation of leverage limits [2][3]. Group 1: SEC Filings and Regulatory Context - VegaShares is attempting to launch 16 funds that would utilize 3X or 4X leverage on various large ETFs, amidst a backdrop of at least nine other companies having received warning letters from the SEC for similar filings [2]. - The SEC has indicated that leverage beyond 200% is incompatible with Rule 18f-4, raising questions about how these new filings will comply with regulatory standards [3]. Group 2: Market Implications and Strategies - The timing of these filings is seen as perplexing, suggesting that issuers may be engaging in regulatory brinkmanship or betting on the SEC's leniency regarding leverage rules [3][4]. - The investment advisor behind VegaShares, Vega Capital Partners, has not previously launched any ETFs and has not commented on the filings [4]. Group 3: Specific Fund Details - The initial prospectuses filed include five funds seeking 3X exposure to various ETFs such as the Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund ETF (VT) and VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) [5]. - Additionally, there are 11 funds seeking 4X exposure to ETFs including QQQ, SPY, and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) [5].

Core Viewpoint - The comparison between Roundhill Investments' Generative AI & Technology ETF (CHAT) and State Street's Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) highlights two distinct investment strategies in the technology sector, with CHAT focusing on generative AI and XLK providing broad exposure to established market leaders [1][8]. Cost and Size - CHAT has an expense ratio of 0.75% and assets under management (AUM) of $1 billion, while XLK has a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% and AUM of $93.46 billion [3][4]. - The one-year return for CHAT is 44.6%, compared to XLK's 21.9% [3]. Performance and Risk Comparison - Over five years, CHAT has a maximum drawdown of -31.34%, while XLK has a drawdown of -33.56% [5]. - An investment of $1,000 would grow to $2,243 in CHAT and $2,207 in XLK over the same period [5]. Fund Composition - XLK consists of approximately 70 companies, with 99% of its assets in technology, focusing on major players like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft [6]. - CHAT invests in 52 stocks, with 83% in technology, 11% in communication services, and 6% in consumer cyclicals, including major holdings like Alphabet, Nvidia, and Microsoft [7]. Investment Strategy - XLK mirrors the S&P 500 technology sector, relying on established companies for returns, while CHAT actively targets firms involved in generative AI, which may lead to more variability in performance [8][10]. - The distinction between the two funds lies in whether investors prefer exposure to current market leaders or a forward-looking approach that anticipates future value creation through generative AI [11].

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (XNTK) is a passively managed ETF launched on September 25, 2000, providing broad exposure to the Technology - Broad segment of the equity market [1] - XNTK has gained popularity among retail and institutional investors due to its low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making it suitable for long-term investment [1] Fund Overview - Sponsored by State Street Investment Management, XNTK has over $1.5 billion in assets, positioning it as one of the larger ETFs in the Technology - Broad segment [3] - The ETF aims to match the performance of the NYSE Technology Index, which includes 35 leading U.S.-listed technology companies [3] Cost Structure - XNTK has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, making it one of the least expensive options in its category [4] - The ETF offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.24% [4] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 72.3% in the Information Technology sector, with Consumer Discretionary and Telecom as the next largest sectors [5] - Palantir Technologies Inc A (PLTR) constitutes about 5.09% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing approximately 41.49% of total assets under management [6] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, XNTK has returned roughly 38.67%, and it has increased approximately 37.21% over the last 12 months as of December 22, 2025 [7] - The ETF has traded between $164.461 and $294.46 in the past 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.31 and a standard deviation of 24.77% over the trailing three-year period [7] Investment Alternatives - XNTK holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating favorable expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum [8] - Other ETFs in the technology space include the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), with XLK having $93.47 billion in assets and VGT $112.27 billion [10]

Core Insights - The article compares two leading technology ETFs: State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and iShares US Technology ETF (IYW), highlighting their differences in cost, yield, and sector focus [1][2]. Cost & Size Comparison - XLK has a lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to IYW's 0.38%, making it more affordable for long-term investors [3][4]. - As of December 12, 2025, the one-year return for IYW is 20.8% while XLK is at 20.7% [3]. - XLK offers a higher dividend yield of 0.5% compared to IYW's 0.1% [10]. - Assets Under Management (AUM) for XLK is $95.6 billion, while IYW has $21.4 billion, indicating XLK's greater liquidity [3][11]. Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, IYW experienced a maximum drawdown of 39.43%, while XLK had a lower drawdown of 33.55% [5]. - The growth of a $1,000 investment over five years would yield $2,413 for IYW and $2,303 for XLK [5]. Holdings & Sector Focus - XLK focuses on the S&P 500's technology sector with 72 stocks, heavily weighted towards industry giants like Nvidia (13.71%), Apple (12.82%), and Microsoft (11.16%) [6]. - IYW holds 142 stocks, providing broader exposure including communication services, with top holdings of Nvidia (15.46%), Apple (15.42%), and Microsoft (13.44%) [7]. Investor Considerations - Both ETFs have similar performance and holdings, but XLK's lower costs and higher yield may appeal more to cost-conscious investors [8][12].

Core Insights - The article compares two technology-focused ETFs, XLK and FTEC, highlighting their similarities and differences in terms of holdings, assets under management (AUM), and performance metrics [5][6][9]. Fund Overview - FTEC includes 294 holdings, providing broader exposure to U.S. tech, while XLK focuses on 70 companies within the S&P 500, heavily weighted towards larger firms [1][2]. - The top three holdings for both ETFs are Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple, with Nvidia having a higher weight in FTEC [1][2]. Performance and Metrics - Both ETFs have an expense ratio of 0.08%, making them equally affordable [3][6]. - XLK has a higher trailing one-year return and a slightly larger dividend yield compared to FTEC [3][6]. - AUM for XLK is significantly larger at $95.6 billion, compared to FTEC's $16.6 billion, indicating better liquidity for XLK [8][9]. Diversification and Risk - FTEC offers greater portfolio breadth with nearly 300 holdings, which may provide additional diversification despite many smaller positions [7][9]. - Both funds exhibit nearly identical performance and risk metrics, relying on major tech companies for their returns [6][9].