This monthly article offers a top-down view of the information technology sector based on value, quality, and momentum metrics. It may also help analyze sector ETFs such as Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLKFred Piard, PhD. is a quantitative analyst and IT professional with over 30 years of experience working in technology. He is the author of three books and has been investing in data-driven systematic strategies since 2010. Fred runs the investing group Quantitative Risk & Value where he shares a por ...

The AMEX:XLE underwent a 1-for-2 stock split, effectively doubling the stock price and halving the number of shares.The current price of XLE is $92.22, with a slight increase of $0.39 or 0.42%.State Street Investment Management expands its role, aiming to enhance the investor experience by unifying product offerings and marketing strategies.On December 5, 2025, the AMEX:XLE underwent a 1-for-2 split. This means that for every two shares an investor held, they now have one share, effectively doubling the sto ...

Core Insights - The State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF (XNTK) is a smart beta ETF launched on September 25, 2000, providing broad exposure to the technology sector [1] - XNTK has accumulated over $1.48 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in the technology category [5] - The fund aims to match the performance of the NYSE Technology Index, which includes 35 leading U.S.-listed technology companies [5] Fund Management and Costs - XNTK is managed by State Street Investment Management and has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.35%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [6] - The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.24% [6] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation of approximately 74% in the Information Technology sector, with Consumer Discretionary and Telecom also being notable sectors [7] - Palantir Technologies Inc A (PLTR) constitutes about 5.23% of the fund's total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 39.83% of total assets under management [8] Performance Metrics - XNTK has experienced a gain of about 38.96% year-to-date and approximately 34.99% over the past year, with a trading range between $164.46 and $294.46 in the last 52 weeks [10] - The ETF has a beta of 1.31 and a standard deviation of 24.86% over the trailing three-year period, indicating more concentrated exposure compared to peers [10] Alternatives in the Market - Other ETFs in the technology space include the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) and the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT), with XLK having $94.76 billion in assets and VGT at $114.19 billion [12] - XLK has a lower expense ratio of 0.08%, while VGT charges 0.09% [12]

Core Insights - Expectations for a December rate cut from the U.S. Federal Reserve have intensified, with major banks and market participants increasingly viewing it as the most likely scenario [1][2] - The CME FedWatch tool indicates an 85% probability of a quarter-point reduction in December, influenced by weak payroll and inflation data [2][3] - A cooling labor market and limited hiring are pressuring policymakers to stimulate growth, making a rate cut imminent to support the labor market and guard against economic downturns [3] Sectors Poised to Benefit From Lower Rates - **Technology Stocks**: Lower rates increase the present value of future profits, significantly boosting current valuations for high-growth technology companies [5] - **Small-Cap Stocks**: These companies are more sensitive to domestic economic conditions and benefit from reduced debt servicing costs and increased access to affordable capital [6] - **Financials**: Banks with diversified operations may see improved loan activity due to lower rates [6] - **Consumer Discretionary & Utilities**: Lower interest rates enhance consumer credit access and spending power, benefiting profit margins in consumer discretionary companies, while utilities benefit from reduced financing costs [7] ETFs to Consider - **Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK)**: AUM of $91.47 billion, exposure to 70 tech companies, top holdings include Nvidia (14.24%) and Apple (13.49%), has gained 22.6% year to date [9][10] - **iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)**: AUM of $71.69 billion, exposure to 1,958 small-cap U.S. companies, has gained 12.8% year to date [11] - **Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)**: AUM of $51.45 billion, exposure to 75 financial services companies, has risen 10.7% year to date [12][13] - **Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY)**: AUM of $23 billion, exposure to 49 consumer discretionary companies, has gained 5.4% year to date [14][15] - **Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)**: AUM of $22.07 billion, exposure to 31 utility companies, has surged 21.4% year to date [16][17]

Group 1: Government Shutdown and Economic Impact - The Senate has passed a bipartisan agreement to potentially end the U.S. government shutdown, indicating a resolution may be near [1] - The shutdown has incurred significant costs, with the travel sector losing approximately $1 billion per week, increasing pressure for a compromise [4] - The lack of critical economic data due to the shutdown creates uncertainty for the Federal Reserve and businesses, adding urgency to resolve the situation [5] - Industry groups are pushing for a restoration of government functions before economic damage becomes irreversible [6] Group 2: Investment Opportunities in ETFs - The final days of a government shutdown often present unique investment opportunities, as markets anticipate resolutions and begin pricing in a return to normalcy [2] - Investing in top-tier ETFs is recommended over individual stocks, as ETFs provide diversification and mitigate risks associated with single stock performance [9] - The following ETFs are highlighted as balanced ways to re-engage with equities during the market transition [10] Group 3: ETF Details - **Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV)**: AUM of $36.86 billion, exposure to 60 companies, year-to-date gain of 7.7%, fees of 8 bps, Zacks ETF Rank 1 [11][12] - **Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK)**: AUM of $92.93 billion, exposure to 69 companies, year-to-date surge of 24.5%, fees of 8 bps, Zacks ETF Rank 1 [13][14] - **SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)**: AUM of $693.69 billion, exposure to 503 large-cap U.S. companies, year-to-date increase of 15.5%, fees of 9 bps, Zacks ETF Rank 2 [15]

Core Insights - The third-quarter 2025 earnings season is commencing, with key reports from companies like Pepsi and Delta Airlines expected this week [1] - 19 S&P 500 members have already reported fiscal results for the August quarter, including FedEx and Oracle, with major banking earnings set to start mid-October [2] - Q3 earnings are projected to increase by 5.5% year-over-year, supported by a 6.1% rise in revenues, following strong growth rates in the previous two quarters [3][4] Earnings Growth Projections - Six out of the 16 Zacks sectors are expected to report earnings above the previous year's levels in Q3, with total S&P 500 earnings anticipated to grow by 9.5% for the entire year [5] - Aerospace sector is projected to see a remarkable 248.9% earnings growth with a 10.1% increase in revenues for Q3 [6] - Technology sector is expected to achieve 12% earnings growth alongside 12.7% revenue growth in Q3, following strong performance in Q2 [7] - Finance sector is forecasted to experience 10.1% earnings growth with 5.8% revenue growth in Q3 [8] Sectors Expected to Decline - Auto sector is anticipated to face a significant earnings decline of 31.8% due to a 4.9% drop in revenues [9] - Construction sector is projected to lose 13.7% in earnings despite a slight revenue increase of 1.0% [10] - Transportation sector is expected to see a 7.7% earnings loss attributed to a 0.3% revenue decline [11]

Core Insights - The U.S. stock market appears calm with the VIX at around 16, but significant uncertainties remain [1][2] - Ongoing U.S. government shutdown risks and recent Federal Reserve interest rate cuts create a complex market environment [2] - Risk-averse investors may prefer ETFs over individual stocks to mitigate potential losses from company-specific issues [3][4] ETF Advantages - ETFs provide instant diversification, spreading risk across multiple stocks, which helps moderate volatility [5] - They combine diversification with liquidity and transparency, allowing for quick adjustments to market conditions [5] - Sector-specific ETFs enable cautious investors to engage in market gains while limiting exposure to individual company risks [6] Attractive Sectors for Q4 - The Technology sector remains appealing for capital appreciation despite challenges from high interest rates [7] - The Utilities sector offers stability and reliable dividends, making it a classic defensive investment [8] - Financial stocks may benefit from rate cuts, potentially enhancing lending activity and net interest margins [8] Top ETFs to Consider - **Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK)**: Focuses on tech industries with top holdings in Nvidia (14.86%), Microsoft (12.57%), and Apple (12.33%); gained 22.4% year-to-date [10][11] - **Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)**: Includes electric and water utilities with top holdings in NextEra Energy (11.58%) and The Southern Company (7.77%); surged 16.4% year-to-date [12][13] - **Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF)**: Covers financial services with top holdings in Berkshire Hathaway (11.92%), JP Morgan Chase (11.21%), and Visa (7.50%); increased 10.5% year-to-date [14]

Core Insights - The Pacer Data and Digital Revolution ETF (TRFK) launched on June 8, 2022, aims to provide broad exposure to the Technology - Broad segment of the equity market [1] - The ETF has gained popularity among retail and institutional investors due to its low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency [1] Fund Overview - TRFK is sponsored by Pacer ETFs and has accumulated over $203.34 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF in its category [3] - The fund seeks to match the performance of the PACER DATA TRANSMISN & COMM REVOLUTN INDEX, focusing on companies deriving at least 50% of their revenues from data-related activities [4] Cost Structure - The annual operating expense ratio for TRFK is 0.49%, which is competitive with most peer products in the ETF space [5] Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation in the Information Technology sector, comprising approximately 92.3% of the portfolio [6] - Broadcom Inc (AVGO) is the largest holding at about 10.02%, followed by Nvidia Corp (NVDA) and Oracle Corp (ORCL) [6] - The top 10 holdings represent around 57.39% of total assets under management [7] Performance Metrics - As of October 2, 2025, TRFK has returned approximately 35.27% year-to-date and 49.25% over the past year [8] - The fund has traded between $38.975 and $68.34 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 1.29 and a standard deviation of 27.58% over the trailing three-year period [8] Investment Alternatives - TRFK holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating strong potential for investors seeking exposure to Technology ETFs [9] - Other notable ETFs in the sector include Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) with $90.65 billion in assets and Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) with $108.42 billion [10]

Economic Outlook - The Federal Reserve has upgraded its U.S. economic growth outlook, expecting GDP to rise 1.6% in 2025, accelerating to 1.8% in 2026 and 1.9% in 2027 [2] - The Fed's dovish stance has led to increased optimism on Wall Street, with strategists from Wells Fargo, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank raising their S&P 500 targets due to resilient earnings, the AI investment cycle, and the prospect of lower rates [3] Market Performance - The S&P 500 has gained about 3.40% so far in September, rebounding around 33% since early April [1] - The S&P Global US PMI Composite Output Index was at 54.6 in August, indicating solid U.S. growth despite a slight decrease from July's 55.1 [5] - Financials and technology sectors were highlighted as top performers in August, contributing to the recent gains in the S&P 500 [5] Sector ETFs - The Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) has gained 13.73% over the past three months and 19.87% over the past year, with major allocations to Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL) [7] - The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) has gained 6.34% over the past three months and 19.81% over the past year, with significant exposure to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) [8] - The Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF has gained 6.67% over the past three months and 17.23% over the past year, with RTX Corporation also included in its holdings [10] Health Care Sector - The Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) has an asset base of $33.76 billion and charges an annual fee of 0.08%, with top allocations to Eli Lilly (LLY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and AbbVie (ABBV) [11] - Despite a 10.55% decline over the past year, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF has gained 2.54% quarter to date and 0.27% month to date [10][12]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) offers broad exposure to the Technology - Broad segment of the equity market, appealing to both institutional and retail investors due to its low cost and transparency [1][2]. Group 1: ETF Overview - IGM is a passively managed ETF launched on March 13, 2001, with assets exceeding $8.63 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs in its category [1][3]. - The ETF aims to match the performance of the S&P North American Technology Sector Index, which includes North American equities in technology and select equities from communication services and consumer discretionary sectors [3][4]. Group 2: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expenses for IGM are 0.39%, positioning it as a cost-effective option in the ETF space, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.22% [5]. - The ETF has gained approximately 14.96% year-to-date and 26.17% over the past year, with a trading range between $79.8 and $119.02 in the last 52 weeks [8]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Holdings - IGM has a significant allocation of about 76.3% in the Information Technology sector, followed by Telecom [6]. - Nvidia Corp (NVDA) constitutes about 9.8% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 58.28% of total assets under management [7]. Group 4: Risk and Alternatives - The ETF has a beta of 1.27 and a standard deviation of 24.75% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8]. - IGM holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting it is a favorable option for investors seeking exposure to the Technology ETFs segment [9].