After a tumultuous ride at the start of the month, Wall Street has regained momentum and extended its longest bull run in history with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting new highs. Notably, the Dow Jones soared to its first record high since late January. This suggests that the stock market is showing strong complacency, shrugging trade war fears.
The optimism is backed by strong earnings and economic growth. The American economy is on a solid growth path. U.S. GDP growth expanded 4.2% annually in the second quarter, representing the fastest pace of growth in nearly four years. The unemployment rate dropped to nearly a two-decade low of 3.9%, while consumer confidence jumped to the highest level since October 2000. Historic tax cuts, higher government spending, and deregulation are fueling growth.
Meanwhile, earnings growth in the second quarter reached its highest level since 2010. The trend of double-digit growth is expected to continue in Q3 as well, per the latest Earnings Trends report.
A rising rate scenario also signals a strengthening economy, which is spurring growth in the stock market. The wave of mergers and acquisitions and record buybacks are adding to the strength.
While there have been winners in many corners of the space, we highlight eight ETFs that have outperformed the market in the year-to-date time frame. These have a strong Zacks ETF Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), suggesting that their outperformance may continue for the rest of the year, provided the fundamentals remain intact.
Invesco S&P SmallCap Health Care ETF (PSCH – Free Report) – Up 43.7%
This ETF provides exposure to the healthcare sector of the U.S. small-cap segment, charging 29 bps in annual fees and has amassed $1.3 billion in its asset base. It is home to 69 stocks and sports a Zacks ETF Rank #1 with a High-risk outlook.
Invesco Dynamic Software ETF (PSJ – Free Report) – Up 35.3%
This ETF provides exposure to the software segment of the broader U.S. technology space and holds a small basket of 30 stocks. It charges 63 bps in annual fees and has AUM of $289.6 million. The product has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 with a High-risk outlook.
