Top-Performing Subsectors in the S&P 500 Index in 2017
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 
View from the Observation Deck  
  1. Today's blog post is for those investors who want to drill down below the sector level to see what is performing well in the stock market.
  2. The S&P 500 Index is currently comprised of 11 sectors and 125 subsectors, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
  3. Of the 15 subsectors featured in the chart, nearly half (7) are classified as Consumer Discretionary. Four are classified as Information Technology. 
  4. As of 11/30/17, the most heavily weighted sector in the S&P 500 Index was Information Technology at 24.0%, while Consumer Discretionary was the fourth-largest at 12.1%, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. 
  5. The 15 top-performing subsectors in the chart have price-only returns ranging from 44.37% (Publishing & Printing) to 70.90% (Homebuilding).
  6. For comparative purposes, the S&P 500 Information Technology Index was the top-performing sector index over the period, with a price-only return of 35.70%, according to Bloomberg. The S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary Index was up 18.64%. The S&P 500 Index rose 17.78%. 
  7. There are a growing number of packaged products, such as exchange-traded funds, that feature index subsectors. 

This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. The illustration excludes the effects of taxes and brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred when investing. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The S&P 500 is a capitalization-weighted index comprised of 500 stocks (currently 505) used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance, while the S&P sector and subsector indices are capitalization-weighted and comprised of S&P 500 constituents representing a specific sector or industry.

Download a PDF of this post, please click here. 
Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 @ 3:19 PM

These posts were prepared by First Trust Advisors L.P., and reflect the current opinion of the authors. They are based upon sources and data believed to be accurate and reliable. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed are subject to change without notice. This information does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security.