Top-Performing S&P 500 Index Subsectors In 2020

Bob Carey
Chief Market Strategist

Bio
X • LinkedIn

Blog Home

Send Us Your Comments And Questions

RSS Feed

Top-Performing S&P 500 Index Subsectors In 2020

Posted Under: Sectors

View from the Observation Deck

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.
The S&P 500 Index is currently comprised of 11 sectors and 124 subsectors, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Of the 15 subsectors featured in the chart, four are classified as either Consumer Discretionary or Information Technology.
As of 9/30/20, the most heavily weighted sector in the S&P 500 Index was Information Technology at 28.2%, followed by Health Care at 14.2%, Consumer Discretionary at 11.6% and Communication Services at 10.8%, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.
The 15 top-performing subsectors in the chart posted total returns ranging from 27.11% (Semiconductors) to 59.72% (Internet & Direct Marketing Retail).
With respect to the 11 sectors, six posted positive total returns for the period captured in the chart.
From 12/31/19-9/29/20, the top-performing S&P 500 sector indices were Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, Communication Services and Materials, up 27.54%, 22.56%, 8.48% and 4.46%, respectively, on a total return basis, according to Bloomberg. The S&P 500 Index posted a total return of 4.70% for the period.
There are a growing number of packaged products, such as exchange-traded funds, that feature S&P 500 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 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 stocks 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 Thursday, October 1, 2020 @ 2:05 PM • Post Link

Printer Friendly

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.

Most Current Posts

<<< Newer Posts • Older Posts >>>

Search Posts

MARKET ANALYSIS

Market Commentary and Analysis
•	Monthly Talking Points
•	Market Observations

Subscribe To Receive Email

PREVIOUS POSTS
•	A Snapshot Of Bond Valuations
•	Sector Performance Via Market Capitalization (Year-to-Date)
•	S&P 500 Index Dividend Payout Holding Up But Stock Buybacks Plunge
•	One Way To Potentially Keep Pace With Rising Health Care Costs
•	A Global Snapshot Of Equity Returns During The COVID-19 Pandemic
•	A Performance Snapshot Of Three Traditional Wealth-Building Asset Classes
•	Natural Gas Prices Have Surged Of Late
•	A Snapshot of Growth vs. Value Investing
•	A Snapshot Of Moving Averages
•	E-Commerce Sales Are Thriving