S&P 500 sector performance (2026)
Energy leads at +37.6%, while Consumer Discretionary trails at -8.9%. All eleven sectors are ranked by year-to-date price return using liquid Select Sector ETF proxies.
Performance as of market close, Sep 30, 2026. Returns are price returns; distributions are not included. Not investment advice.
All S&P 500 sectors ranked by performance#
Sort any return column. The ticker is the liquid ETF used as that sector's investable performance proxy.
Columns (8 shown)
| Sector | 1Y1Y chart | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1XLEEnergy | -0.10% | -1.4% | -1.9% | +15.1% | +37.6% | +37.7% | +136.1% | $61.48 | $36B | +2.47% | +2.47% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 2XLKTechnology | +0.63% | +0.2% | +5.4% | +3.0% | +36.0% | +38.9% | +162.2% | $195.72 | $124B | +0.43% | +0.43% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 3XLVHealth Care | -1.34% | -0.2% | -1.6% | +5.6% | +8.8% | +21.0% | +32.3% | $168.44 | $41B | +1.49% | +1.49% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 4XLIIndustrials | -1.29% | -1.8% | -5.7% | -9.6% | +7.6% | +8.3% | +70.7% | $166.94 | $34B | +1.11% | +1.11% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 5XLBMaterials | -0.83% | -3.1% | -8.4% | -4.4% | +7.4% | +8.7% | +23.1% | $48.69 | $8B | +1.76% | +1.76% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 6XLPConsumer Staples | -1.54% | -2.2% | -5.7% | -3.4% | +3.8% | +2.8% | +17.1% | $80.59 | $14B | +2.68% | +2.68% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 7XLREReal Estate | -1.04% | -2.2% | -8.0% | -7.7% | +1.4% | -2.9% | -8.0% | $40.91 | $8B | +3.49% | +3.49% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 8XLFFinancials | -1.19% | -2.1% | -8.1% | -0.4% | -2.5% | -0.9% | +42.3% | $53.37 | $51B | +1.53% | +1.53% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 9XLCCommunication Services | -0.44% | -1.4% | -1.8% | +3.5% | -5.7% | -6.3% | +38.5% | $110.98 | $22B | +1.24% | +1.24% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 10XLUUtilities | -0.71% | -0.8% | -7.7% | -13.9% | -7.6% | -9.6% | +23.5% | $39.43 | $23B | +3.05% | +3.05% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — | |
| 11XLYConsumer Discretionary | -0.27% | -1.6% | -7.1% | -7.2% | -8.9% | -9.2% | +21.3% | $108.86 | $23B | +0.86% | +0.86% | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.08% | — | — | — |
Methodology#
Each sector is represented by its SPDR Select Sector ETF: XLK, XLF, XLV, XLY, XLP, XLE, XLI, XLB, XLU, XLRE or XLC. Returns come from split- and dividend-adjusted closes and therefore approximate total return with distributions reinvested. ETF proxies avoid the survivorship bias of applying today's constituent list to older periods. They can differ slightly from an official sector-index calculation because of fund fees, tracking difference and the funds' own operating details.
For composition rather than returns, see S&P 500 sector weights.
ChartRow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P Global, Nasdaq, Inc., Robert Shiller, RSBB-I, LLC, or Yale University. "S&P 500®" and "Dow Jones®" are registered trademarks of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC; "Nasdaq-100®" is a registered trademark of Nasdaq, Inc.; "CAPE®" is a registered trademark of RSBB-I, LLC. They are used here only to identify the indexes and series discussed. All index-related figures on this page are independently derived from public sources — SEC filings, the public Shiller S&P 500 monthly series, and our own computations — not from any index provider's data feed.
FAQ#
- What is the best-performing S&P 500 sector in 2026?
- Energy, represented by XLE, is the best-performing S&P 500 sector in 2026 so far at +37.6%.
- What is the worst-performing S&P 500 sector in 2026?
- Consumer Discretionary, represented by XLY, is the worst-performing S&P 500 sector in 2026 so far at -8.9%.
- Do these sector returns include dividends?
- No. Each sector's figures are the price return of its sector ETF: the change in the fund's split-adjusted price, the way quote screens report it. Distributions are not reinvested.
- Why use sector ETFs instead of today's S&P 500 companies?
- ETF histories preserve the investable sector experience through membership changes. Applying today's constituents to prior years would omit companies that left the index and create survivorship bias.
More on S&P 500
- Returns by year+11.8%
- Return drivers+17.7%
- Yearly charts+17.7%
- Trailing returns+14.5%
- YTD return+11.8%
- Return calculator$1,777
- Average return10%?
- Companies & weights500