Stock sector performance
U.S. Sector & Industry Rotation Dashboard — August 18, 2026
The August 18 data show a sharp one-day risk-off rotation, but the broader intermediate-term trend remains strongly bullish. The most important feature is the divergence between long-term leadership in energy, materials, technology and healthcare and short-term selling in cyclicals, construction, electronics and transportation.
Market Structure Snapshot
| Area | 1-Day | 1-Week | 1-Month | Longer-Term | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Market | -0.74% | -0.48% | +3.21% | +19.16% | 🟢 Buy |
| Large Cap | -0.52% | -0.67% | +3.09% | +19.17% | 🟢 Buy |
| Mid Cap | -0.97% | +0.06% | +3.32% | +17.26% | 🟢 Buy |
| Small Cap | -1.91% | -0.03% | +3.88% | +22.71% | 🟢 Buy |
| Technology | -1.72% | -0.76% | +3.92% | +29.52% | 🟢 Buy |
| Healthcare | +1.49% | +0.95% | +5.19% | +24.57% | 🟢 Buy |
| Financials | +0.27% | +0.17% | +1.84% | +10.63% | 🟢 Buy |
| Industrials | -2.04% | -1.60% | +2.55% | +20.90% | 🟢 Buy |
| Energy | +1.72% | +3.99% | +9.91% | +48.97% | 🟢 Buy |
| Materials | -0.96% | -1.89% | +5.54% | +24.14% | 🟢 Buy |
| Consumer Goods | +0.41% | +0.08% | -3.86% | -0.33% | 🔴 Sell |
| Utilities | -0.43% | +0.54% | -2.86% | +2.48% | 🔴 Sell |
🔥 Major Leadership Areas
Energy — Clear Momentum Leader
Energy is showing the strongest combination of short-term acceleration and long-term leadership.
- Oil & Gas: +1.72%
- Oil & Gas Producers: +1.83%
- Exploration & Production: +1.42%
- Integrated Oil & Gas: +2.13%
- Oil Equipment & Services: +1.37%
- Pipelines: +2.91%
- Oil & Gas overall: +9.91% 1-month
- Oil & Gas Producers: +50.91% longer-term
- Exploration & Production: +58.39%
- Oil Equipment & Services: +64.90%
Read: Energy is not simply a defensive rotation. It is a genuine momentum leadership group.
🧬 Healthcare — Major Defensive + Growth Rotation
Healthcare produced one of the strongest sector-level performances:
- Healthcare: +1.49%
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology: +1.96%
- Pharmaceuticals: +2.56%
- Biotechnology: +1.28%
- Healthcare Equipment & Services: +0.55%
- Medical Equipment: +0.66%
- Medical Supplies: +0.48%
The broader healthcare index is:
+5.19% over the month and +24.57% longer term.
Particularly strong
Pharmaceuticals
- +2.56% today
- +2.48% weekly
- +5.40% monthly
- +53.00% longer term
- 100% Buy
Biotechnology
- +1.28%
- +0.97%
- +6.75%
- +27.05%
- 88% Buy
Read: Healthcare is becoming one of the market’s most important relative-strength winners.
🏗️ Materials — Long-Term Bull, Short-Term Correction
Materials are experiencing profit-taking after a substantial run.
- Basic Materials: -0.96%
- Basic Resources: -3.01%
- Industrial Metals & Mining: -2.95%
- Mining: -3.08%
- Iron & Steel: -2.87%
- Nonferrous Metals: -3.01%
- Aluminum: -3.27%
But the longer-term numbers remain exceptional:
- Basic Resources: +61.26%
- Industrial Metals & Mining: +64.85%
- Mining: +62.15%
- Gold Mining: +67.31%
- Iron & Steel: +69.31%
- Nonferrous Metals: +58.85%
- Aluminum: +68.82%
Interpretation
This looks much more like profit-taking within a powerful uptrend than a confirmed breakdown.
The warning is that several metals groups are simultaneously losing momentum.
💻 Technology — Still a Core Bull Market Leader
Technology remains structurally strong despite the sharp August 18 selloff.
Technology
- -1.72% today
- -0.76% weekly
- +3.92% monthly
- +29.52% longer term
- 100% Buy
Large-Cap Technology
- -1.45%
- -1.18%
- +3.11%
- +26.52%
- 100% Buy
Semiconductor Complex
Semiconductors:
-3.72% today
but:
- +4.79% monthly
- +54.59% longer term
- 64% Buy
The total-stock-market semiconductor index is similarly strong:
+55.16% longer term.
Hardware is more vulnerable
Technology Hardware & Equipment:
-2.57% today
Electronic & Electrical Equipment:
-6.21%
Electrical Components & Equipment:
-5.83%
Electronic Equipment:
-6.96%
This is an important distinction.
The technology sector remains bullish, but the underlying leadership is becoming narrower.
🏦 Financials — Quiet but Healthy
Financials are holding up extremely well relative to the broader market.
- Financials: +0.27%
- Financial Services: +0.49%
- Banks: +0.09%
- Investment Services: -0.12%
- Asset Managers: -0.21%
- Insurance: +0.61%
Banks
U.S. Banks:
+27.09% longer term
with:
- +3.86% monthly
- +0.32% weekly
- 100% Buy
The total U.S. Banks index is also:
+27.03% longer term
Read: Financials are not leading the current rally, but they are providing an important stability signal.
✈️ Industrials — Significant Short-Term Breakdown
Industrials were among the biggest casualties.
Industrials: -2.04%
Other notable declines:
- Industrial Goods & Services: -1.91%
- Industrial Engineering: -2.64%
- Industrial Machinery: -1.50%
- Industrial Suppliers: -1.98%
- Diversified Industrials: -0.40%
- Industrial Transportation: -1.02%
- Commercial Vehicles & Trucks: -3.44%
- Heavy Construction: -4.84%
- Trucking: -3.02%
- Railroads: -0.52%
The longer-term picture is much better:
Industrials +20.90%
and Industrial Goods & Services:
+22.40%.
Important warning
The deterioration in construction and transportation deserves attention because these are economically sensitive groups.
🏠 Construction & Housing — Major Weak Spot
This is one of the clearest areas of weakness.
Construction & Materials
-3.04% today
- -3.01% weekly
- -0.35% monthly
- +10.28% longer term
- 8% Sell
Building Materials & Fixtures
-2.24%
- -5.08% weekly
- -2.40% monthly
- -2.54% longer term
- 8% Sell
Heavy Construction
-4.84%
Despite:
- +4.78% monthly
- +58.45% longer term
Only 16% Buy.
Home Construction
-1.67%
- -3.94% weekly
- -1.88% monthly
- -15.94% longer term
- 88% Sell
Home Improvement Retailers
- -0.12%
- -4.16% weekly
- +1.07% monthly
- -12.61% longer term
- 8% Sell
Read: Housing-related equities remain one of the clearest areas of structural weakness.
🛒 Consumer — Broadly Mixed to Weak
Consumer leadership is deteriorating.
Consumer Goods
+0.41% today
but:
- -3.86% monthly
- -0.33% longer term
- 72% Sell
Personal & Household Goods
- -3.98% monthly
- -8.29% longer term
- 24% Sell
Leisure Goods
-4.60% monthly
- -25.78% longer term
- 88% Sell
Recreational Products
-1.56% today
- -6.95% weekly
- -6.80% monthly
- -40.94% longer term
- 100% Sell
Footwear
+1.53% today, but:
- -3.28% weekly
- -9.77% monthly
- -39.67% longer term
- 100% Sell
Gambling
-2.00%
- -2.91% weekly
- -3.80% monthly
- -38.07% longer term
- 88% Sell
Read: Consumer weakness is much deeper than the headline Consumer Goods index suggests.
📡 Telecommunications — Tactical Rebound, Structural Weakness
Telecommunications gained:
+1.05% today
and:
+2.23% weekly
but remains:
-8.42% longer term.
Fixed-line telecommunications is even weaker:
-12.88% longer term.
Mobile telecommunications is:
-5.56% longer term.
The group is therefore showing a short-term rebound inside a longer-term downtrend.
🏢 REITs — Selective Recovery
Real estate is mixed.
Broad Real Estate
-0.39% today
- +1.25% weekly
- -2.08% monthly
- +9.14% longer term
- 56% Buy
REITs
-0.42%
- +1.29% weekly
- -2.51% monthly
- +12.83% longer term
- 56% Buy
Hotel & Lodging REITs
+48.90% longer term
with +2.82% weekly.
Industrial & Office REITs
+23.34% longer term
Retail REITs
+16.02% longer term
Specialty REITs
+12.72% longer term
But residential REITs remain weak:
-4.09% monthly / -0.39% longer term
Read: REITs are showing evidence of a selective recovery, but this is not yet a broad-based real-estate breakout.
🚨 Biggest One-Day Decliners
| Industry | 1-Day |
|---|---|
| Electronic Equipment | -6.96% |
| Electronic & Electrical Equipment | -6.21% |
| Electrical Components & Equipment | -5.83% |
| Heavy Construction | -4.84% |
| Semiconductors | -3.72% |
| Aluminum | -3.27% |
| Mining | -3.08% |
| Gold Mining | -3.08% |
| Basic Resources | -3.01% |
| Nonferrous Metals | -3.01% |
| Trucking | -3.02% |
| Industrial Metals & Mining | -2.95% |
| Iron & Steel | -2.87% |
| Telecommunications Equipment | -2.81% |
| Industrial Engineering | -2.64% |
🟢 Biggest One-Day Winners
| Industry | 1-Day |
|---|---|
| Pharmaceuticals | +2.56% |
| Pipelines | +2.91% |
| Integrated Oil & Gas | +2.13% |
| Soft Drinks | +1.98% |
| Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology | +1.96% |
| Beverages | +1.89% |
| Oil & Gas Producers | +1.83% |
| Gas Distribution | +1.78% |
| Oil & Gas | +1.72% |
| Computer Services | +1.69% |
| Defense | +1.57% |
| Food & Beverage | +1.54% |
| Footwear | +1.53% |
| Healthcare | +1.49% |
| Delivery/Business-related services | +1.40% |
📈 Strongest Long-Term Momentum
The most impressive longer-term performers in the dataset include:
| Industry | Longer-Term Gain |
|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | +69.31% |
| Electronic Equipment | +69.91% |
| Aluminum | +68.82% |
| Gold Mining | +67.31% |
| Oil Equipment & Services | +64.90% |
| Industrial Metals & Mining | +64.85% |
| Mining | +62.15% |
| Basic Resources | +61.26% |
| Heavy Construction | +58.45% |
| Exploration & Production | +58.39% |
| Telecommunications Equipment | +57.37% |
| Semiconductors | +54.59% |
| Computer Hardware | +50.83% |
| Oil & Gas Producers | +50.91% |
| Hotel & Lodging REITs | +48.90% |
Important distinction
Several of these leaders are now experiencing very aggressive short-term corrections.
That creates two different signals:
Trend signal: 🟢 Extremely bullish
Short-term momentum: 🔴 Deteriorating
This is classic extended-leader profit taking.
🔴 Structural Weakness
The worst longer-term groups include:
| Industry | Longer-Term |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Services | -29.64% |
| Specialized Consumer Services | -29.56% |
| Recreational Products | -40.94% |
| Footwear | -39.67% |
| Gambling | -38.07% |
| Media Agencies | -43.46% |
| Leisure Goods | -25.78% |
| Specialty Retailers | -27.13% |
| Personal Goods | -20.88% |
| Business Support Services | -20.96% |
| Brewers | -19.54% |
| Distillers & Vintners | -18.94% |
| Financial Administration | -18.62% |
| Home Construction | -15.94% |
These groups should be treated differently from temporary market corrections because their longer-term trend remains negative.
🎯 Barchart Signal Concentration
The Buy/Sell readings reveal something particularly important.
Broad leadership
The following major groups carry very strong Buy readings:
- U.S. Market — 100% Buy
- Large Cap — 100% Buy
- Mid Cap — 100% Buy
- Small Cap — 100% Buy
- Financials — 100% Buy
- Healthcare — 100% Buy
- Technology — 100% Buy
- Aerospace & Defense — 100% Buy
- Banks — 100% Buy
- Food & Beverage — 100% Buy
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology — 100% Buy
- Semiconductors — 64% Buy
- REITs — 56% Buy
At the same time, numerous individual industries have 8%–24% Buy readings.
This means the market is not uniformly weak. Rather, the weakness is concentrated in specific industries.
🧭 StockInsight™ Market Rotation Read
🟢 Leadership
Energy → Healthcare → Technology → Financials → Aerospace/Defense → Selected Materials
These groups have the strongest combination of trend and relative strength.
🟡 Watch
REITs → Consumer Services → Retail → Software → Transportation
These areas are mixed and require selective positioning.
🔴 Under Pressure
Housing → Construction → Consumer Discretionary → Leisure → Footwear → Gambling → Real Estate Services
These groups show the clearest structural deterioration.
⚠️ The Most Important Signal
The August 18 data suggest a rotation rather than a generalized bear-market breakdown.
The headline market remains:
+19.16% longer term
while small caps are:
+22.71%
and technology:
+29.52%
Healthcare:
+24.57%
Materials:
+24.14%
Energy:
+48.97%
The problem is the one-day breadth deterioration, particularly in:
- industrials
- semiconductors
- electronic equipment
- metals
- construction
- transportation
At the same time, money is moving toward:
Energy + Healthcare + Pharmaceuticals + Financials + defensive consumer staples.
Bottom Line
Market regime: 🟢 Bullish, but increasingly rotational
Short-term risk: 🟠 Elevated
Leadership quality: 🟢 Strong
Cyclicals: 🔴 Weakening
Defensive rotation: 🟢 Increasing
Energy momentum: 🟢 Exceptional
Healthcare momentum: 🟢 Accelerating
Technology: 🟡 Bullish trend / short-term correction
Materials: 🟡 Long-term bull / significant profit-taking
Housing: 🔴 Structural weakness
Consumer discretionary: 🔴 Structural weakness
The key question for the next few sessions is whether the August 18 selloff in technology, industrials and materials represents healthy consolidation within the broader bull trend or the beginning of a more meaningful rotation away from high-beta leadership. The fact that energy and healthcare simultaneously accelerated while financials remained positive argues for rotation rather than outright risk capitulation.
