Stock sector performance
U.S. Sector & Industry Performance Report — August 17, 2026
📊 Market Overview
The latest industry data shows a strong rotation toward cyclical, commodity, industrial and technology-hardware groups, while several consumer-facing and software industries remain under pressure.
The most important feature of the market is the wide divergence between the winners and losers:
- 🟢 Industrials & infrastructure: strong
- 🟢 Energy & commodities: very strong
- 🟢 Semiconductors & hardware: strong
- 🟢 Small-/mid-cap stocks: outperforming large caps
- 🟡 Financials: mixed but generally constructive
- 🔴 Consumer discretionary/retail: significant weakness
- 🔴 Software/internet: notable relative weakness
- 🔴 Healthcare: mixed, despite strong medium-term performance
- 🔴 Real estate: mixed with considerable dispersion
The data suggests a market that is broadening beyond mega-cap technology, but the rotation is not uniform: physical-economy sectors are increasingly leading while software and consumer groups lag.
🚀 Strongest Industries Today
| Industry | Daily | 5-Day | 1-Month | 3-Month | 1-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏗️ Heavy Construction | +8.23% | +10.12% | -6.47% | +68.04% | +54.14% |
| 🚢 Marine Transportation | +6.52% | -2.10% | -3.14% | +46.25% | +28.09% |
| 🛢️ Exploration & Production | +5.65% | +9.65% | +12.56% | +54.35% | +51.66% |
| ⚡ Electrical Components & Equipment | +5.27% | +6.59% | +1.19% | +50.35% | +43.20% |
| 🛢️ Oil & Gas | +3.25% | +8.06% | +5.08% | +45.79% | +38.57% |
| 🖥️ Semiconductors | +3.68% | +8.83% | +3.64% | +61.36% | +44.62% |
| 💻 Technology Hardware | +3.12% | +4.96% | +4.46% | +58.14% | +39.33% |
| 🏭 Mining | +2.59% | +32.07% | +8.46% | +66.36% | +17.99% |
| 🪙 Gold Mining | +2.41% | +32.18% | +9.08% | +71.65% | +18.10% |
| 🔩 Industrial Metals & Mining | +2.02% | +14.83% | +10.76% | +68.07% | +38.93% |
Heavy Construction is the standout short-term winner, while gold mining, mining and industrial metals remain among the strongest medium-term trends.
🔥 Commodity & Energy Leadership
Energy remains one of the clearest leadership groups.
🛢️ Energy
- Oil & Gas: +3.25% today
- Oil & Gas Producers: +3.56%
- Exploration & Production: +5.65%
- Oil Equipment & Services: +2.58%
- Oil Equipment Services & Distribution: +2.80%
- Integrated Oil & Gas: +2.04%
- Pipelines: +2.94%
The broader energy complex is particularly impressive because the strength is not concentrated in one subgroup.
The medium-term picture is even stronger:
- Exploration & Production: +54.35% over 3 months
- Oil & Gas Producers: +47.32%
- Oil & Gas: +45.79%
- Oil Equipment & Services: +67.81%
- Oil Equipment Services & Distribution: +42.73%
- Integrated Oil & Gas: +42.39%
🥇 Metals & Mining
This is arguably the strongest structural theme in the entire dataset.
| Industry | 5-Day | 1-Month | 3-Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Mining | +32.18% | +9.08% | +71.65% |
| Mining | +32.07% | +8.46% | +66.36% |
| Basic Resources | +21.93% | +9.80% | +64.81% |
| Industrial Metals & Mining | +14.83% | +10.76% | +68.07% |
| Iron & Steel | +12.94% | +16.52% | +73.78% |
| Nonferrous Metals | +17.13% | +8.52% | +61.43% |
| Aluminum | +17.58% | -17.30% | +65.37% |
The key signal is breadth. Gold, steel, industrial metals, mining and nonferrous metals are all participating.
That makes the commodity move look more like a broad inflation/cyclical/materials rotation rather than a single commodity-specific trade.
🤖 Technology: Strong Hardware, Weak Software
Technology is becoming increasingly bifurcated.
🟢 Technology Leaders
- Semiconductors: +3.68% today
- Semiconductors Total Stock Market: +3.76%
- Technology Hardware & Equipment: +3.12%
- Computer Hardware: +2.60%
- Electronic Equipment: +4.74%
- Electrical Components & Equipment: +5.27%
- Large-Cap Technology: -0.48%, but +28.22% over 3 months
The semiconductor trend remains particularly powerful:
+8.83% over 5 days → +3.64% 1 month → +61.36% 3 months → +44.62% 1 year
🔴 Software & Internet Weakness
The contrast is striking:
- Software: -4.10% today
- Software & Computer Services: -3.87%
- Internet: -3.64%
- Computer Services: -3.22%
Software has nevertheless gained +17.09% over 5 days and +12.58% over 1 month, showing that today’s selling comes after a strong recent rebound.
This creates an important distinction:
The technology trade is shifting from software toward hardware, semiconductors, electrical infrastructure and physical AI infrastructure.
🏭 Industrial & Infrastructure Rotation
Industrials are another major source of strength.
Notable daily performers include:
- Heavy Construction: +8.23%
- General Industrials: +2.24%
- Commercial Vehicles & Trucks: +2.47%
- Trucking: +3.74%
- Industrial Transportation: +1.85%
- Railroads: +2.05%
- Industrial Engineering: +0.87%
- Industrial Goods & Services: +1.05%
- Construction & Materials: +1.32%
The longer-term trend is exceptionally strong.
Industrial Engineering: +41.91% over 3 months
Industrial Transportation: +38.70%
Commercial Vehicles & Trucks: +65.41%
Trucking: +56.73%
Railroads: +33.27%
Heavy Construction: +68.04%
This supports a broader capex/infrastructure/industrial investment theme.
📈 Small & Mid Caps Are Participating
The capitalization data is especially interesting:
| Index | Daily | 5-Day | 1-Month | 3-Month | 1-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Large-Cap | -0.66% | +3.63% | +3.37% | +19.78% | +11.77% |
| U.S. Mid-Cap | +1.31% | +4.32% | +10.21% | +18.42% | +16.95% |
| U.S. Small-Cap | +2.38% | +5.90% | +8.76% | +25.38% | +20.03% |
| U.S. Low-Cap | +1.69% | +4.87% | +9.69% | +20.79% | +18.03% |
| U.S. Top-Cap | -0.27% | +3.77% | +4.67% | +19.50% | +12.77% |
🟢 Important Signal
Small caps are outperforming large caps across virtually every relevant timeframe.
That is usually a sign of improving market breadth and greater risk appetite.
The combination of:
Small Caps ↑ + Industrials ↑ + Materials ↑ + Energy ↑
is considerably more cyclical than a market driven exclusively by mega-cap technology.
💰 Financials
Financials remain constructive but are less explosive than commodities and industrials.
- Banks: +0.72%
- Banks Total Stock Market: +0.83%
- Asset Managers: +1.80%
- Investment Services: +1.35%
- Consumer Finance: +1.22%
- Life Insurance: +0.73%
- Full Line Insurance: +0.05%
Banks are particularly strong over the medium term:
+20.28% over 1 month → +27.86% over 3 months → +12.38% over 1 year
This supports the broader interpretation that cyclical/value-oriented segments are attracting capital.
🏥 Healthcare
Healthcare is mixed today despite relatively strong medium-term performance.
Stronger areas
- Biotechnology: +5.40% over 5 days / +21.81% 1 month
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology: +3.97% 5-day / +18.67% 1-month
- Pharmaceuticals: +2.77% 5-day / +16.07% 1-month
- Health Care: +3.64% 5-day / +15.24% 1-month
Weaker areas
- Health Care Providers: -2.11% today
- Medical Equipment: -0.58%
- Medical Supplies: -1.29%
- Health Care Equipment & Services: -1.35%
Healthcare therefore remains a selective rather than broad-based leadership trade.
🛍️ Consumer Sector Under Pressure
Consumer-facing industries are among the weakest groups.
Particularly notable:
- Clothing & Accessories: -14.09% today
- Footwear: -7.12%
- Apparel Retailers: -6.15%
- Broadline Retailers: -4.20%
- General Retailers: -3.78%
- Retail: -3.69%
- Breweries: -4.19%
- Leisure Goods: -1.91%
- Toys: -1.70%
- Personal Goods: -7.88%
The longer-term damage is significant in several areas.
Footwear: -40.16% over 3 months
Personal Goods: -21.24%
Leisure Goods: -25.54%
Apparel Retailers: +24.09% over 3 months, but currently weakening sharply.
This suggests the market is increasingly discriminating against consumer discretionary exposure.
🏠 Real Estate
Real estate is highly fragmented.
Stronger
- Real Estate Holding & Development: +11.43% 5-day / +19.44% 1-month
- Real Estate Services: +5.96% 5-day / +10.48% 1-month
- Real Estate Investment & Services: +5.96% 5-day / +10.48% 1-month
- Hotel & Lodging REITs: +49.43% over 3 months
- Retail REITs: +15.69% over 3 months
Weaker
- Residential REITs: -4.01% 5-day
- Diversified REITs: -5.72%
- Industrial & Office REITs: -6.63%
- Mortgage REITs: +0.55%
The sector does not currently show a clean directional trend.
⚠️ Biggest Losers Today
| Industry | Daily |
|---|---|
| Clothing & Accessories | 🔴 -14.09% |
| Personal Goods | 🔴 -7.88% |
| Footwear | 🔴 -7.12% |
| Apparel Retailers | 🔴 -6.15% |
| Specialty Finance | 🔴 -5.34% |
| Media Agencies | 🔴 -5.77% |
| Broadline Retailers | 🔴 -4.20% |
| Brewers | 🔴 -4.19% |
| Software | 🔴 -4.10% |
| Leisure/Consumer Services | 🔴 roughly -3% to -5% |
The concentration of weakness in consumer products, retail and discretionary spending is notable.
🏆 Best 3-Month Performers
The medium-term leadership is dominated by hard assets, infrastructure and cyclical industries.
| Industry | 3-Month Return |
|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | 🥇 +73.78% |
| Gold Mining | 🥈 +71.65% |
| Industrial Metals & Mining | 🥉 +68.07% |
| Heavy Construction | +68.04% |
| Oil Equipment & Services | +67.81% |
| Mining | +66.36% |
| Aluminum | +65.37% |
| Basic Resources | +64.81% |
| Nonferrous Metals | +61.43% |
| Semiconductors | +61.36% |
This is a remarkably cyclical leadership list.
🏆 Best 1-Year Performers
The strongest one-year trends include:
| Industry | 1-Year |
|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | +48.79% |
| Exploration & Production | +51.66% |
| Heavy Construction | +54.14% |
| Electrical Components & Equipment | +43.20% |
| Oil Equipment & Services | +43.19% |
| Oil & Gas Producers | +41.12% |
| Computer Hardware | +27.66% |
| Technology Hardware | +39.33% |
| Semiconductors | +44.62% |
| Commercial Vehicles & Trucks | +38.97% |
🔻 Major Long-Term Laggards
Several industries remain deeply below their levels from three months or one year ago.
| Industry | 3-Month | 1-Year |
|---|---|---|
| Media Agencies | -41.83% | -31.27% |
| Recreational Products | -40.83% | -16.73% |
| Footwear | -40.16% | -30.55% |
| Real Estate Services | -30.36% | -23.47% |
| Real Estate Investment & Services | -30.22% | -23.47% |
| Specialized Consumer Services | -28.98% | -16.37% |
| Specialty Retailers | -27.30% | -12.87% |
| Leisure Goods | -25.54% | -18.12% |
| Computer Services | -9.72% | -25.28% |
| Automobiles | +5.57% | -21.94% |
These groups represent areas where structural selling or earnings concerns remain unresolved.
🧭 StockInsight™ Sector Rotation Radar
| Theme | Signal | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 🛢️ Energy | 🟢🟢🟢 | Strong leadership |
| ⛏️ Metals & Mining | 🟢🟢🟢 | Exceptional momentum |
| 🏗️ Infrastructure | 🟢🟢🟢 | Major cyclical leadership |
| ⚡ Electrical Equipment | 🟢🟢🟢 | AI/grid/capex beneficiary |
| 🧠 Semiconductors | 🟢🟢🟢 | Strong structural trend |
| 💻 Hardware | 🟢🟢 | Strong |
| 🏦 Banks | 🟢🟢 | Constructive |
| 🏭 Industrials | 🟢🟢🟢 | Broad participation |
| 🏥 Healthcare | 🟢🟡 | Selective |
| 🏠 Real Estate | 🟡 | Highly fragmented |
| 🛒 Retail | 🔴 | Weak |
| 👕 Consumer Goods | 🔴🔴 | Significant deterioration |
| 💻 Software | 🔴 | Short-term pressure |
| 🌐 Internet | 🔴 | Relative weakness |
| 🚗 Automobiles | 🔴 | Persistent long-term weakness |
🔎 What the Rotation Is Saying
The most important message from this dataset is not simply that stocks are rising.
It is that the composition of the rally is changing.
Capital is moving toward:
Commodities → Energy → Infrastructure → Industrial equipment → Electrical systems → Semiconductors → Small caps
while moving away from:
Consumer discretionary → Retail → Apparel → Software → Internet → selected real estate
That is a meaningful shift in market character.
🧠 StockInsight™ Market Interpretation
🟢 Bullish Signals
- Small caps are outperforming large caps.
- Mid caps are also showing stronger participation.
- Energy leadership is broad rather than isolated.
- Metals and mining have exceptional momentum.
- Infrastructure and heavy construction are accelerating.
- Semiconductor and electrical-equipment groups remain powerful.
- Banks are participating.
- Industrial transportation and machinery remain strong.
- Market leadership is becoming broader and more cyclical.
🟡 Watchlist Signals
- Software has recently rallied strongly over 5 days and 1 month despite today’s decline.
- Healthcare has strong medium-term momentum but weak breadth today.
- Real estate remains highly fragmented.
- Consumer weakness could eventually become a broader economic warning if it spreads.
🔴 Risk Signals
- Extreme declines in clothing, footwear and personal goods.
- Software selling could intensify if the recent rebound fails.
- Several consumer industries remain in significant longer-term downtrends.
- Some real-estate subsectors remain substantially below prior levels.
- The strength of commodities and industrials could eventually become an inflationary signal if the trend persists.
🎯 Bottom Line
The U.S. equity market is displaying a strong cyclical rotation.
The strongest combination is currently:
⛏️ Metals + 🛢️ Energy + 🏗️ Infrastructure + ⚡ Electrical Equipment + 🧠 Semiconductors + 🏭 Industrials + Small Caps
This is a much broader market structure than a simple mega-cap technology rally.
The most powerful signal is the combination of small-cap outperformance and exceptional commodity/industrial momentum. It suggests investors are increasingly willing to move down the capitalization spectrum and into economically sensitive assets.
At the same time, the sharp weakness in retail, apparel, footwear, personal goods and selected software industries indicates that this is not a uniformly bullish market.
📌 StockInsight™ Rotation Score: BULLISH / CYCLICAL
Leadership: 🟢 Energy / Materials / Industrials / Semiconductors
Breadth: 🟢 Improving
Small Caps: 🟢 Strong
Risk Appetite: 🟢 Expanding
Consumer: 🔴 Weak
Software: 🔴 Under pressure
Market Character: Cyclical expansion / rotation
