We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
The third-quarter of 2018 was all about ebbs and flows in trade tensions. While signs of improvement were noticed in the trade terms between the United States and the Euro zone and Mexico, trade relations turned bitter with China (read: Buy High-Beta & Momentum ETFs on US-EU Trade Truce).
Also, thanks to a hawkish Fed and the resultant rise in the greenback as well as worsening diplomatic U.S.-Turkey relations, there was an acute selloff in the emerging markets. All these events basically pulled the strings globally in Q3.
The S&P 500-based ETF (SPY - Free Report) has gained about 7.4%, the Dow Jones-based ETF (DIA - Free Report) has rallied 9.4% while the Nasdaq 100-based (QQQ - Free Report) has advanced around 7.7% (as of Sep 24, 2018). Needless to say, such stellar gains have had a significant impact on the leveraged ETFs.
These ETFs provide multiple-times exposure to the performance of the underlying index. These funds employ various investment strategies such as use of swaps, futures contracts and other derivative instruments to accomplish their objectives.
Since most of these ETFs seek to attain their goals on a daily basis, their performance could vary significantly over a longer period when compared to the shorter period due to their compounding effect. Still, the space remains attractive for investors seeking high returns in a short time.
Below we highlight the five top-performing leveraged ETFs of Q3.
Health-care stocks hauled in solid assets in Q3 and has been one of the top performers so far this quarter. Global trade crisis has given the sector’s defensive tilt and non-cyclical nature a boost. Also, the U.S. health care supply chain is consolidating fast, with deals across the industry ranging from insurers, pharmacies to drug distributors.
Plus, President Trump’s announcement of the drug plans in May was in the best interest of pharma companies. All these have led CURE to add about 43.9% in the quarter to date, per XTF.com (as of Sep 24, 2018) (read: Health Care ETFs Outperforming: Will the Rally Last?).
This has been yet another soaring sector. In mid-August, President Trump signed the $717-billion 2019 defense spending bill into law — the largest allotted to U.S. defense. Pentagon’s base budget holds $616.9 billion, overseas contingency operations have been authorized $69 billion and nuclear weapons programs hold $21.9 billion under the Energy Department. Also, compensations for troops have been raised by 2.6%, marking the biggest increase in almost a decade (read: Must-Have Aerospace and Defense ETFs & Stocks).
After the worst first half performance since 2010, the Dow Jones rebounded to show some strength in the third quarter. There were a flurry of solid corporate earnings and upbeat news from the Dow component. The uptrend in the energy sector also gave a boost to the fund (read: Dow Springs Back: More Upside for ETFs?).
The transportation sector has also performed well in Q3 due to economic growth. Rising U.S. GDP, robust job gains, moderate wage growth, record consumer confidence and higher spending and week-long Labor Day travel helped the fund to add solid returns (read: Transport ETFs Riding High on Solid Q2 Earnings).
U.S. manufacturing is in great shape. Output rose 3.1% year over year in August 2018, after 2.6% advancement in July. It marked the sharpest increase in manufacturing production since June 2012. The IHS Markit US Manufacturing PMI increased to 55.6 in September of 2018 from 54.7 in August, beating market expectations of 55. The reading hinted at the sturdiest expansion in manufacturing in four months, mainly driven by faster increases in output and new orders (read: Top-Ranked Sector ETFs & Stocks to Buy Now).
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Best Leveraged ETFs of Q3
The third-quarter of 2018 was all about ebbs and flows in trade tensions. While signs of improvement were noticed in the trade terms between the United States and the Euro zone and Mexico, trade relations turned bitter with China (read: Buy High-Beta & Momentum ETFs on US-EU Trade Truce).
Also, thanks to a hawkish Fed and the resultant rise in the greenback as well as worsening diplomatic U.S.-Turkey relations, there was an acute selloff in the emerging markets. All these events basically pulled the strings globally in Q3.
The S&P 500-based ETF (SPY - Free Report) has gained about 7.4%, the Dow Jones-based ETF (DIA - Free Report) has rallied 9.4% while the Nasdaq 100-based (QQQ - Free Report) has advanced around 7.7% (as of Sep 24, 2018). Needless to say, such stellar gains have had a significant impact on the leveraged ETFs.
These ETFs provide multiple-times exposure to the performance of the underlying index. These funds employ various investment strategies such as use of swaps, futures contracts and other derivative instruments to accomplish their objectives.
Since most of these ETFs seek to attain their goals on a daily basis, their performance could vary significantly over a longer period when compared to the shorter period due to their compounding effect. Still, the space remains attractive for investors seeking high returns in a short time.
Below we highlight the five top-performing leveraged ETFs of Q3.
Direxion Daily Healthcare Bull 3X ETF (CURE - Free Report) – Up 43.9%
Health-care stocks hauled in solid assets in Q3 and has been one of the top performers so far this quarter. Global trade crisis has given the sector’s defensive tilt and non-cyclical nature a boost. Also, the U.S. health care supply chain is consolidating fast, with deals across the industry ranging from insurers, pharmacies to drug distributors.
Plus, President Trump’s announcement of the drug plans in May was in the best interest of pharma companies. All these have led CURE to add about 43.9% in the quarter to date, per XTF.com (as of Sep 24, 2018) (read: Health Care ETFs Outperforming: Will the Rally Last?).
Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares ETF (DFEN - Free Report) – Up 33.7%
This has been yet another soaring sector. In mid-August, President Trump signed the $717-billion 2019 defense spending bill into law — the largest allotted to U.S. defense. Pentagon’s base budget holds $616.9 billion, overseas contingency operations have been authorized $69 billion and nuclear weapons programs hold $21.9 billion under the Energy Department. Also, compensations for troops have been raised by 2.6%, marking the biggest increase in almost a decade (read: Must-Have Aerospace and Defense ETFs & Stocks).
ProShares UltraPro Dow30 (UDOW - Free Report) – Up 30.5%
After the worst first half performance since 2010, the Dow Jones rebounded to show some strength in the third quarter. There were a flurry of solid corporate earnings and upbeat news from the Dow component. The uptrend in the energy sector also gave a boost to the fund (read: Dow Springs Back: More Upside for ETFs?).
Direxion Daily Transportation Bull 3X Shares ETF (TPOR - Free Report) – Up 30.3%
The transportation sector has also performed well in Q3 due to economic growth. Rising U.S. GDP, robust job gains, moderate wage growth, record consumer confidence and higher spending and week-long Labor Day travel helped the fund to add solid returns (read: Transport ETFs Riding High on Solid Q2 Earnings).
Direxion Daily Industrials Bull 3X Shares ETF (DUSL - Free Report) – Up 27.9%
U.S. manufacturing is in great shape. Output rose 3.1% year over year in August 2018, after 2.6% advancement in July. It marked the sharpest increase in manufacturing production since June 2012. The IHS Markit US Manufacturing PMI increased to 55.6 in September of 2018 from 54.7 in August, beating market expectations of 55. The reading hinted at the sturdiest expansion in manufacturing in four months, mainly driven by faster increases in output and new orders (read: Top-Ranked Sector ETFs & Stocks to Buy Now).
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>