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The year 2021 was a robust period for the broader indices as well as the 11 sectors of the S&P 500, which we recently reviewed. But we did see divergences in returns of many stocks, especially growth names, as well as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in them.
To mark the end of 2021 we review funds that were either clear winners or decisive losers in 2021. Understandably, ours is not a comprehensive list. Yet, a number of these funds are likely to appeal to long-term investors.
It should be note that our discussion does not include leveraged and inverse ETFs, as they are generally more appropriate for short-term traders.
Main indices saw double-digit gains in 2021. Three names top the list:
SPDR® Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE:DIA), which tracks the Dow Jones — up 19.3% year-to-date;
SPDR® S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY), which tracks the S&P 500 Index — up 27.7 %;
Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ), which tracks the NASDAQ 100 index — up 28.1%.
High-growth tech shares typically get significant attention. Therefore, let’s now look at ETFs that provided profitable access to sub-sectors in technology during the year.
We believe semiconductor stocks deserve a place in long-term portfolios.
Three ETFs with strong returns in that segment are:
From chip funds, we move to general technology funds as well as those with more distinct themes, like artificial intelligence, blockchain, electric vehicles and battery technologies, 5G, robotics, machine learning or work from home.
In those areas, we have the following funds:
Understandably, 2021 was not all about technology. Here are several other ETFs that also saw robust annual returns:
Not all sectors or funds were winners during the year. Contrarian investors who expect a rotation into some of these segments in 2022 might want to research these ETFs further. They include:
Bottom Line
Investing for the long-term and diversifying portfolios are possibly the two most important points of our annual review. Readers should also do their own research before buying an ETF or stock.
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