Though small-cap fund iShares Russell 2000 ETF IWM has outperformed the S&P 500 year to date and in the last one-month frame (as of May 21, 2019), the smaller counterpart of the S&P, i.e. SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap (NYSE:SLY) ETF SLY has underperformed the bigger index S&P 500 ETF (AX:SPY) . SLY is down 1.8% in the past month versus 1.3% losses in SPY.
The past month was busy with earnings and corporate results probably have a lot to do with this performance.
Q1 Outperformance: S&P 600 Vs. 500
The Q1 earnings season is almost at its end with 89.2% of the S&P 600 Index having reported so far. Earnings are down 18.3% year over year on 3.1% revenue growth, with 57.1% beating EPS estimates and 56.3% surpassing top-line expectations, per the Earnings Trends issued on May 15.
As many as 12 sectors out of the total 16 produced negative earnings growth, out of which nine witnessed a double-digit slump. Overall, results of the pint-sized stocks have been pretty downbeat compared with the S&P 500.
About 90.8% of the large-cap index has already reported with earnings growth of 0.5% on 5% higher revenues. The S&P 500 Index has so far produced a blended beat ratio of 51.1%.
Better-Performing Small-Cap Sector ETFs
Against this lackluster backdrop, below we highlight a few small-cap sector ETFs that have produced positive or (less negative) earnings or revenue growth.
Consumer Discretionary – Invesco S&P SmallCap Consumer Discretionary ETF (PSCD)
About 67.9% of the companies have reported results, recording Q1 earnings growth of 20.3% and revenue expansion of 7%. The blended beat ratio is 68.4%.
Finance– Invesco S&P SmallCap Financials ETF ( (SIX:PSCF) )
About 99.3%% of the companies have reported results, with growth of 4% earnings growth and 6.2% revenue growth. The blended beat ratio is 30.8% (see all financial ETFs here).
Transportation – SPDR S&P Transportation (NYSE:XTN) ETF (XTN)
All companies of the S&P 600 Index have released numbers so far. Total earnings for the transportation sector are down only 4.3% on 0.9% lower revenues. Though blended beat ratio is 28.6%, earnings beat ratio of 78.6% is stronger. Notably, the fund XTN is heavy on smaller-cap transportation stocks (read: A Look at Transport ETFs After Q1 Earnings).
Construction – Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF (PKB)
Around 90.9% of the companies have reported earrings as of now. Earnings and revenues for the construction sector are down 7.6% and up 9.9%, respectively. Earnings beat ratio is 50% while revenue beat ratio is 80%.
The fund has about 45% exposure to mid-cap construction stocks, followed by 40% small-caps and 15% large caps (read: Solid US Labor Market Puts Focus on 3 Sector ETFs & Stocks).
Industrial Production – Invesco S&P SmallCap Industrials ETF (PSCI)
A solid 93.2% of the companies have posted earrings. Earnings and revenues for the construction sector are down 7.5% and up 2.0%, respectively, while the respective beat ratios are 56.1% and 48.8%.
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Invesco S&P SmallCap Financials ETF (PSCF): ETF Research Reports
Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF (PKB): ETF Research Reports
Invesco S&P SmallCap Consumer Discretionary ETF (PSCD): ETF Research Reports
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): ETF Research Reports
Invesco S&P SmallCap Industrials ETF (PSCI): ETF Research Reports
SPDR S&P Transportation ETF (XTN): ETF Research Reports
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SLY): ETF Research Reports
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY
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Zacks Investment Research