Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have gone from finance’s “best-kept secret” to one of its most popular vehicles and not without reason. They combine the diversification of a mutual fund with the trading flexibility of a stock, and in 2025 and early 2026 a wide variety of them delivered standout returns across sectors, themes, and regions. Whether you’re new to investing or refining your portfolio, identifying high-momentum ETFs while remembering that past performance isn’t a guarantee of the future can help inform your approach.
Below, we walk through 11 ETFs that stood out for their performance, focusing on non-leveraged, investible funds with strong year-to-date or recent historic gains.
- iShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF (SLVP) – Commodities on Fire
Performance (as of early February 2026)
- 1-Year Return: 203.27% a powerful rally over the past 12 months.
- YTD (2026): 14.2%.
One of the marquee performers of 2025 was SLVP, a fund that invests in global companies extracting silver and other metals. This ETF soared more than 200% year-to-date, significantly outperforming broader market benchmarks as commodity prices surged and investor demand for hard assets spiked.
Key takeaway: Silver’s dual role as both an industrial metal and a store of value alongside constrained supply fueled steep gains that translated directly into ETF performance.
- Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) – Leverage on the Upswing
Recent Performance (Latest available)
- 1-Year Change: 163% to 187% depending on platform and cut-off date.
(Multiple data points show SILJ outperforming most broad equity benchmarks over the last year.)
- 52-Week Range: $10.01 – $41.10.
YTD (2026): Recently trending strongly, with 40% YTD total return reported (includes price movement) in recent price snapshots.
Targeted specifically at smaller, exploration-stage mining companies, SILJ also capitalized on the commodities rally with nearly 195% returns in 2025. These junior miners often exhibit amplified moves compared with larger peers when metal prices jump.
Key takeaway: Sector-focused ETFs like SILJ can deliver outsized returns, but they’re also more volatile, the perfect complement for growth-oriented portions of a diversified portfolio.
- VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) – Gold Equity Exposure
Performance: YTD (2026): 14.42% (NAV total return) reflects early year gold miner performance.
Recent 1‑Year Return: According to ETF data sources, GDX has delivered well over +150% year‑over‑year through late 2025 before moderating into 2026, suggesting a highly elevated annual return compared with most broad equity benchmarks (some data point near +186% 1‑yr).
Gold often shows up in flight-to-safety trades, and in 2025 gold mining ETFs drew record inflows. GDX returned more than 160%, reflecting strong commodity pricing and interest in safe-haven assets amid market uncertainty.
Why gold: Even in diversified portfolios, gold and gold-linked ETFs remain a ballast against inflation and geopolitical risk, GDX is one of the most liquid ways to access that exposure.
- Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) – Tech’s Next Wave
More than being a buzzword, AI has been a major driver of equity returns. AIQ, which targets companies advancing machine learning, automation, and robotics, delivered roughly 48% year-to-date returns in 2025.
What it holds: Major tech names like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet dominate this fund, reflecting where earnings growth has clustered in the past few years.
- iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) – Renewables Running
YTD (2026): 14.32%
1‑Year (ended Dec 31 2025): 46.6%
Recent Returns: significantly outpaced many broad equity benchmarks in 2025.
(Data reflect clean energy equities rallying amid global policy support and investment flows.)
Clean energy has gained traction thanks to global policy tailwinds and shifting investment flows. ICLN’s roughly 42% performance stems from holdings in solar, wind, and hydrogen firms, sectors expected to benefit from net-zero transitions.
Longer term: Renewables remain a structural theme, though they can swing with commodity prices (e.g., polysilicon for solar) and policy changes.
- iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) – Semiconductors Still Central
1‑Year (to Dec 2025): +40.7%
YTD (2026): double‑digit annual return tracked across multiple measures.
Multi‑Year: strong mid‑term returns, reflecting sustained global semiconductor demand.
Semiconductor firms underpin major computing and AI architectures.
Semiconductors underpin computing, AI, and connectivity. SOXX posted around 39% returns as chipmakers benefited from strong demand for advanced processing.
The takeaway: Chip industry exposure can act as a proxy for broader technology innovation, though cyclical demand patterns mean volatility comes with the territory.
- SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) – Biotech Breakouts
YTD (2026): 2.76%
1‑Year: 27.94%
XBI has rallied as biotech stocks regained investor attention with improving clinical developments and macro sentiment turning positive.
With breakthroughs in gene therapies and personalized medicine, biotech stocks captured investor imagination. XBI’s near-30% return in 2025 reflects this growth and the sector’s speculative upside.
Consideration: Biotech can swing sharply on clinical news or regulatory shifts, so position sizing matters.
- Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) – EV and Battery Boom
YTD (2026): 9.45%
1‑Year: 69.60%
Multi‑Year: flat to modest long‑term figures over broad spans, as battery supply cycles normalize.
LIT’s focus on lithium and battery value chain companies captured EV and energy storage demand.
Electric vehicle demand continues to propel battery technology. LIT’s exposure to lithium producers and battery manufacturers helped it deliver strong returns around 28% in 2025.
Why lithium: As EV adoption rises, battery metals remain core infrastructure and ETFs like LIT provide diversified access to that story.
- iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) – Regional Leadership
YTD (2026): 27.44%
1‑Year (to Dec 31 2025): 97.6%
South Korea’s equities heavy in tech and exports have been a standout among regional equity ETFs.
International exposure also had its moments. South Korea’s equity market driven by technology and semiconductor exports helped EWY deliver about a 90% return.
This reminds investors that diversification beyond U.S. markets can capture growth not as correlated with domestic indexes.
- Global XDefenceTech ETF (SHLD) – Secular Defense Demand
YTD (2026): 16.23%
1‑Year (to early 2026): 91.92%
Since its 2023 inception, SHLD has shown strong annualized returns as defense and defense‑tech equities benefit from rising defense budgets and strategic demand.
Geopolitical shifts and rising defense budgets have driven interest in aerospace and defense equities. ETFs like SHLD delivered high-teens to low-20s returns, benefiting from secular demand for defense technology.
Defense as a theme: Governments are boosting military spending across the U.S. and NATO partners, giving sector-focused funds structural support.
- Broad S&P 500 and Core Market Leaders – VOO, SPY, IVV
Performance: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) 0.64% (YTD) 1-year return 14.60%
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) 0.63% (YTD) 13.9% 1-year return 14.51%
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) 0.65% (YTD) 15.4% 1-year return 14.58%
Amid all the niche outperformers, broad market ETFs remain pillars for most investors. Vanguard’s VOO, SPDR’s SPY, and iShares’ IVV all track the S&P 500 with ultra-low fees and have delivered consistent long-term returns, averaging mid-to-high teens annualized over multiyear periods.
These aren’t the eye-popping standouts of a single year, but they’re the foundation of diversified portfolios and often outperform niche themes over full market cycles.
What These Performances Tell Us
There are a few common threads among these top ETFs:
- Sector and thematic strength can drive outsized returns.
Technology, commodities, and defense each have secular drivers from AI to electrification to geopolitical shifts that helped specific ETFs stand out. - Diversification still matters.
While niche funds can outperformin a given year, core market ETFs like S&P 500 trackers offer stability and low costs that benefit long-term compounding. - Geographic breadth can capture non-U.S. growth.
International ETFs like EWY remind investors that outside the U.S., there are regions with distinct growth dynamics. - Risk and volatility vary widely.
Commodity and sector funds oscillate more than broad indexes, an important consideration when aligning ETFs with yourrisk tolerance.
How to Start Investing in ETFs (for Beginners)
If you’re new to ETFs, they are straightforward to access, yet there are a few steps and considerations that every investor should understand:
- Choose Your Goal First
Are you investing for retirement, passive income, or speculative growth? Your goal shapes your ETF mix.
- Understand ETF Types
- Broad Market ETFs: Track major indexes (like the S&P 500), ideal for diversified, long-term growth.
- Sector/Thematic ETFs: Focus on specific industries (e.g., tech, energy).
- Commodity/Asset ETFs: Include gold, crypto, or REIT baskets.
- Dividend ETFs: Offer income through dividend-paying stocks.
- Use a Brokerage Account
Choose a reputable broker (example platforms like Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, or a user-friendly app like Robinhood or M1 Finance) with low trading fees and a user-friendly platform, from there, you can buy ETFs just like stocks. Many brokers now support fractional shares, making it easier to start with modest capital.
- Watch Expense Ratios
Low costs matter. A tiny fee difference compounds over decades. Vanguard and iShares funds regularly rank among the lowest cost.
Note: expense ratios vary widely. Core index ETFs often clock in below 0.1%, while thematic or actively managed ETFs can cost more. Lower cost typically boosts net returns over long horizons.
- Think long term (but review regularly)
ETFs can serve both long-term core holdings and shorter-term tactical plays. Pair them with your financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
- Understand what you own
Read the ETF’s prospectus and fact sheet. Know its objective, geographic exposure, sector focus, expense ratio, and top holdings.
- Diversify
Even within the ETF universe, don’t concentrate all capital in a single theme. A mix of broad market, sector, international, and alternative ETFs can help smooth volatility.
We believe the information in this material is reliable, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. The opinions, estimates, and strategies shared reflect the author’s judgment based on current market conditions and may change without notice.
The views and strategies shared in this material represent the author’s personal judgment and may differ from those of other contributors at IntriguePages. This content does not constitute official IntriguePages research and should not be interpreted as such. Before making any financial decisions, carefully consider your personal goals and circumstances. For personalized guidance, please consult a qualified financial advisor.
