Commodity and Healthcare Related ETFs Lead in 2025 – Bullish Breakout in Biotechs

Commodity and Healthcare Related ETFs Lead in 2025 – Bullish Breakout in Biotechs

2025 is off to a rough start for stocks, but there are still some pockets of strength in the market. Year-to-date, SPY is down 1.73%, QQQ is down around 4% and the S&P SmallCap 600 SPDR (IJR) is down over 6%. ETFs with smaller losses show relative strength (less weakness), but ETFs with year-to-date gains show relative, and more importantly, absolute strength. This is where we should focus.

The table below shows some of the best performing equity ETFs. Three themes are clear. First, commodity-related stocks are performing well with gains in Gold Miners (GDX), Copper Miners (COPX), Materials (XLB) and Energy (XLE). Second, defensive groups are performing well with gains in Healthcare (XLV), Consumer Staples (XLP), Telecom (IYZ) and Insurance (KIE). Third, two groups within the healthcare sector are also performing well: Medical Devices (IHI) and Biotech (IBB).

Note that the stock market timing model at TrendInvestorPro turned bearish in mid-March and remains bearish. Wednesday’s 10.5% surge in SPY was impressive but not enough to reverse this signal or trigger a bullish breadth thrust. Follow-through is what differentiates oversold bounces from bullish breadth thrusts. We will monitor our thrust models closely in the coming days and weeks.

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Among the 2025 leaders, the Biotech ETF (IBB) caught my attention because it is in a long-term uptrend and recently broke out of a falling wedge. The chart below shows weekly candlesticks with resistance breaks (higher highs) in December 2023 and July 2024. We also see higher lows in April 2024 and December 2024 (gray arrows). IBB also tagged a 52-week high in September 2024. Price action may be choppy, but there is an uptrend in play with higher highs, higher lows and a 52-week high.

After tagging a new high, IBB plunged in November on news of the RFK Jr. appointment (long black candlestick). A falling wedge ultimately formed and I view this as a correction after the April-September advance. Why? Because the bigger trend is up and IBB held well above the April low. The wedge breakout signaled an end to this correction and a resumption of the bigger uptrend. Short-term, there are two levels to watch as the ETF consolidated around the breakout zone in the 137.5 area. A close below 132 (blue line) would negate the breakout and call for a re-evaluation. A breakout at 141 (pink line) would solidify the breakout and keep the uptrend alive.

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Stock Report – Shaky Market – 3 Defense Stocks – Off-Price Retailer – Healthcare Leader

There are five new setups today and some updates to prior setups. We start with three stocks from the defense industry because the Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) is one of the leading industry group ETFs. I am also featuring a pharma stock (BMY) because the Healthcare SPDR (XLV) is showing relative strength here in 2025. And finally, we have an off-price retailer (TJX). Even though it is

Stock Report – Shaky Market – 3 Defense Stocks – Off-Price Retailer – Healthcare Leader Read More »

ETF Video – SPY/QQQ hit Moment of truth – A Clear Tech Leader – Healthcare Holds Strong

There are sizable and concerning pockets of weakness within the stock market, but SPY and QQQ are still in uptrends and testing key levels. The EW S&P 500 ETF, Technology SPDR and Industrials SPDR joined the breakdown list, along with small-caps (IJR) and mid-caps (MDY). One tech ETF stands out. We are also seeing long-term uptrends and relative strength in these eight ETFs (XLF, XLC, XLU, CIBR, IHI, AMLP, IYZ, GLD).

ETF Video – SPY/QQQ hit Moment of truth – A Clear Tech Leader – Healthcare Holds Strong Read More »

ETF Report –  Techs Lead Market Lower – CIBR and AIQ are Two of Eleven Leading ETFs

Stocks were hit hard the last two weeks with small-caps and tech stocks leading the way lower. SPY is down around 4.6% from its late February high and entering the garden-variety correction range (5-8 percent). Believe it or not, five to eight percent pullbacks are not that uncommon – but they feel a lot worse

ETF Report –  Techs Lead Market Lower – CIBR and AIQ are Two of Eleven Leading ETFs Read More »

Small-caps Trigger Bearish, but Large-caps Hold Uptrend and Present an Opportunity

The Russell 2000 ETF triggered a bearish trend signal this week and continues to underperform S&P 500 SPDR, which remains with a bullish trend signal. Today’s report shows the Keltner Channel signals in each. SPY is currently correcting within an uptrend and pullbacks within uptrends are opportunities

Small-caps Trigger Bearish, but Large-caps Hold Uptrend and Present an Opportunity Read More »

Stock Report – Two NatGas Trades – A Leading Defense Play –  A Bullish Semiconductor

The weight of the evidence remains bullish for stocks, but this is not a bull market that lifts all boats. I am also seeing splits within sectors and industry groups. This is a selective bull market. Large-caps are holding up better in February and small-caps are lagging. The tech sector and Nasdaq 100 are also holding up relatively well, even with the swoon over the last five days.

Stock Report – Two NatGas Trades – A Leading Defense Play –  A Bullish Semiconductor Read More »

Market Regime Report/Video – SPX Breadth Holds – S&P 1500 Breadth Lags – 10yr Yield Breaks

Breadth weakened into January as the market corrected, but then rebounded into February with NDX breadth leading the way. S&P 1500 breadth remains the weakest of the three (blame small-caps and mid-caps). This week’s big shift is the breakout in the 7-10 Yr Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) and the break down in the 10-yr Treasury Yield. Lower rates may seem positive for stocks, but

Market Regime Report/Video – SPX Breadth Holds – S&P 1500 Breadth Lags – 10yr Yield Breaks Read More »

ETF Report – High Beta Names Hit – Risk-Off Names Rise – Lower Highs in Key Groups – GLD Strong

Stocks were hit hard the last three days with the high-beta names leading lower. Defensive groups (Healthcare, Staples, Utes) and bonds picked up the slack. Even though the weight of the evidence remains bullish for stocks, there are some sizable pockets of weakness with lower highs forming in key groups (banks, industrials, software, infrastructure), as well as fresh new lows in housing ETFs. Gold is holding strong, but Bitcoin is under pressure as part of the risk-on trade.

ETF Report – High Beta Names Hit – Risk-Off Names Rise – Lower Highs in Key Groups – GLD Strong Read More »

Stock Report – Two Cybersecurity Setups – Mag7 Stock Hits Bullish Setup Zone – 5 More

Today’s report features five new setups and three setups from the prior week. The Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) is perhaps the strongest group in the market right now and we are covering two stocks from this group. We also have a data center REIT setting up as well as a Mag7 stock hitting a Bullish Setup Zone.

Stock Report – Two Cybersecurity Setups – Mag7 Stock Hits Bullish Setup Zone – 5 More Read More »

Market Regime Report/Video – NDX Breadth Leads – S&P 1500 Lags – 10y Yield Battles Breakout

The weight of the evidence continues to support a bull market in stocks. All three major index ETFs are in long-term uptrends and all nine breadth indicators are on bull signals (%Above 200-day SMA, %Above 150-day SMA, High-Low Percent). The breadth indicators weakened into January as the market corrected, but then rebounded into February with Nasdaq 100 breadth

Market Regime Report/Video – NDX Breadth Leads – S&P 1500 Lags – 10y Yield Battles Breakout Read More »

ETF Video – XLK New High – AI and Cybersecurity Lead – XLI & PAVE Turn Up – Bitcoin Gets Quiet

Don’t look now, but tech is back with XLK joining QQQ in the new high parade. We are also seeing new highs in ETFs related to Cybersecurity and AI, as well as breakout extensions in Software (IGV) and Cloud (SKYY). Semis continue to lag, but we will take a second look at the SMH chart with a longer timeframe. Elsewhere, ETFs related to industrials are turning back up, defense ETFs pulled back after new highs and the banking ETFs are holding their breakouts.

ETF Video – XLK New High – AI and Cybersecurity Lead – XLI & PAVE Turn Up – Bitcoin Gets Quiet Read More »

ETF Report – QQQ Leads – MAGS Sets Up – Aero/Defense Pulls Back – Industrials Attempts Breakout

The weight of the evidence remains bullish for stocks (bull market). Large-caps (SPY, QQQ) are leading equal-weights, mid-caps and small-caps (RSP, MDY, IWM). QQQ is leading SPY because the former recorded a fresh 52-wk high last week. Several tech-related ETFs are leading the market with bullish setups forming in MAGS and CLOU. I am also watching the flag breakout in Industrials SPDR and setups in four related ETFs (Aerospace & Defense and Infrastructure).

ETF Report – QQQ Leads – MAGS Sets Up – Aero/Defense Pulls Back – Industrials Attempts Breakout Read More »

Stash that Flash Right in the Trash – 3 Prerequisites for Chartists – SPY Bullish Pattern

The news cycle is in high gear lately, leading to some extra volatility. Traders reacting to the news are getting whipsawed, while chartists remain focused on what really matters. Price. Price isn’t everything, it is the only thing. News, rumors, fundamentals, the Fed, government policy and

Stash that Flash Right in the Trash – 3 Prerequisites for Chartists – SPY Bullish Pattern Read More »

Market Regime Report – RSP Lags – Breadth Weakens – 10-yr Yield Extends on Breakout

The weight of the evidence remains bullish for stocks, but signs of weakness are appearing under the surface and rates are rising. SPY is near a new high this year, but fewer stocks made it back above their 150 and 200 day SMAs this year, and there were fewer new highs. Breadth is deteriorating and we are now seeing a breakout in the 10-yr Treasury Yield. This could foreshadow a corrective period for the broader market.

Market Regime Report – RSP Lags – Breadth Weakens – 10-yr Yield Extends on Breakout Read More »

ETF Video – Bull Pattern for SPY – Wedge Breakouts Holding – Setups in Industrials, Utes, Infra

Large-caps remain strong with SPY forming a bullish continuation pattern and QQQ holding its recent breakout. Small-caps, in contrast, are struggling with their breakouts and lagging. There were lots of wedge breakouts in mid January and these are holding. I am raising my re-evaluation levels on several ETFs. More recently, I am seeing short-term breakouts in ETFs related to industrials and utilities. We also cover ETFs related to AI, blockchain and managed futures.

ETF Video – Bull Pattern for SPY – Wedge Breakouts Holding – Setups in Industrials, Utes, Infra Read More »

ETF Report – SPY/QQQ Lead – AI ETFs Surge – XLI/PAVE Trigger – Bank ETFs Hold Breakouts

The weight of the evidence remains bullish for stocks, but small-caps and mid-caps continue to lag. We are watching a bullish pattern in SPY and a breakout QQQ. Several tech-related ETFs extended on their mid January breakouts and hit new highs. Elsewhere, short-term bullish patterns formed for ETFs related to industrials, infrastructure and defense.
The Finance SPDR (XLF) and Communication Services SPDR (XLC) are leading the sectors with new highs here in February. The Technology SPDR (XLK) is holding up as it surged off support

ETF Report – SPY/QQQ Lead – AI ETFs Surge – XLI/PAVE Trigger – Bank ETFs Hold Breakouts Read More »

Market Regime – Weak Rebound for Percent of Stocks above their 200-day SMAs

The long-term trends are up for the major index ETFs and their respective breadth indicators are net bullish. Long-term breadth indicators deteriorated sharply in December and rebounded in January, but the rebounds were not that strong. Around 60% of S&P 500 stocks are above their 200-day SMAs, which means 40% are below

Market Regime – Weak Rebound for Percent of Stocks above their 200-day SMAs Read More »

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