The industrial sector is the sixth-largest sector weight in the S&P 500. The group and its related exchange traded funds (ETFs) have been solid though not spectacular performers this year. Within the broader industrial sector, transportation stocks have also been solid.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation, the volume of freight transported by road, rail, air, barge and pipelines has been flattening or lower since the end of 2014, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, stubbornly low energy prices may help the transportation industry cut down on costs.
Related: Not-So-Great Expectations for Industrial ETFs
Headwinds remain for the industrial sector. The sell-off in the oil markets has weighed on capital spending from the energy sector as producers hold off on new projects, pressuring U.S. industrial companies and sector-related exchange traded funds.
Moreover, the industrial space is being weighed down by a slowing global outlook and a strengthening U.S. dollar.