Investors interested in the industrials sector typically look at the largest ETF options in the space, including the the Industrial Select Sector SPDR (NYSEArca: XLI) and Vanguard Industrials ETF (NYSEArca: VIS). The funds track market-cap-weighted indices. XLI is up 0.5% and VIS rose 0.9% over the past month. [Industrial ETFs Feast on Value Binge]
Meanwhile, over the past month, the PowerShares DWA Industrials Momentum Portfolio (NYSEArca: PRN) has gained 3.6% and the First Trust Industrials/Producer Durables AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEArca: FXR) is up 1.8%.
The PowerShares and First Trust offerings track alternatively weighted indices. Specifically, PRN identifies companies that show relative strength, or momentum. FXR picks out companies based on growth factors including three, six and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one year sales growth, and on value factors including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets.
Consequently, PRN and FXR have a greater tilt toward mid- and small-cap companies in the industrial sector. The PowerShares ETF’s market-cap include 4.5% mega-cap, 24.9% large-cap, 39.0% mid-cap, 21.2% small-cap and 10.5% micro-cap. FXR’s holdings include 3.6% mega-cap, 19.4% large-cap, 62.8% mid-cap and 14.2% small-cap.
For more information on the industrials sector, visit our industrials category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.