Much to students’ chagrin, it’s back to school for many as fall rapidly approaches. For retail ETF investors, it’s a lesson in profitability as seen in the Invesco Dynamic Retail ETF (NYSEArca: PMR), which reached a new 52-week high of $42.67 today.
Based on Yahoo! Finance performance figures, PMR is up 5.73% year-to-date and 13.35% the past year. PMR touched down on its 50-day moving average to start the month, but has since elevated from this level.
PMR seeks to track the investment results (of the Dynamic Retail IntellidexSM Index, which is composed of common stocks of 30 U.S. retailers. These companies are engaged principally in operating general merchandise stores such as department stores, discount stores, warehouse clubs and superstores; specialty stores, including apparel, electronics, accessories and footwear stores; and home improvement and home furnishings stores.
PMR and the retail sector in general was helped by a tailwind of positive economic data from the Commerce Department as retail sales increased by 0.5% in July–more than anticipated–an early indication that the economy is full steam ahead in the third quarter.