SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

SPY

Market cap $705B

The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) has underperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) year-to-date, but November shows a reversal. Several Dividend Aristocrats, including CAH, CAT, CHRW, and ALB, have posted double-digit gains in 2025, while others lag behind. Dividend growth among Aristocrats averages 5.46% for 2025, with most constituents announcing increases, though growth is slightly below 2024 levels.

As the S&P 500 mounts a successive recovery, historical data suggests that the index is likely to face bearish sentiment in 2026.

Through the end of November, the year-to-date total return of the Dogs of the Dow equals 20.96%, outpacing the Dow Jones Industrial Average return of 13.86% and outpacing the broader S&P 500 Index return of 17.74%. In a sign the market seems to be broadening out, two of the top three performing Dow Dogs are health care stocks, Johnson & Johnson and Amgen. The Dogs of the Dow strategy is one where investors select the ten stocks that have the highest dividend yield from the stocks in the DJIA Index after the close of business on the last trading day of the year.

The iShares Russell 2500 ETF offers superior risk-adjusted returns and diversification compared to the popular Vanguard Extended Market ETF. SMMD trades at a lower P/E and P/B, provides a higher yield, and has less concentration risk and lower drawdowns than VXF. While VXF boasts lower fees and greater liquidity, its broader exposure includes more speculative micro-caps, increasing volatility and risk.

The S&P 500 rebounded to finish flat in November, with blue chips leading and tech lagging, while Health Care outperformed all sectors. Economic data shows rising unemployment but robust consumer spending, with inflation moderating near 2.5% and Q3 GDP growth estimated at 3.7%.

ETFs to watch as Wall Street turns upbeat, with bullish forecasts putting the S&P 500 on track for 8,000 by 2026.

US stocks edge higher on thin post-Thanksgiving volume, but November's losing streak looks set. Tech doubts weigh as indices snap months of gains.

US equity indices traded quietly in a shortened post-Thanksgiving session, with the NASDAQ 100, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 all holding firm near support levels. Short-term pullbacks are viewed as buying opportunities, with December seasonality expected to favor further upside.

U.S. stock futures halted trading on Friday amid a data center glitch, after Wednesday's advances. However, the benchmark index tracking ETFs were trading higher.

Trading of futures and options on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange have been halted for several hours on Friday due to a data center glitch, disrupting trade across foreign exchange, bonds, equities and commodities trading. Bloomberg's Clara Ferreira Marques reports.