We review the best and worst performing ETFs across all asset classifications for Q2 and YTD 2025.

This week marks our quarterly review of the best and worst-performing ETFs for the second quarter of 2025. Using the Security Screener on our platform, we refined our search within seven different classifications, applying liquidity screens for average volume and net assets, while continuing to exclude leverage or inverse ETFs. This provides a summary of which areas saw the most improvement over the past three months, and which areas saw the most weakness.

We have split the conversation today into two segments. The classifications for all ETFs, broad domestic ETFs, and US sector ETFs are shown in the first segment. The second image shows the other asset classifications, including international equities, commodities, fixed income, and currencies. Each set of images has quarterly performance on the top and annual performance on the bottom. We have also provided some brief commentary on important observations to accompany each section.

All ETFs, Domestic Equity, & US Sectors

Key Observations:

• Uranium (URA) was the best performing asset area over the past three months, gaining 69%. The top ten best performing areas were diverse, including commodities, blockchain areas, and some single-stock funds. Cathie Wood made a comeback in Q2, with three of the ARK ETFs making their way into the top ten overall.
• Oil-related funds were among the worst performers in the “all” classification, and in the sector classification. We also saw high yield equities represented in the worst overall and in the worst domestic equity-only funds.
• Large-cap growth and momentum dominated the top performing broad US funds, and growth-oriented sectors dominated the top performing sector funds.
• Similar themes persisted in the annual performance comparison, although more commodity names were represented in the overall table. Value, small-caps, and some specific sectors were among the worst performers.

International Equities, Commodities, Fixed Income, & Currencies

Key Observations:

• International equities saw consistency between the best funds in Q2 and the best funds so far this year. Europe dominated the list, with European Aerospace & Defense (EUAD) demonstrating sharp improvement. China makes up a large part of the worst performers over the past three months and for 2025. Other weak areas include Turkey (TUR) and Saudi Arabia (KSA).
• Metals dominated the best performing commodity funds, with broad representation from Platinum (PPLT), Gold (BAR), and even the broad fund GLTR. On the other end, energy was the worst performing across both time frames.
• The fixed income space saw notable improvement from foreign bonds given the strength from international equities. Preferreds and convertibles also continued to perform well. TIPs, long-duration bonds, and municipals were among the worst performers.
• The currency space saw consistent strength from Bitcoin funds, while Ethereum bounced back in the second quarter. The US dollar continues to fall, demonstrating further weakness in Q2.