Best-Performing ETF Sectors in August with Gains of 20% or More
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 01 2025
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
Market Performance Overview
- S&P 500 and Dow Jones Gains: The S&P 500 achieved a 1.5% increase in August, marking its fourth consecutive month of gains, while the Dow Jones rose by 3.2%, also reflecting four months of growth. Notably, the S&P 500 reached a record high during this period.
- Nasdaq's Winning Streak: The Nasdaq Composite recorded a 1.6% gain, achieving its fifth consecutive monthly rise, the longest winning streak in over a year and a half.
Small-Cap Stocks and Inflation Concerns
- Russell 2000 Performance: Small-cap stocks, represented by the Russell 2000, surged approximately 7% in August, marking its fourth consecutive monthly gain and the strongest performance in over four years.
- Inflation Data Impact: Recent government data revealed that the core personal consumption expenditures price index rose by 2.9% in July, meeting estimates but higher than June's figures. This increase is concerning as it is the highest since February, raising worries about inflation remaining above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
Consumer Sentiment and Fed Rate Cut Expectations
- Decline in Consumer Sentiment: Consumer sentiment fell to a three-month low in August, driven by concerns over tariffs and inflation, with respondents expecting faster inflation in the coming year.
- Rate Cut Speculations: Despite the inflation data, traders are pricing in an 86.4% chance of a quarter-point rate cut in September, indicating confidence that the Federal Reserve may ease monetary policy in response to a slowing labor market.
Tech Stocks Volatility and AI Bubble Concerns
- Tech Sector Pullback: The tech sector experienced volatility, particularly towards the end of August, with fears of an AI bubble. The Nasdaq Composite fell about 1.2% on the last day of the month, led by significant declines in major tech stocks.
- Notable Stock Movements: On August 29, NVIDIA shares dropped over 3.3%, Tesla fell 3.5%, Meta Platforms decreased by 1.7%, and Amazon.com saw a decline of over 1.1%.
Top Performing ETFs in August
- Roundhill Cannabis ETF (WEED): This ETF surged by 91.3% in August, driven by speculation regarding potential reclassification of marijuana by President Trump.
- Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS): It experienced an 83.2% increase, reflecting the broader cannabis market's growth.
- KraneShares SSE STAR Market 50 Index ETF (KSTR): This ETF rose by 29.7%, focusing on the largest companies on the SSE Science and Technology Innovation Board.
- Sprott Active Gold & Silver Miners ETF (GBUG): It gained 25.5%, targeting companies involved in gold and silver mining.
- VanEck ChiNext ETF (CNXT): This ETF increased by 25%, tracking the performance of major China A-share stocks.
- CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI): It rose by 23.9%, providing exposure to companies engaged in bitcoin mining operations.
Conclusion
- The market showed resilience with notable gains across major indexes despite inflation concerns and a decline in consumer sentiment. The tech sector faced challenges, while specific ETFs, particularly in the cannabis and mining sectors, demonstrated significant growth.
Analyst Views on KSTR
Wall Street analysts forecast KSTR stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for KSTR is USD with a low forecast of USD and a high forecast of USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
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Current: 21.540
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About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.








