IWM - iShares Russell 2000 ETF

NYSEArca - Nasdaq Real Time Price. Currency in USD
157.92
+0.61 (+0.39%)
At close: 4:00PM EDT
Stock chart is not supported by your current browser
Previous Close157.31
Open0.00
Bid0.00 x 900
Ask0.00 x 900
Day's Range156.70 - 158.75
52 Week Range125.81 - 171.82
Volume23,242,562
Avg. Volume20,584,379
Net Assets40.07B
NAV157.27
PE Ratio (TTM)N/A
Yield1.25%
YTD Return18.08%
Beta (3Y Monthly)1.22
Expense Ratio (net)0.19%
Inception Date2000-05-22
Trade prices are not sourced from all markets
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    Crude Oil Prices Jump Along with Small-Cap Stocks

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    Small Caps Squeeze Higher as Momentum Unwinds

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  • Why Money is Rushing into Small Cap Stocks and ETFs
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    Why Money is Rushing into Small Cap Stocks and ETFs

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    Guide to 25 Most-Liquid ETFs

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  • Stock Market Today: Small Caps Are Back?
    InvestorPlace

    Stock Market Today: Small Caps Are Back?

    It was another positive day on Wall Street, with stocks closing near their highs on Wednesday. Again, small-cap stocks stole the show in the stock market today.All week, we've been pointing out the outperformance of the Russell 2000. That strength was on display as the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) closed higher by 2%.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsThat easily outpaced the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) and the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA:DIA), which rallied 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively. It also topped the 0.9% rally in the PowerShares QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ).The IWM is now up almost 5% just this week, easily topping the roughly 50 basis appreciation in the S&P 500. The ETF has also seen a few strong days of accumulation, causing some to wonder whether small caps are set to start closing that gap.While the IWM may be coming into some possible resistance, continued momentum could kick-start a breakout. Movers in the Stock Market TodayShares of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) barreled to their highest level in about a year, rising 3.2% to $223.59. The move comes on a two-fold catalyst. First, the company introduced its new iPhone and other products set to launch over the next few weeks. Second, the stock was on the cusp of a big breakout, which is taking place now.If only Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) could say the same thing. Shares were down 20% on the day, despite the company beating on earnings and revenue expectations. However, the midpoint of management's full-year guidance came up short of consensus estimates for both revenue and earnings. * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September Restoration Hardware (NYSE:RH) initially opened lower, but then jumped 4.8% to new highs. The move comes after the company reported yet another beat-and-raise quarter.Side note: RH and IWM are two stocks on Wednesday's Top Stock Trades column.Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) shares fell more than 4% after the company reported earnings. The company beat on earnings, reported in-line revenue and missed on comp store sales results.GameStop (NYSE:GME) took it on the chin, falling more than 10% after the company missed on earnings and revenue estimates, and provided worse-than-expected guidance. The only seemingly good news is that shares rallied hard off the lows and did not make new 52-week lows.Another retailer that's struggling? Forever 21, which is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as this weekend. Heard on the StreetCisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) climbed 1.7% and is looking to reclaim $50 after it was initiated with an "outperform" rating and $60 price target from the analysts at Evercore ISI.Hilton Worldwide Holdings (NYSE:HLT) jumped about 1.7% on the day, closing at $95.21. The move came after Bernstein analysts initiated shares with an "outperform" rating and $108 price target. It implies almost 14% upside from Wednesday's close.Finally, shares of Callaway Golf (NYSE:ELY) were upgraded to "outperform" at Raymond James. The analysts are using a $21 price target, implying more than 10% upside from current levels. That's even after the stock's nearly 26% rally so far this year and 5.5% rally on Wednesday.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell was long AAPL. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September * 7 of the Worst IPO Stocks in 2019 * 7 Best Stocks That Crushed It This Earnings Season The post Stock Market Today: Small Caps Are Back? appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • 5 Top Stock Trades for Thursday: T, UBER, LYFT, IWM, RH
    InvestorPlace

    5 Top Stock Trades for Thursday: T, UBER, LYFT, IWM, RH

    Equities continue to stretch higher as the week wears on, with U.S. stocks once again pushing higher. Let's look at a few top stock trades from Wednesday. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow 1: AT&TEarlier this week, shares of AT&T (NYSE:T) were poised for big gains thanks to news of activist investor Elliott Management acquiring an equity stake. However, the stock faded for most of Monday's session, although it still ended higher on the day. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsOn Wednesday, shares took out Monday's high and are moving nicely to the upside. * 10 Healthcare Stocks to Buy Despite the Headlines The rally on Monday broke T stock over channel resistance (blue line). So long as it maintains above $37 -- which was weekly resistance and can be seen here -- then it's okay on the long side. Side note: Look at that awesome volume accumulation (blue circle)! Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow 2: UberUber (NYSE:UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) stock actually traded higher, despite recent California legislation that's expected to hurt the ride-hailing companies' bottom line. Rallying on bad news is actually a good thing. For Uber, the stock has also broken over channel resistance. However, shares are being rejected by the 20-day moving average, and still face likely resistance at $36. Here's what to watch for now. Shares need to hold above former channel resistance and not make new lows. That will at least be constructive price action for the bulls. Additionally, let's see if Uber stock can reclaim the 20-day moving average. It tried on Wednesday but was rejected. If it does, $36 is on the table. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow 3: LyftLyft has a very similar setup to Uber -- what a shocker. For Lyft though, it's not quite as far out of the woods is Uber. Shares were also rejected by the 20-day moving average and while they're currently above channel resistance, it's not a lay-up that it stays that way. Like Uber, Lyft stock needs to avoid making new lows. A close over $48 and the 20-day moving average could trigger a rally up to the 50-day moving average. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow 4: Russell 2000 ETF The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) has been a beast this week, something InvestorPlace readers were tipped off to earlier this week in the Stock Market Today column. In any regard, the IWM is running into some potential resistance between $156.50 and $158. Over the latter and the bulls can look to squeeze the ETF up to the May highs near $160.50. The IWM has lagged the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq both year-to-date and over the past 12 months. If it can continue gaining momentum, perhaps it will look to close some of that gap. On the downside, bulls need to see $150 hold as support. Top Stock Trades for Tomorrow 5: Restoration HardwareThe company delivered another beat-and-raise quarter and yet, Restoration Hardware (NYSE:RH) actually opened lower on the day. Rising more than 6.5% by the close though, buyers really stepped up. As shares technically become overbought, there is additional concern as it runs into possible channel resistance. It's possible that it breaks out over this area, but if not, the bull case is not over. * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September So long as RH holds over $158, it looks good on the long side. That marks the prior high from March. I would love to see trendline No. 2 buoy the name from here. Should it fail as support, $150 could be on the table. Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long T. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September * 7 of the Worst IPO Stocks in 2019 * 7 Best Stocks That Crushed It This Earnings Season The post 5 Top Stock Trades for Thursday: T, UBER, LYFT, IWM, RH appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • Small-Cap Value ETFs Rallying Hard: Here's Why
    Zacks

    Small-Cap Value ETFs Rallying Hard: Here's Why

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  • Risk-On Sentiment Resumes
    Investopedia

    Risk-On Sentiment Resumes

    Small caps extended their sharp rally as large caps stagnated. Gold accelerated its pullback, and bond prices also tumbled.

  • Stock Market Today: Streaming Wars Are About to Get Real
    InvestorPlace

    Stock Market Today: Streaming Wars Are About to Get Real

    Tuesday marked another interesting day in U.S. equities. Investors saw good, bad and ugly in the stock market today, with assets mixed for the second straight session. Worth noting in this case though, the stark differences weren't as notable as Monday's session.Again though, we saw small caps outperform via the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) as it rallied 1.24%, while tech lagged as the PowerShares QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ) fell 0.3%.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsSandwiched in between were the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA:DIA), which were down 0.04% and up 0.2%, respectively.While we saw small caps easily outperform the S&P 500 on Monday, we also saw high-growth tech stocks like Twilio (NYSE:TWLO), Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP) and others obliterated on the day. On Tuesday, we saw more selling pressure in these names, although not to the extent we did in the prior session.Instead, streaming dominated the headlines in the stock market today, following the Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) event. All About AppleJust like it does every year, Apple held its fall product event on Tuesday, showcasing a number of new services, products and upgrades for its customers. What were the highlights?Starting with the iPhone, Apple announced three new versions of the device. The iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max will start at $999 and $1099, respectively, and sport panel sizes of 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches, respectively. * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September The devices will come in four colors, have OLED displays and boast three rear-facing cameras. The iPhones will ship with a fast-changing adapter, while the iPhone 11 Pro has improved battery life of four hours and iPhone 11 Pro Max sports an improvement of five hours.The third device is Apple's low-cost option, the iPhone 11, weighing in at $699. The iPhone sports a 6.1-inch display and dual rear-facing camera. The low-cost option will be available in six colors.Customers will also be able to order the new Series 5 Apple Watch. The device starts at $399, with a 4G unit costing $499. The Series 3 price will drop down $199. Apple also introduced the 7th-generation iPad, which starts at $329 and will begin shipping at the end of the month.Further, the company announced that Apple Arcade will be available Sept. 19 in more than 150 countries. The service starts at $4.99 per month for the whole family (after a one-month free trial), and will soon have more than 100 games.Finally, the company said that its Apple TV+ service will start at just $4.99 for the whole family. One year of the service will be included for new hardware purchases, with the first shows launching Nov. 1 in over 100 countries. Apple expects to add new shows each month. Streaming WarsI left the Apple TV+ news for last, because it has more than just customers talking about it. It's wreaking havoc on other streaming plays, like Disney (NYSE:DIS), Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) and Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU).Disney and Netflix each slipped about 2.2%, while Roku took a punch to the teeth, falling 10.5%. It's exactly why all three stocks (plus Apple) were InvestorPlace's Top Stock Trades.What will the impact be?When Disney priced its Disney+ streaming service at $6.99 per month (or $70 annually), most assumed it was to undercut Netflix. Given Disney's strong content library and appeal to parents, the service looks like a layup at these prices.But after Apple announced its service at $4.99 a month, perhaps that's why Disney's price came in so low. While it doesn't mean he knew ahead of time, the fact that Disney CEO Bob Iger sits on the Apple board is at least worth mentioning here.In any regard, I don't know that Disney is at a big competitive risk against Apple. For starters, the price points are not that far apart, particularly if customers buy the annual package from Disney (which boils down to $5.83 per month). Second, Disney has vastly better content than Apple that appeals to toddlers, kids, teens and adults.That's hard to top.For Netflix though, its standard plan rings in at $12.99 a month, but its offerings range between $8.99 and $15.99 per month. Many would argue that it has inferior content to Disney, but will likely have superior content to Apple. Unfortunately, its price point isn't competitive. It will be interesting to see how much staying power NFLX really has and how loyal its customers really are.Perhaps it won't lose market share and in fact, gain market share as more customers cut the cord. Collectively, someone could pay $25 a month for NFLX (standard), Disney+ and Apple TV+. Not bad.Let's see what the market makes of it over the next few days and weeks.Finally, there's Roku. Shares were crushed on the day, which likely had more to do with its run from under $100 to over $175 in about a month's time more than anything else. Still, the headlines about Apple's approach to streaming -- of course, with its own hardware available -- didn't help matters.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long AAPL, DIS and SHOP. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Stocks to Sell in Market-Cursed September * 7 of the Worst IPO Stocks in 2019 * 7 Best Stocks That Crushed It This Earnings Season The post Stock Market Today: Streaming Wars Are About to Get Real appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • Small Caps Shine
    Investopedia

    Small Caps Shine

    The Russell 2000 outperformed large caps as semiconductor stocks neared record highs. Could bond yields be close to bottoming?

  • Stock Market Today: What to Do With High-Growth Onslaught?
    InvestorPlace

    Stock Market Today: What to Do With High-Growth Onslaught?

    It was a very mixed session in the stock market day. While some areas of the market did really well, other parts of the market were creamed on Monday. Broadly speaking though -- as measured by the S&P 500 -- the stock market was flat on the day.Anyone investing in small caps or high growth wouldn't agree with that statement, though.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsLast week, we finally saw the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY), SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA:DIA) and PowerShares QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ) break out.The trio had been trapped in a month-long trading range that was both choppy and frustrating for investors. When they finally broke out, investors were relieved despite there still being a few concerns. Small Caps Lead, High Growth DecimatedOne issue was small caps, which were struggling. I would really like to see the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) play catch-up and push over its 50-day moving average at this point. However, Monday's 1.33% rally against a flat S&P 500 was a good start.On the flip side, the action in high-octane growth stocks was damaging. Many of these names were showing a ton of relative strength throughout 2019, with several doubling, tripling and quadrupling. They showed relative strength in May when the market was under pressure, and again in August when volatility increased.But when stocks broke out last week, they were stagnant. Now on Monday, they're getting hammered. It's one reason why observing relative strength price action is so important. * 7 Stocks to Buy In a Flat Market The Trade Desk (NASDAQ:TTD) and Twilio (NYSE:TWLO) fell more than 10% at one point, while Alteryx (NYSE:AYX) fell more than 15%. Pinterest (NYSE:PINS), Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP), Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) and others were also hit with a bevy of selling. Even Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) and Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) were struggling.A number of these stocks made our Top Stock Trades list on Monday as a result of the action.Hopefully InvestorPlace readers were ready though, as we highlighted this very concern in real-time just last week. Movers in the Stock Market TodayShares of AT&T (NYSE:T) were rallying as much as 6% in pre-market trading, but ended higher by just 1.41%. Still, the rally sent shares to multi-year highs after Elliott Management took an activist stake in the company.They sent a letter to management, highlighting steps they can take to elevate the stock to $60 or more by the end of 2021. That's up more than 60% from current levels. Keep in mind, shares still yield about 5.6%. Those who have been patient in AT&T stock are now being rewarded.Shares of Fannie Mae (OTCMKTS:FNMA) rocketed on the day, climbing almost 40% after an appeals court reversed an earlier decision which backed the government taking all of its profits. Freddie Mac (OTCMKTS:FMCC) rallied a similar amount on the ruling.Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) stock initially moved lower on the day, but closed higher on Monday despite more incoming probes. Now the New York attorney general is investigating the company for antitrust concerns. Joining them will be attorney generals from seven other states as well as the District of Columbia.Facebook also has to contend with the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice.However, it could be worse. For instance, look at Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL). It just settled one investigation with the FTC and also has the DOJ breathing down its neck. But like Facebook, it was announced on Monday that a number of state AGs would investigate the company as well.However, instead of eight states and DC, GOOGL will face 50 attorney generals. California and Alabama will not be involved, but D.C. and Puerto Rico are, bringing the total to 50.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks to Buy * 7 Industrial Stocks to Buy for a Strong U.S. Economy * 3 Beaten-Down Bank Stocks to Buy and Hold for the Long Term The post Stock Market Today: What to Do With High-Growth Onslaught? appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • Big Buying in Stocks Should Lift Markets in Near Term
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    Big Buying in Stocks Should Lift Markets in Near Term

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    Markets Struggle to Extend Rally

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    Markets Are Primed to Fall

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    Investopedia

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  • Stock Market Today: Bitcoin Plunges, Small Caps Hold Key Level
    InvestorPlace

    Stock Market Today: Bitcoin Plunges, Small Caps Hold Key Level

    While the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:SPY) is basically flat so far this week, there's been plenty of moves between the open and the close. In the stock market today, investors saw stocks drop lower, with major indices down about 50 basis points before reversing and closing notably higher on Wednesday.All in all, the SPY closed higher by 0.7%. However, investors were watching other key assets, including the Russell 2000. Often viewed via the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM), shares jumped 1.2% on the day. Importantly though, a key level of support stood strong, allowing investors to breathe a sigh of relief.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Russell, Oil Prices in FocusUnlike the range-bound price action we've seen in the SPY so far this month -- which continues to improve with higher lows -- investors have seen a worse development in the IWM.The ETF isn't bouncing between support and resistance. Instead, it's trending lower. On Wednesday, bulls made an important stand at $145, a key level over the past 12 months. It would be quite constructive to now see the IWM push through short-term channel resistance and the 200-day moving average.If the IWM cannot do so, it could put $145 back on the table. If it falls below this key level, it could draw in more sellers and squeeze the ETF down to channel support in the low $140s. The tricky part about this market? Headlines. Right now, all it takes is one tweet to send stocks rocketing or sinking. If that weren't the case, the charts would be much easier to trade. * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income Some investors are finally starting to pay attention to oil prices, but far too many are still oblivious to the commodity. Oil prices and the S&P 500 have a notable correlation and lately, oil prices have been leading stock prices. Oil's ability to hold up over $55 could bode well for stock bulls going forward. You don't have to trade oil to make it a useful indicator for equities. BitcoinWhoa, what happened to bitcoin on the day? Along with most other cryptocurrencies, it was slugged on Wednesday. At 1:50 P.M., bitcoin prices were roughly flat at $10,235. Within just minutes, prices slumped almost $700, hitting a low of $9,555.So far, there's not much of an explanation for the plunge. Was it a large seller? Did liquidity dry up momentarily? According to CryptoTrends, "Most analysts have attributed the drop to the close of the CME bitcoin futures contract, which previously has marked several pullbacks for the dominant cryptocurrency."The move caught a number of investors off-guard -- and understandably so. Despite the fall, many are still bullish on BTC prices amid the current macro backdrop. With the Federal Reserve and other global banks resorting to more easing, and a flight to non-equity assets starting, crypto-bulls are enjoying a resurgent year in their key asset.It will be interesting to see how bitcoin prices react to the equity markets' moves into year end. Movers in the Stock Market TodayShares of Blackstone (NYSE:BX) are roughly flat on the day, but Tallgrass Energy (NYSE:TGE) certainly isn't. The $5.5 billion market cap company caught a 35% boost on Wednesday after it received a bid from BX to acquire all the shares it and its affiliates do not already own at $19.50 per share. Now near $19.40, there's not much upside left.Cycling startup Peloton -- yep, that's the one -- filed to go public. According to its filing, Peloton generated an impressive $915 million in sales in its last fiscal year. However, it also racked up almost $250 million in losses. Ouch. A number of investors are worried about two things, first of which are those huge losses. Second, how will Peleton hold up in a softer economic environment? To be fair, the consumer appears relatively healthy at the moment -- no pun intended.Both Ford (NYSE:F) and General Motors (NYSE:GM) caught a boost on Wednesday. That's as auto sales dropped "just" 4.3% in China last month. According to the Wall Street Journal, it could suggest that a bottom may be around the corner in the Chinese auto market.It may not be a great catalyst -- and may not turn at all -- but investors are willing to grasp at some hope. The country has logged 13 straight months of declining auto sales, which is quite the rough patch for what had been a robust auto market for about two decades prior to the decline.Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Tech Industry Dividend Stocks for Growth and Income * 7 Stocks the Insiders Are Buying on Sale * 7 of the Worst Stocks on Wall Street The post Stock Market Today: Bitcoin Plunges, Small Caps Hold Key Level appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • Big Money Selling Is Increasing
    Investopedia

    Big Money Selling Is Increasing

    Although selling is outweighing buying, the markets are in a period summer volatility with low liquidity and low participants.

  • Small Caps Could Test 2018 Lows
    Investopedia

    Small Caps Could Test 2018 Lows

    The Russell-2000 index technical outlook has deteriorated, raising odds for a trip back to the December 2018 low.

  • 7 of Worst ETFs — Boot These From Your Portfolio Right Now
    InvestorPlace

    7 of Worst ETFs — Boot These From Your Portfolio Right Now

    On a historical basis, August usually isn't a good month for stocks, but August 2019 could enter rarefied air as one of the worst months on record for stocks. As of Friday, Aug. 23, the S&P 500 was down more than 5% month-to-date. It's popped a bit since then, but the average August decline for the benchmark U.S. equity gauge over the past 20 years is a mere 0.10%.With just a week left in August, don't expect a significant reversal of fortune, especially not when President Trump's anti-China rhetoric is reaching new heights. China isn't innocent in this deal, either. Beijing is promising to boost tariffs on American-made products and that gambit isn't paying dividends for Chinese markets, either.In this piece, we're looking at some of the worst ETFs and there are plenty of China offenders. Month-to-date, the iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI), one of the largest China funds trading in the U.S., is off 9.05%, easily putting it in "worst ETF" territory.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow Investors do not need to avoid equities altogether, but this is an environment that rewards defense and many of the worst ETFs aren't that. Here are some of the ETFs to avoid over the near term or considering removing from your portfolio before larger losses mount. Technology Select Sector SPDR (XLK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.13% per year, or $13 on a $10,000 investment.This is not an example of picking on a particular ETF. With the market declining due to trade tensions and technology being the largest sector weight in the S&P 500, any fund tracking the sector could be in "worst ETF" territory over the near term. The Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSEARCA:XLK) just happens to be the largest ETF dedicated to tech stocks.Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), XLK's second-largest holding, epitomizes the headwinds facing XLK and rival funds in an environment where the U.S. and China are at odds. President Trump can rally his base by demanding American tech companies bring operations back to the U.S. and reduce dependence on China, but making that effort actually come to life is improbable. Regarding Apple, for every $10 in revenue it generates, China accounts for $2."Companies like Apple rely on contract manufacturers in China for many reasons," reports Barron's. "The cost and abundance of labor is one reason, but so is capacity and manufacturing sophistication. As much as the White House might like companies like Apple to extricate themselves from China, what he is asking would be both almost impossible and economically disastrous." iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.19%As is the case with XLK above, the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM) is not being picked on here. IWM is joined in the worst ETF club at the moment by a slew of its small-cap rivals. I'm simply including IWM here because with more than $39.2 billion in assets under management, it is the largest small-cap ETF.Typically, international trade tensions would actually be an impetus for embracing domestic small caps because these companies generate the bulk of their revenue within the U.S. Said another way, the August struggles of IWM and rival small-cap funds are not only disappointing, but concerning. * 7 "Boring" Stocks With Exciting Prospects The worst ETF status of standard small-cap funds like IWM can be attributed to the funds' large weights to the financial services sector. That group has been punished by declining interest rates and smaller financial companies are even more vulnerable to that trend than their large-cap brethren. Making matters worse for small-cap funds is that if markets continue flailing, the Federal Reserve is likely to deploy more rate cuts, so even if large caps bounce back, smaller stocks could continue languishing. SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.35%The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA:XRT) is down almost 10% this month. Alone, that's a qualifier for worst ETF status, but long-term retail trends do not bode well for XRT. Put simply, XRT has too much exposure to struggling brick-and-mortar retailers and not enough to hot corner of retail: e-commerce and online.I'm not saying Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is going to put every brick-and-mortar retailer out of business, but the expected growth of online retail is a drag on XRT and its worst ETF status is only cemented by large exposure to struggling department store operators. A recent spate of earnings reports confirm that department and outlet stores are in under significant pressure."Second-quarter results in this channel still fell short for many," said Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez in a recent note. The strong U.S. consumer "underscores that the pressure in this channel is structural." VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF (BJK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.66%The VanEck Vectors Gaming ETF (NYSEARCA:BJK) isn't the biggest industry fund on the market, but it bears noting in this conversation because the U.S. and China combine for about 59% of the fund's geographic weight. What that means is significant exposure to Macau, the world's largest gaming mecca and that equates to vulnerabilities for this fund because the largest US-based casino companies are also among the largest Macau operators.Macau is being pinched on multiple fronts, including the US/China trade war and the now long-running protests in Hong Kong, which have hampered travel to the gambling hub. If China's economy noticeably slows, that will keep VIPs out of Macau, confirming BJK as a worst ETF. * Airline Stocks: What's Keeping Them From Taking Off? Making matters worse is that the domestic regional operators found in this fund, although they have no China exposure, are also being punished. That could portend some value with BJK down the road as markets reassess certain casino firms, but now isn't the time to be rushing into this fund. First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (FXZ)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.64%The materials sector is one of the smallest weights in the S&P 500, but it has been one of the biggest losers this month. Just look at the First Trust Materials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSEARCA:FXZ), which is one of August's worst ETFs with a loss of 12%.Several marquee companies in this sector are already talking about the ill effects the trade war will have on earnings and revenue, making FXZ and other materials highly undesirable over the near-term. China is just too important of a customer for many American chemicals and plastics producers to make FXZ a "buy" today.Further hindering FXZ is its status a mid-cap ETF at a time when smaller stocks are out of favor. Investors looking for glimmers of hope with materials stocks will enjoy knowing that hedge funds are overweight the sector, but if FXZ is on your shopping list, keep it there because patience will likely lead to better prices here. iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.46%Trade wars spell trouble for tech stocks, but semiconductor names are among the most vulnerable. That is much is proven by the iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX), which is lower by more than 9% this month. SOXX, which tracks the PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index, has a standard deviation of 22.31% and has displayed considerable sensitivity to trade-related headlines, so its worst ETF status could be shed in short order. Properly timing that move is another matter."Chipmakers have been similarly volatile because of the trade war. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index dropped 3.6% on Friday, and every member of the benchmark industry index was in negative territory," according to Bloomberg. * 15 Cybersecurity Stocks to Watch as the Industry Heats Up Many SOXX components are suppliers to the controversial Chinese telecom firm Huawei. That company is blacklisted by U.S. regulators, a move that has stirred semiconductor companies into action with executives pleading with the White House to relax some of the Huawei restrictions. There's the catalyst to get SOXX out of worst ETF territory, but no one knows when it's coming. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VFK)Source: Shutterstock Expense ratio: 0.09%The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK) is performing mostly inline with the S&P 500 this month and while expectations are running high that central banks across Europe are poised to spring into action, that may be a case of too little too late to help many of the region's long-slumbering economies.Adding to VGK as a worst ETF contender is that European stocks are basically value plays and value is mostly out of style. Developed Europe has been inexpensive relative to the U.S. for years and global investors have hardly seemed to care."According to FactSet data, the Stoxx Europe 600 was trading at 14 times forecast earnings, compared to the S&P 500's 17 times, which represent a wider gap than its long-term average over the past decade," reports ETF Trends.Other reasons VGK is a near-term avoid: the specter of a hard Brexit (the UK is the ETF's largest country weight), a recession in Germany and more political volatility in Italy.Todd Shriber does not own any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Companies Using AI to Grow * The 10 Biggest Winners From Second-Quarter Earnings * 7 Marijuana Penny Stocks to Consider for Those Who Can Handle Risk The post 7 of Worst ETFs -- Boot These From Your Portfolio Right Now appeared first on InvestorPlace.