Image source: Pixabay

With just two months left in the year, it's time to update our asset class performance matrix and highlight the best- and worst-performing stocks and ETFs on a year-to-date basis.

Below is a look at total returns across a range of ETFs both year-to-date and during the month of October.

October was a month dominated by the mega-caps, as they pushed large-cap ETFs like SPY, DIA, and QQQ solidly green, while the equal-weight ETF (RSP) and mid-caps actually fell. Small-cap growth (IJT) and value (IJS) funds were also red, along with the Dow Jones Dividend ETF (DVY). Across sectors, more fell in October (6) than rose (5), with Technology (XLK) and Health Care (XLV) being the only two big areas of strength.

Outside the US, Argentina (ARGT) rose 35% in October after President Milei's party maintained control in elections. China (MCHI), Germany (EWG), and Mexico (EWW) were the three worst country ETFs in our matrix during the month of October.

On a year-to-date basis, large-cap domestic ETFs are sitting on solid gains of 15%-20%, and the Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is up a whopping 49.9%. Silver (SLV), gold (GLD), and Spain (EWP) are the three best performers in the entire matrix so far in 2025, with 50%+ returns.
 

(Click on image to enlarge)

Below is an updated look at performance across a more expansive list of country ETFs since President Trump's second term began as well as since the "tariff tantrum" lows on April 8.

The average country ETF is up 34.2% since April 8 and 26.2% since Trump's Inauguration on Jan. 20. The US (SPY) is slightly outperforming since the April 8 low, but it's underperforming since Inauguration Day with a gain of 14.1%.

South Korea (EWY), Spain (EWP), Peru (EPU), Greece (GREK), Poland (EPOL), and Vietnam (VNAM) have been the best performers since Trump's 2nd term began, with gains of more than 50%.

There are just four country ETFs in the red since Inauguration Day (Philippines - EPHE, Indonesia - EIDO, Saudi Arabia - KSA, and Turkey - TUR), and every single country ETF is positive since the tariff tantrum low on April 8.
 

(Click on image to enlarge)

The average stock in the large-cap Russell 1,000 is up 9% year-to-date, even though it fell 1% in October.

The tables below show the 30 best- and worst-performing stocks in the index both year-to-date and in October. There are 26 stocks in the index up more than 100% year-to-date, along with 6 that are up 200%, and 1 that's up 300%. MP Materials (MP) ranks first with a year-to-date gain of 304.4%, followed by Robinhood (HOOD), AST SpaceMobile (ASTS), QuantumSpace (QS), and Western Digital (WDC).

Other notable names on the list of 100%+ gainers this year include Micron (MU), Palantir (PLTR), Cloudflare (NET), Wayfair (W), Celsius (CELH), Warner Bros (WBD), Advanced Micro (AMD), Intel (INTC), AppLovin (APP), and Roblox (RBLX).
 

In October, Sandisk (SNDK) was up the most with a gain of nearly 78%, followed by AST SpaceMobile and Advanced Micro. Other notable winners in October include Twilio (TWLO), Rocket Lab (RKLB), Ciena (CIEN), Vertiv (VRT), JB Hunt (JBHT), Natera (NTRA), and Caterpillar (CAT).
 

On the flip side, FMC Corporation (FMC) was the worst-performing Russell 1,000 stock in October, with a decline of 54.9%. Fiserv (FI), Organon (OGN), and Newell Brands (NWL) each fell more than 35% as well.

Some of the biggest names on the list of October losers include Chipotle (CMG), Carvana (CVNA), and Roblox. It should be noted that Roblox is on the list of October's biggest losers even though it's also on the list of 2025's biggest winners.
 

Even though it has been a strong year for major cap-weighted US indices, 44.4% of stocks in the Russell 1,000 are in the red on the year. Below are the year's biggest decliners thus far. You won't find many "AI" names on this list.
 

More By This Author: