ETF Investing Tools
If there’s one word for H1 2026, it’s divergence. Some ETF categories delivered triple-digit gains while others nursed double-digit losses. The Iran war and its disruption of Middle East oil flows dominated Q1, sending energy ETFs to extraordinary levels before a partial reversal. Semiconductors, fueled by relentless AI infrastructure buildout, surged up to 100%. And the broad U.S. market, after stumbling early, is now up double digits and approaching fresh highs.
Here’s a category-by-category breakdown of the best ETFs for H1 2026 — and what to watch for the second half.
Energy: The Shock Winner of Q1
No one had “tanker shipping +760%” on their 2026 bingo card. Yet that’s where Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET) sits year to date, following Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz in January and the subsequent oil price surge…
