Hi Toof, Re: Various ETF suppliers....................
The larger "index" based ETFs have generally a bit less amplitude in their price movements. That would probably include the i-Shares and SPDR products. That's the 'bad news.' The good news is they tend to be quite a bit less expensive to own on an annual expense ratio basis. Those index ETFs even as Sector ETFs are generally cap weighted since the indexes on which they are based are also.
The more specialized ETFs that follow the same business sectors will have a bit more amplitude for two reasons: 1) They probably don't have as many individual company stocks included. Typically there are only 50 to 75 companies in the more specialized sector funds such as 1st Trust's or PowerShares. 2) The more specialized sector ETFs are generally not cap weighted. This means things like AAPL (currently about 11% of the QQQ) don't distort performance either to the good or bad side in as great a degree.
These "filtered" ETFs generally are more expensive than the ones based on the big indexes. I did a spreadsheet some time ago of the 9 business sectors that are in the S&P 500. The sheet included SPDR, Vanguard, I-Shares, PowerShares, 1st Trust and Guggenheim (equal weight). I included some objective and subjective columns in the sheet. 52 week High/Low ratio was one with annual expense and other items. I graded each item from 1 to 4 for each sector and each supplier. It was quite extensive. The idea was that the highest number for each sector would show who had the best overall potential performance.
The result was, at the time, rather frustrating. No clear winner stood out. Each supplier has a couple of sectors that were best or second best in class. Each has some at the other end of the spectrum. I had hoped for a clear result but one never has materialized. It then becomes a preference on the individual's part.
I tend to like the sector funds with fewer companies and generally more equally weighted. They tend to give AIM a bit more with which to work. However, that also comes with a slightly higher annual cost burden.
