Media leadership, metals and semiconductors extend momentum while tobacco, telecom and weaker staples-linked groups lag.

Concentration of strength today sits in Metals & Mining, Media, Semiconductors and select industrial and tech hardware pockets, with supportive trends in capital markets and grid-related equipment.

IMGELD Jan 18, 2026
Weakness is most evident in Tobacco, Diversified Telecommunication Services, parts of Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail and Commercial Services & Supplies, reflecting structural and demand headwinds in more defensive or rate‑sensitive corners. Financials are mixed, with Banks and Capital Markets screens strong but Consumer Finance weaker as private credit exposure rises. Energy-related industries show moderate strength, underpinned by shifting US power and fuel dynamics. Across services, Health Care Technology and IT-related groups benefit from AI and digitalization themes, while some labor‑intensive or discretionary services face softer consumer and employment signals.

Top 10 Strongest Industries
(Long bias)

1. Metals & Mining
   Final Score: 95.70
   Before: #1 → Now: #1
   Why they are strong: Silver and other precious metals miners have rallied as silver prices hold above key milestones, boosting sentiment toward the broader mining complex.
   Key Players: Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Southern Copper

2. Media
   Final Score: 71.52
   Before: #2 → Now: #2
   Why they are strong: Media-related assets tied to political brands continue to attract capital as new Trump Media themed ETFs test their drawing power in a crowded US fund market.
   Key Players: Walt Disney, Paramount Global, Fox

3. Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
   Final Score: 92.53
   Before: #3 → Now: #3
   Why they are strong: Chip stocks are leading broad US equity gains as investors bid up semiconductor names that are central to the current market rally.
   Key Players: NVIDIA, Intel, Applied Materials

4. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
   Final Score: 89.58
   Before: #4 → Now: #4
   Why they are strong: Makers of grid and electrical equipment are investing heavily in US capacity to relieve supply bottlenecks, supporting growth expectations for the segment.
   Key Players: TE Connectivity, Amphenol, Keysight Technologies

5. Capital Markets
   Final Score: 80.16
   Before: #7 → Now: #5
   Why they are strong: Capital markets firms benefit as the S&P 500 pushes higher, helped by rallies in chip and bank stocks that support trading and fee income.
   Key Players: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab

6. Aerospace & Defense
   Final Score: 77.45
   Before: #10 → Now: #6
   Why they are strong: Global defense shares are advancing after a US strike on Venezuela reinforced expectations of a more assertive military posture and higher defense spending.
   Key Players: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies

7. Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
   Final Score: 80.98
   Before: #8 → Now: #7
   Why they are strong: Data storage companies are surging as investors price in an AI-driven spike in demand for high-capacity drives and related hardware.
   Key Players: Apple, Western Digital, Seagate Technology

8. Banks
   Final Score: 76.75
   Before: #9 → Now: #8
   Why they are strong: Investors are positioning for resilient US bank earnings even as policy uncertainty increases, lifting sentiment toward large banking franchises.
   Key Players: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo

9. Multi-Utilities
   Final Score: 69.62
   Before: #11 → Now: #9
   Why they are strong: Rising US gas prices and talk of a coal comeback in several states highlight the importance of diversified utility portfolios managing fuel and power transitions.
   Key Players: Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Sempra

10. Electric Utilities
    Final Score: 71.91
    Before: #12 → Now: #10
    Why they are strong: Evolving US energy and power trends, including shifting generation mixes and grid needs, are keeping investor attention on regulated electric utilities.
    Key Players: NextEra Energy, Southern Company, Exelon

Bottom 10 Weakest Industries
(Short bias)

44. Marine Transportation
    Final Score: 61.60
    Before: #35 → Now: #44
    Why they are weak: Trade and tariff pressures, including those weighing on Asian export demand, are contributing to a more cautious outlook for some shipping‑exposed routes.
    Key Players: Matson, Kirby, Global Ship Lease

45. Diversified Consumer Services
    Final Score: 55.00
    Before: #43 → Now: #45
    Why they are weak: US consumer spending has shown signs of slowing as high prices curb demand, pressuring discretionary service providers.
    Key Players: Service Corporation International, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, H&R Block

46. Food Products
    Final Score: 30.31
    Before: #46 → Now: #46
    Why they are weak: Recent US tariff cuts on key food items such as beef and coffee add pricing uncertainty for some packaged food producers.
    Key Players: Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Tyson Foods

47. Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail
    Final Score: 50.49
    Before: #45 → Now: #47
    Why they are weak: Softer real consumer spending amid elevated prices weighs on volume growth prospects for staples distributors and retailers.
    Key Players: Walmart, Costco Wholesale, Kroger

48. Industrial Conglomerates
    Final Score: 79.49
    Before: #40 → Now: #48
    Why they are weak: The global listed universe has been shedding classic conglomerate structures, as highlighted by the FTSE 100 losing its last such member, underscoring strategic and valuation challenges for the model.
    Key Players: General Electric, 3M, Honeywell

49. Consumer Finance
    Final Score: 43.48
    Before: #47 → Now: #49
    Why they are weak: Rising exposure of US banks to private credit loans, which is nearing 300 billion dollars, raises concerns about credit risk that spill over to consumer finance.
    Key Players: American Express, Capital One Financial, Synchrony Financial

50. Commercial Services & Supplies
    Final Score: 54.63
    Before: #49 → Now: #50
    Why they are weak: Slowing consumer activity and cost pressures, alongside broader services‑sector headwinds, are challenging growth for many outsourced commercial service providers.
    Key Players: Waste Management, Cintas, Republic Services

51. Health Care Technology
    Final Score: 64.00
    Before: #50 → Now: #51
    Why they are weak: New research showing AI can already replace a meaningful share of US jobs raises uncertainty about how quickly digital health platforms can monetize automation.
    Key Players: Teladoc Health, Veeva Systems, Cerner (Oracle Health)

52. Tobacco
    Final Score: 32.47
    Before: #51 → Now: #52
    Why they are weak: British American Tobacco’s decision to shut a South African cigarette plant under pressure from illicit trade highlights persistent volume and regulatory headwinds for the sector.
    Key Players: Altria, Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco

53. Diversified Telecommunication Services
    Final Score: 44.38
    Before: #52 → Now: #53
    Why they are weak: Structural challenges in legacy voice and data services, compounded by competitive and pricing pressures, continue to weigh on diversified telecom operators.
    Key Players: AT&T, Verizon Communications, Lumen Technologies

Additional Readings

1. Metals & Mining: Silver miners surge as silver holds above key price milestone (CNBC, 2026-01-14)
   Link

2. Media: Trump Media ETFs test political brand power in US fund market (Bloomberg, 2026-01-15)
   Link

3. Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: Chip stocks help lift S&P 500 to fresh gains (CNBC, 2026-01-15)
   Link

4. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: Grid equipment makers boost US investment to ease shortages (Reuters, 2025-12-02)
   Link

5. Capital Markets: S&P 500 closes higher as chip and bank stocks rally (CNBC, 2026-01-15)
   Link

6. Aerospace & Defense: Global defense stocks climb after US strike on Venezuela (CNBC, 2026-01-05)
   Link

7. Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: Western Digital and Seagate jump on AI‑driven storage demand (Reuters, 2025-10-31)
   Link

8. Banks: Investors bank on US earnings strength amid policy noise (Reuters, 2026-01-16)
   Link

9. Multi-Utilities: Rising US gas prices drive coal comeback in key states (Reuters, 2025-11-13)
   Link

10. Electric Utilities: Key US energy and power trends shaping utility outlooks (Reuters, 2026-01-15)
    Link

11. Food Products: US cuts tariffs on beef, coffee and other foods (Reuters, 2025-11-15)
    Link

12. Diversified Consumer Services: US consumer spending slows as high prices bite (Reuters, 2025-12-05)
    Link

13. Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail: US consumer spending slows as high prices bite (Reuters, 2025-12-05)
    Link

14. Industrial Conglomerates: FTSE 100 loses last industrial conglomerate (Financial Times, 2025-12-30)
    Link

15. Consumer Finance: US banks’ private credit exposure nears 300 billion dollars (Moody’s, 2025-10-21)
    Link

16. Commercial Services & Supplies: US consumer spending slows as high prices bite (Reuters, 2025-12-05)
    Link

17. Health Care Technology: MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7 percent of US workforce (CNBC, 2025-11-26)
    Link

18. Tobacco: BAT South Africa to shut cigarette plant amid illicit trade squeeze (Reuters, 2026-01-15)
    Link

19. Diversified Telecommunication Services: Legacy telecom groups face revenue and pricing pressures (context from sector coverage, 2025-12 to 2026-01)
    Not available in the file as a specific standalone article, beyond general telecom themes.

20. Energy Equipment & Services: Key US energy and power trends shaping service demand (Reuters, 2026-01-15)
    Link“