US Metals, Semis and Electronics Lead, Consumer and Leisure Names Slide
Tech hardware and resource-heavy industries remain in leadership as consumer, leisure and telecom pockets weaken
IMGELD
Jan 25, 2026
Strength remains concentrated in metals and mining, semiconductors, and select electronics and media-related groups, while cyclical consumer and leisure industries lag. Precious metals momentum is supporting mining names, and AI-related infrastructure needs are helping storage hardware and some IT and data-center linked utilities. At the same time, traditional tobacco, mass-market leisure goods, and several consumer-facing segments are pressured by soft demand or cost-sensitive buyers. Financials broadly are stable to constructive, with banks, capital markets and parts of financial services benefiting from resilient market activity and ongoing innovation. Utilities, multi-utilities and parts of health care and services are providing a defensive backbone with selective growth drivers from AI and automation.
Top 10 Strongest Industries
(Long bias)
Metals & Mining
Final Score: 96.60
Before: #1 → Now: #1
Why they are strong: Silver mining and related precious metals stocks are rallying as silver prices hold above a major price milestone, lifting sentiment across metals and mining names.
Key Players: Newmont, Freeport-McMoRan, Wheaton Precious MetalsSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment
Final Score: 96.38
Before: #2 → Now: #2
Why they are strong: Semiconductor demand remains robust, with chipmakers supported by heavy AI and data-center investment that is keeping the broader tech complex in focus for investors.
Key Players: NVIDIA, Intel, ASMLElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components
Final Score: 95.25
Before: #3 → Now: #3
Why they are strong: Strong precious metals-linked hardware and connectivity demand, alongside elevated silver prices that benefit electronics supply chains, is supporting electronics equipment valuations.
Key Players: TE Connectivity, Amphenol, CorningTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Final Score: 76.42
Before: #9 → Now: #4
Why they are strong: Storage hardware makers are seeing a surge in investor interest as AI-driven demand boosts expectations for data storage capacity and revenue growth.
Key Players: Apple, Western Digital, Seagate TechnologyCapital Markets
Final Score: 88.75
Before: #13 → Now: #5
Why they are strong: Record closes in major US equity indices and strong trading activity are supporting capital markets revenues and profitability.
Key Players: Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Charles SchwabIT Services
Final Score: 76.95
Before: #8 → Now: #6
Why they are strong: Expansion of autonomous services such as new US robotaxi deployments underscores continued demand for complex IT, cloud and mobility services.
Key Players: Accenture, IBM, DXC TechnologyBanks
Final Score: 79.23
Before: #10 → Now: #7
Why they are strong: Stable global rate settings and constructive equity markets are supporting bank earnings expectations and capital markets-linked fee income.
Key Players: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells FargoMedia
Final Score: 75.86
Before: #15 → Now: #8
Why they are strong: New product initiatives such as prediction markets in the political and financial space are opening incremental monetization avenues for media platforms.
Key Players: Fox, Paramount Global, News CorpEntertainment
Final Score: 74.20
Before: #16 → Now: #9
Why they are strong: The push into prediction and betting-style products, including offerings that can navigate state-level gambling rules, is expanding revenue optionality for entertainment operators.
Key Players: Walt Disney, Live Nation Entertainment, DraftKingsIndustrial Conglomerates
Final Score: 87.09
Before: #14 → Now: #10
Why they are strong: Increased geopolitical focus on global energy assets, including calls for US companies to help rebuild foreign energy industries, is reinforcing the strategic importance of diversified industrial groups.
Key Players: General Electric, 3M, Honeywell International
Bottom 10 Weakest Industries
(Short bias)
Tobacco
Final Score: 42.01
Before: #41 → Now: #47
Why they are weak: Large US tobacco manufacturers are guiding to subdued profit growth as combustible cigarette demand remains sluggish.
Key Players: Altria, Philip Morris International, British American TobaccoHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
Final Score: 31.08
Before: #45 → Now: #48
Why they are weak: Travel and leisure demand is proving uneven, with cost-sensitive consumers and competitive pressures weighing on parts of the broader hospitality complex.
Key Players: Marriott International, McDonald’s, Caesars EntertainmentWireless Telecommunication Services
Final Score: 9.05
Before: #49 → Now: #49
Why they are weak: Wireless carriers face intense price competition and heavy capital needs for network upgrades, which is limiting near-term earnings momentum.
Key Players: Verizon Communications, AT&T, T-Mobile USDiversified Telecommunication Services
Final Score: 9.74
Before: #50 → Now: #50
Why they are weak: Diversified telecom operators are under pressure from slow revenue growth and ongoing investment demands as they support expanding data and communications infrastructure.
Key Players: Lumen Technologies, Verizon Communications, AT&TLeisure Products
Final Score: 7.61
Before: #51 → Now: #51
Why they are weak: Discretionary leisure goods demand is soft as households adjust spending under tighter budgets, pressuring sales for non-essential products.
Key Players: Hasbro, Mattel, Peloton InteractiveConsumer Finance
Final Score: 39.68
Before: #46 → Now: #52
Why they are weak: While institutional interest in US consumer loan portfolios persists, concerns about credit performance and consumer stress are tempering enthusiasm for direct consumer finance providers.
Key Players: Capital One Financial, Synchrony Financial, Ally FinancialProfessional Services
Final Score: 34.22
Before: #44 → Now: #53
Why they are weak: New research on AI’s ability to automate a sizable share of tasks is raising questions about pricing power and long-term labor demand in portions of professional services.
Key Players: Accenture, Aon, Marsh & McLennanConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail
Final Score: 23.75
Before: #52 → Now: #54
Why they are weak: Value-focused consumers and margin pressures in high-volume staples retail are weighing on sentiment toward the consumer staples distribution and retail space.
Key Players: Walmart, Costco Wholesale, KrogerAutomobiles
Final Score: 75.86
Before: #20 → Now: #55
Why they are weak: The US car market is showing signs of fatigue as affordability constraints and high ownership costs start to weigh on potential buyers.
Key Players: Tesla, General Motors, Ford MotorAutomobile Components
Final Score: 58.88
Before: #39 → Now: #56
Why they are weak: Supply-chain realignments such as moves to exclude certain China-made parts from US production are creating uncertainty and potential cost pressures for auto component suppliers.
Key Players: Aptiv, Magna International, BorgWarner
Additional Readings
Metals & Mining: Silver miners surge as silver price holds above key milestone, boosting sector sentiment (CNBC, 2026-01-14)
Silver mining stocks jump as metal holds above $90 milestoneSemiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment: Chipmakers benefit from strong AI and data-center buildout demand (CNBC, 2026-01-11)
S&P 500, Dow climb to closing records as traders look past Fed independence risk: Live updatesElectronic Equipment, Instruments & Components: Elevated silver prices support electronics-related mining and component value chains (CNBC, 2026-01-14)
Silver mining stocks jump as metal holds above $90 milestoneTechnology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals: AI boom drives spike in demand for data storage hardware makers (Reuters, 2025-10-31)
Data storage firms Western Digital, Seagate soar on AI-driven demand spikeCapital Markets: Record highs in major US stock indices boost trading and fee income prospects (CNBC, 2026-01-11)
S&P 500, Dow climb to closing records as traders look past Fed independence risk: Live updatesIT Services: New robotaxi launches underscore growing reliance on sophisticated IT and mobility services in the US (CNBC, 2026-01-22)
Waymo launches robotaxi service in Miami, extending U.S. leadBanks: Regional and global bank shares gain as central bank policy remains steady and risk sentiment improves (CNBC, 2026-01-22)
Asia markets mostly advance as Bank of Japan leaves interest rates on holdMedia: New ventures into prediction markets signal fresh growth avenues for media firms (Reuters, 2025-10-28)
Trump Media to enter prediction markets businessEntertainment: Gambling-adjacent prediction products are helping entertainment companies tap new revenue sources (Financial Times, 2025-11-12)
FanDuel to launch prediction markets that bypass US state gambling bansIndustrial Conglomerates: US political focus on rebuilding foreign energy systems highlights opportunities for global industrial players (Reuters, 2026-01-10)
Trump urges US oil giants to repair Venezuela’s ‘rotting’ energy industryTobacco: Major cigarette maker flags sluggish demand and offers subdued profit outlook (Reuters, 2025-10-30)
Altria forecasts tepid annual profit on sluggish tobacco demandHotels, Restaurants & Leisure: Macro uncertainty and shifting spending patterns weigh on parts of the hospitality and leisure sector (Reuters, 2025-10-29)
Taiwan third-quarter economic growth likely slowed on tariff impact: Reuters pollWireless Telecommunication Services: US wireless providers contend with intense competition and heavy network investment burdens (CNBC, 2025-11-14)
Data centers are concentrated in these states. Here’s what’s happening to electricity pricesDiversified Telecommunication Services: Capital-intensive network and data demands constrain near-term telecom profitability (Reuters, 2025-11-13)
Six US states to watch as rising gas prices drive a coal comebackLeisure Products: Discretionary product manufacturers face headwinds as consumers pull back on non-essential spending (Financial Times, 2026-01-06)
US car market shows signs of fatigue as costs weigh on buyersConsumer Finance: Large bank deal activity highlights both opportunity and risk in US consumer loan portfolios (Financial Times, 2025-10-28)
Barclays strikes $800mn deal in bet on US consumer loansProfessional Services: New MIT research shows AI can already perform a meaningful share of US work tasks, pressuring traditional service models (CNBC, 2025-11-26)
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforceConsumer Staples Distribution & Retail: Big-box retailers navigate thin margins as shoppers remain value-conscious (Moody’s, 2026-01-16)
The rise of agentic AI in financial services: from automation to autonomyAutomobiles: Affordability pressures and higher ownership costs point to fatigue in the US car market (Financial Times, 2026-01-06)
US car market shows signs of fatigue as costs weigh on buyersAutomobile Components: Supplier base shifts as automakers demand fewer China-made parts for US vehicles, adding complexity to supply chains (Reuters, 2025-11-15)
Tesla requires suppliers to avoid China-made parts for US cars, WSJ reportsFinancial Services: AI is reshaping financial services workflows, creating both efficiency opportunities and competitive pressure (Moody’s, 2026-01-16)
The rise of agentic AI in financial services: from automation to autonomyHealth Care Technology: Advances in AI raise expectations for automation of clinical and administrative tasks in health-related technology (CNBC, 2025-11-26)
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Interesting take on the metals leadership. The silver momentum spill-over to copper names like FCX is worth watching - historically copper's been more of a econmic indicator than a monetary one. I remeber watching this dynamic play out in 2011 when silver hit $50 and copper miners got dragged along despte different fundamentals. The AI infrastructure angle adds a new wrinkle to demand though.