In 2025, top-performing exchange-traded funds (ETFs) often capitalized on an angle related to innovation or to metals. With demand for data centers to power AI applications surging, funds focused on the infrastructure and materials necessary to fuel this industry thrived. The massive rally in precious metals also led some ETFs targeting mining companies or related plays to do well.
Heading into 2026, investors may wonder if these funds remain a strong choice. Four standouts from 2025 may be worth a closer look for their role in the strategic and critical materials space—each of the funds below provides indirect exposure to some of the materials or metals that will continue to make many kinds of technological innovation possible. So long as this demand remains high, these funds could see continued success.
