Reality Check
September 3, 2026

September Is a Below-Average Month for all 10 S&P 500 Sectors

September is the worst month of the year for 8 out of 10 sectors.

All 10 sectors, sorted by its September gap size
SectorSeptember AvgAvg MonthGapSeptember RankGreen/Red FrequencySeptembers
XLU Utilities−0.87%+0.36%−1.2311 of 12▲51.9% / ▼48.1%27
XLP Consumer Staples−1.36%+0.29%−1.6412 of 12▲37.0% / ▼63.0%27
XLY Consumer Discretionary−1.03%+0.67%−1.7012 of 12▲44.4% / ▼55.6%27
XLF Financials−1.27%+0.44%−1.7111 of 12▲40.7% / ▼59.3%27
XLE Energy−1.17%+0.60%−1.7712 of 12▲48.1% / ▼51.9%27
XLV Health Care−1.45%+0.54%−1.9912 of 12▲40.7% / ▼59.3%27
XLI Industrials−1.28%+0.70%−1.9912 of 12▲48.1% / ▼51.9%27
XLK Technology−1.80%+0.75%−2.5512 of 12▲55.6% / ▼44.4%27
XLB Materials−2.75%+0.49%−3.2312 of 12▲33.3% / ▼66.7%27
XLRE Real Estate−3.72%+0.48%−4.2012 of 12▲20.0% / ▼80.0%10

September is the worst month of the year for 8 of the 10: Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, Energy, Health Care, Industrials, Technology, Materials and Real Estate.

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