Investors would be mistaken in thinking that the Magnificent 7 have been “the only game in town” as far as US stock investing goes. We highlight three US stock themes which have outperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices over 2025, but which are not dominated by the tech sector. These themes are: i) The US industrial renaissance, ii) US smart grid infrastructure, and iii) the US metals & mining sector.
The reindustrialisation of the US economy is a key political objective of President Trump, reinforced by his import tariff policy and aided by a weaker US dollar and lower US interest rates. The RBA US industrial renaissance index tracking this theme has returned 31% in the year to end-October. The substantial growth in US electricity demand from new data centres has led the Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure index to deliver a 35% 10-month return. Finally, renewed interest in precious and strategic metals has propelled the S&P Metals & Mining index to a 74% gain in 2025.