As a whole, the S&P 500 index and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) is up around 9 percent this year, but energy (Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF) (NYSE:XLE)), telecommunications services (iShares Dow Jones US Telecom (ETF) (NYSE:IYZ) and financial sectors (NYSE:XLF))are all down by an average of 7.7 percent. In fact, this under-performance represents the largest gap dating back all the way to 1990, and over the past three decades, the bottom three performing sector have never been energy, telecommunications services, and financials.

While the three sectors are underperforming the broader index, this is occurring after a major runup, especially in the first quarter of last year, S&P Global's Erin Gibbs said during a recent CNBC "Trading Nation" segment. Of particular note, the financial sector is "coming off froth valuations" after a notable 20 percent rally in the fourth quarter last year. Energy stocks can't be faulted as it is merely following the decline in oil prices while telecoms and other high dividend yielding sectors are seeing investors exiting their positions. Related Links: Pro: It'd Be A Mistake For Investors To 'Hit The Exits' Now The Factors That Could Be Moving Short- And Long-Term Buyers