Can ETF get closed?
ETFs may close due to lack of investor interest or poor returns. For investors, the easiest way to exit an ETF investment is to sell it on the open market. Liquidation of ETFs is strictly regulated; when an ETF closes, any remaining shareholders will receive a payout based on what they had invested in the ETF.
ETFs are open-ended funds, meaning they can constantly take on new investors and as they do, the fund's assets grow. CEFs have a fixed number of shares that are offered through an IPO. After that, no new shares will be issued and the fund is "closed."
Like any business, even low-cost ETFs need to generate revenue to cover their costs. Plenty of ETFs fail to garner the assets necessary to cover these costs and, consequently, ETF closures happen regularly. In fact, a significant percentage of ETFs are currently at risk of closure.
For most standard, unleveraged ETFs that track an index, the maximum you can theoretically lose is the amount you invested, driving your investment value to zero. However, it's rare for broad-market ETFs to go to zero unless the entire market or sector it tracks collapses entirely.
Trading for stocks and ETFs closes at 4 p.m. ET, but unlike with mutual funds, you can continue trading stocks and ETFs in the after-hours market.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are hybrids of open-end and closed-end mutual funds. Exchange-Traded Funds are open-end mutual funds that have no limit to the number of shares. The mutual fund company issues new shares as needed. However, they trade on the stock exchanges like closed-end mutual funds.
Nearly all leveraged ETFs come with a prominent warning in their prospectus: they are not designed for long-term holding. The combination of leverage, market volatility, and an unfavorable sequence of returns can lead to disastrous outcomes.
Vanguard is paid by the funds to provide administration and other services. If Vanguard ever did go bankrupt, the funds would not be affected and would simply hire another firm to provide these services.
"Leveraged and inverse funds generally aren't meant to be held for longer than a day, and some types of leveraged and inverse ETFs tend to lose the majority of their value over time," Emily says.
Key Takeaways
For most ETFs, selling after less than a year is taxed as a short-term capital gain. ETFs held for longer than a year are taxed as long-term gains. If you sell an ETF, and buy the same (or a substantially similar) ETF after less than 30 days, you may be subject to the wash sale rule.
Why is ETF not a good investment?
ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Unlike mutual funds, ETF shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than their NAV, and are not individually redeemed from the fund.
A leveraged ETF's price can theoretically go negative, but it's extremely rare and usually only happens in extreme market conditions. Leveraged ETFs use financial leverage to amplify the returns of an underlying asset, such as the S&P 500 Index.
ETFs are most often linked to a benchmarking index, meaning that they are often not designed to outperform that index. Investors looking for this type of outperformance (which also, of course, carries added risks) should perhaps look to other opportunities.
ETFs may close due to lack of investor interest or poor returns. For investors, the easiest way to exit an ETF investment is to sell it on the open market. Liquidation of ETFs is strictly regulated; when an ETF closes, any remaining shareholders will receive a payout based on what they had invested in the ETF.
A lack of trading activity means the sale is made below the value it would have in a volatile market. Investors can choose to hold their ETFs for a return in action. Nonetheless, a decline in liquidity can mean a drop in value for both the short and long term, which makes investors more likely to sell.
ETFs can be safe investments if used correctly, offering diversification and flexibility. Indexed ETFs, tracking specific indexes like the S&P 500, are generally safe and tend to gain value over time. Leveraged ETFs can be used to amplify returns, but they can be riskier due to increased volatility.
The single biggest risk in ETFs is market risk.
There are a few reasons why ETFs generally die. Low assets under management, high fees, poor performance, and short track records are closely associated with the probability of closure. In 2023, there were 244 ETF closures with an average age of 5.4 years and average assets under management of only $54 million.
In a volatile market, where the underlying asset experiences large daily swings, the compounding effect of daily returns can cause the leveraged ETF to lose value rapidly. This is because losses are magnified over time, and gains are not enough to offset the losses.
| Symbol | Name | 10 Year Total Returns (As of March 31, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| PSI | Invesco Semiconductors ETF | 765.02% |
| XSD | SPDR® S&P Semiconductor ETF | 610.79% |
| XLK | Technology Select Sector SPDR® ETF | 554.92% |
| IYW | iShares US Technology ETF | 542.45% |
Can I sell my ETF anytime?
ETFs, in that sense, are often viewed as a more flexible investment strategy, allowing the trader to sell at any time during usual trading hours, and use live trading tools like market orders or limit orders to carry out trades.
ETFs offer advantages over stocks in two situations. First, when the return from stocks in the sector has a narrow dispersion around the mean, an ETF might be the best choice. Second, if you are unable to gain an advantage through knowledge of the company, an ETF is your best choice.
First, the chances of Vanguard failing are miniscule. That said, let's talk about brokerage accounts for a minute. Brokerage accounts are not backed by the FDIC but by the Securities Investor Protection Corp (SIPC), which protects accounts up to $500,000.
Vanguard closing a US-listed ETF for the first time ever
VFLQ was a very small fund and ultimately inconsequential in the grander scheme of Vanguard's massive suite of ETF offerings, however, it is notable given that Vanguard has never liquidated a US-listed fund in its 21-year history in the ETF space.
Vanguard is the king of low-cost investing, making it ideal for buy-and-hold investors and retirement savers. But beginner investors and active traders will find the broker falls short despite its $0 stock trading commission, due to the lack of a strong trading platform and accessible educational resources.
