What is the best ETF to invest in right now?
ETFs are considered to be low-risk investments because they are low-cost and hold a basket of stocks or other securities, increasing diversification. For most individual investors, ETFs represent an ideal type of asset with which to build a diversified portfolio.
| Exchange-traded fund (ticker) | Assets under management | Expenses |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) | $78.2 billion | 0.06% |
| Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF (VFQY) | $324.3 million | 0.13% |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares (GLDM) | $6.8 billion | 0.10% |
| iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (SHY) | $24.8 billion | 0.15% |
| Symbol | Name | 5-Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| FNGO | MicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs | 43.94% |
| TECL | Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares | 34.92% |
| SMH | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 30.83% |
| ROM | ProShares Ultra Technology | 29.51% |
ETFs are considered to be low-risk investments because they are low-cost and hold a basket of stocks or other securities, increasing diversification. For most individual investors, ETFs represent an ideal type of asset with which to build a diversified portfolio.
| FUND(TICKER) | EXPENSE RATIO | 10-YEAR RETURN AS OF APRIL 1 |
|---|---|---|
| iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) | 0.19% | 15.78% |
| iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW) | 0.18% | 14.34% |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) | 0.04% | 15.95% |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) | 0.04% | 14.45% |
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.83%) ...
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM 0.7%) ...
- Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ 0.29%) ...
- iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT -0.8%) ...
- Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP 0.86%)
| Fund (ticker) | YTD performance | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 10.4 percent | 0.03 percent |
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) | 10.4 percent | 0.095 percent |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 10.4 percent | 0.03 percent |
| Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) | 8.6 percent | 0.20 percent |
| Symbol | Name | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|
| PEX | ProShares Global Listed Private Equity ETF | 12.14% |
| SPYI | NEOS S&P 500 High Income ETF | 12.10% |
| BTF | Valkyrie Bitcoin and Ether Strategy ETF | 12.08% |
| SDIV | Global X SuperDividend ETF | 12.06% |
Market risk
The single biggest risk in ETFs is market risk. Like a mutual fund or a closed-end fund, ETFs are only an investment vehicle—a wrapper for their underlying investment. So if you buy an S&P 500 ETF and the S&P 500 goes down 50%, nothing about how cheap, tax efficient, or transparent an ETF is will help you.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
What is the downside of ETFs?
For instance, some ETFs may come with fees, others might stray from the value of the underlying asset, ETFs are not always optimized for taxes, and of course — like any investment — ETFs also come with risk.
Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.
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.
| Symbol | Name | Avg Daily Share Volume (3mo) |
|---|---|---|
| SPY | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | 73,711,102 |
| TQQQ | ProShares UltraPro QQQ | 72,739,305 |
| SOXL | Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares | 71,673,344 |
| XLF | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | 47,652,930 |
| Symbol | ETF Name | 10y Chg 4-2-24 |
|---|---|---|
| XNTK | SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 457% |
| QTEC | FT Nasdaq 100-Technology Sector ETF | 452% |
| QQQ | Invesco Nasdaq 100 Trust ETF | 452% |
| IGV | iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF | 425% |
The majority of individual investors should, however, seek to hold 5 to 10 ETFs that are diverse in terms of asset classes, regions, and other factors. Investors can diversify their investment portfolio across several industries and asset classes while maintaining simplicity by buying 5 to 10 ETFs.
Mutual funds and ETFs may hold stocks, bonds, or commodities. Both can track indexes, but ETFs tend to be more cost-effective and liquid since they trade on exchanges like shares of stock. Mutual funds can offer active management and greater regulatory oversight at a higher cost and only allow transactions once daily.
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.
ETFs are less risky than individual stocks because they are diversified funds. Their investors also benefit from very low fees.
The S&P 500's track record is impressive, but the Vanguard Growth ETF has outperformed it. The Vanguard Growth ETF leans heavily toward tech businesses that exhibit faster revenue and earnings gains. No matter what investments you choose, it's always smart to keep a long-term mindset.
What is the best ETF for long term growth?
| ETF | Assets | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) | $249 billion | 0.20% |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index ETF (VYM) | $51 billion | 0.06% |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) | $63 billion | 0.07% |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) | $33 billion | 0.07% |
One of the ways that investors make money from exchange traded funds (ETFs) is through dividends that are paid to the ETF issuer and then paid on to their investors in proportion to the number of shares each holds.
- VanEck BDC Income ETF (BIZD)
- PGIM Floating Rate Income ETF (PFRL)
- JP Morgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ)
- iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVYE)
- iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond Buywrite Strategy ETF (TLTW)
- Global X MLP ETF (MLPA)
- Invesco KBW High Dividend Yield Financial ETF (KBWD)
| Ticker | Name | Annual dividend yield |
|---|---|---|
| RDIV | Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETF | 4.87% |
| SPYD | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF | 4.49% |
| FDL | First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund | 4.36% |
| DJD | Invesco Dow Jones Industrial Average Dividend ETF | 4.25% |
The answer depends on several factors when deciding how many ETFs you should own. Generally speaking, fewer than 10 ETFs are likely enough to diversify your portfolio, but this will vary depending on your financial goals, ranging from retirement savings to income generation.
