What is the number one traded ETF?
ProShares UltraPro QQQ is the most popular and liquid ETF in the leveraged space, with AUM of $20.4 billion (read: A Guide to Nasdaq ETF Investing).
ProShares UltraPro QQQ is the most popular and liquid ETF in the leveraged space, with AUM of $20.4 billion (read: A Guide to Nasdaq ETF Investing).
| 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 |
| ETF | Assets Under Management | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) | $70 billion | 0.10% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) | $16.3 billion | 0.35% |
| Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO) | $1.6 billion | 0.34% |
| SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) | $1.8 billion | 0.35% |
- WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ)
- Simplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF (PFIX)
- VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH)
- Amplify U.S. Alternative Harvest ETF (MJUS)
- AdvisorShares Pure U.S. Cannabis ETF (MSOS)
- YieldMax NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF (NVDY)
- ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO)
- Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC)
| Symbol | Name | AUM |
|---|---|---|
| SPY | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | $507,975,000.00 |
| IVV | iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | $435,169,000.00 |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | $425,684,000.00 |
| VTI | Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | $375,725,000.00 |
| Exchange-traded fund (ticker) | Assets under management | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard 500 Index ETF (VOO) | $431.7 billion | 1.4% |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) | $78.2 billion | 1.8% |
| Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF (VFQY) | $324.3 million | 1.3% |
| SPDR Gold MiniShares (GLDM) | $6.8 billion | 0.0% |
However, individuals opting for a single equity ETF must be cognizant of the inherent risks and volatility within the equity market. Always consider your risk tolerance and investment goals before making a decision.
As the old cliché goes, you do not want to put all your eggs into one basket. An ETF can guard against volatility (up to a point) if some stocks within the ETF fall. This removal of company-specific risk is the biggest draw for most ETF investors.
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.
What is the safest ETF to invest in?
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.6%) ...
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM -0.17%) ...
- Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ -0.73%) ...
- iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT -0.61%) ...
- Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP 0.37%)
| 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% |
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.
- iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF (NYSE:IWY) Annualized Return Over 10 Years: 16.09% ...
- Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) Annualized Return Over 10 Years: 17.92% ...
- Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (NYSE:VGT) 10-Year Daily Total Returns: 19.52%
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.
In contrast, the riskiest ETF in the Morningstar database, ProShares Ultra VIX Short-term Futures Fund (UVXY), has a three-year standard deviation of 132.9. The fund, of course, doesn't invest in stocks. It invests in volatility itself, as measured by the so-called Fear Index: The short-term CBOE VIX index.
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.
iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA)
"We also generally stick to U.S. equity, international equity and fixed income." A great example of an ETF that meets Grossman's suggestions for broad diversification across global stocks and bonds is AOA. This ETF uses a split of 80% in stocks and 20% in bonds.
Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.
| Ticker | Fund name | 5-year return |
|---|---|---|
| SOXX | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 30.70% |
| XLK | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund | 24.57% |
| IYW | iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 24.09% |
| FTEC | Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 22.79% |
Is buying ETF better than stock?
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.
Holding an ETF for longer than a year may get you a more favorable capital gains tax rate when you sell your investment.
SPY, VOO and IVV are among the most popular S&P 500 ETFs. These three S&P 500 ETFs are quite similar, but may sometimes diverge in terms of costs or daily returns. Investors generally only need one S&P 500 ETF.
Investing in an S&P 500 fund can instantly diversify your portfolio and is generally considered less risky. S&P 500 index funds or ETFs will track the performance of the S&P 500, which means when the S&P 500 does well, your investment will, too. (The opposite is also true, of course.)
Disadvantages of ETFs. Although ETFs are generally cheaper than other lower-risk investment options (such as mutual funds) they are not free. ETFs are traded on the stock exchange like an individual stock, which means that investors may have to pay a real or virtual broker in order to facilitate the trade.
