Best ETFs
U.S. News has identified exchange-traded funds best suited for long-term investors seeking low-cost, diversified portfolios. Our rankings compare the cost and structure of hundreds of ETFs. Read more about our Best Fit ranking methodology.
Equity ETF Rankings
Basic Materials
| #1 |
Vanguard Materials Index Fund (VAW) Performance (1-YR): 27.03% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) Performance (1-YR): 2.24% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P Global Materials Sector Index Fund (MXI) Performance (1-YR): 11.71% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
Capital Appreciation
| #1 |
Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA) Performance (1-YR): 33.60% Expense Ratio: 0.16% |
| See more » |
Consumer Goods
| #1 |
Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund (VDC) Performance (1-YR): 27.42% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods Sector Index Fund (IYK) Performance (1-YR): 28.73% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| #3 |
SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) Performance (1-YR): 57.81% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| See more » |
Consumer Services
| #1 |
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund (VCR) Performance (1-YR): 37.47% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) Performance (1-YR): 36.12% Expense Ratio: 0.21% |
| #3 |
iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services Sector Index Fund (IYC) Performance (1-YR): 36.20% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
Emerging Markets Debt
| #1 |
SPDR Barclays Emerging Markets Local Bond ETF (EBND) Performance (1-YR): 13.82% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| #2 |
Market Vectors Emerging Markets Local Currency Bond ETF (EMLC) Performance (1-YR): 15.21% Expense Ratio: 0.49% |
| #3 |
iShares Emergine Markets Local Currency Bond Fund (LEMB) Performance (1-YR): 11.35% Expense Ratio: 0.60% |
| See more » |
Emerging Markets
| #1 |
BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE) Performance (1-YR): 9.52% Expense Ratio: 0.30% |
| #2 |
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE) Performance (1-YR): 18.71% Expense Ratio: 0.15% |
| #3 |
iShares Emerging Markets High Yield Bond Fund (EMHY) Performance (1-YR): 17.82% Expense Ratio: 0.65% |
| See more » |
Financial Services
| #1 |
Vanguard Financials Index Fund (VFH) Performance (1-YR): 42.15% Expense Ratio: 0.19% |
| #2 |
SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE) Performance (1-YR): 26.80% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| #3 |
PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio (KBWD) Performance (1-YR): 23.96% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| See more » |
Flexible Portfolio
| #1 |
IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI) Performance (1-YR): 6.42% Expense Ratio: 0.75% |
| See more » |
Gold Oriented
| #1 |
iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU) Performance (1-YR): 12.52% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #2 |
Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) Performance (1-YR): 34.69% Expense Ratio: 0.55% |
| #3 |
PowerShares DB Gold Fund (DGL) Performance (1-YR): 13.87% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| See more » |
Growth & Income
| #1 |
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI) Performance (1-YR): 29.79% Expense Ratio: 0.06% |
| #2 |
iShares S&P Moderate Allocation Fund (AOM) Performance (1-YR): 13.14% Expense Ratio: 0.31% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P Growth Allocation Fund (AOR) Performance (1-YR): 18.22% Expense Ratio: 0.32% |
| See more » |
Growth
| #1 |
SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) Performance (1-YR): 24.96% Expense Ratio: 0.20% |
| #2 |
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) Performance (1-YR): 30.45% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #3 |
Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) Performance (1-YR): 24.98% Expense Ratio: 0.15% |
| See more » |
Health/Biotechnology
| #1 |
Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (RYH) Performance (1-YR): 35.33% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| #2 |
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) Performance (1-YR): 37.67% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #3 |
SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH) Performance (1-YR): 26.82% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| See more » |
Income
| #1 |
WisdomTree Dividend ex-Financials Fund (DTN) Performance (1-YR): 30.76% Expense Ratio: 0.38% |
| #2 |
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) Performance (1-YR): 29.95% Expense Ratio: 0.07% |
| #3 |
Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund (VYM) Performance (1-YR): 29.44% Expense Ratio: 0.20% |
| See more » |
Industrials
| #1 |
Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) Performance (1-YR): 32.02% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
iShares Dow Jones US Industrial Sector Index Fund (IYJ) Performance (1-YR): 31.63% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P Global Industrials Sector Index Fund (EXI) Performance (1-YR): 30.89% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
Infrastructure
| #1 |
iShares S&P Global Infrastructure Index Fund (IGF) Performance (1-YR): 21.01% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
Large-Cap
| #1 |
iShares MSCI USA Index Fund (EUSA) Performance (1-YR): 28.04% Expense Ratio: 0.15% |
| #2 |
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT) Performance (1-YR): 29.46% Expense Ratio: 0.07% |
| #3 |
Vanguard Russell 1000 ETF (VONE) Performance (1-YR): 29.85% Expense Ratio: 0.12% |
| See more » |
Long/Short Equity
| #1 |
PowerShares S&P 500 BuyWrite Portfolio (PBP) Performance (1-YR): 10.88% Expense Ratio: 0.75% |
| See more » |
Micro-Cap
| #1 |
iShares Russell Microcap Index Fund (IWC) Performance (1-YR): 33.14% Expense Ratio: 0.68% |
| #2 |
First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (FDM) Performance (1-YR): 31.52% Expense Ratio: 0.60% |
| See more » |
Mid-Cap
| #1 |
Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF (IVOO) Performance (1-YR): 33.20% Expense Ratio: 0.15% |
| #2 |
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM) Performance (1-YR): 35.07% Expense Ratio: 0.07% |
| #3 |
PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid Portfolio (PRFZ) Performance (1-YR): 36.56% Expense Ratio: 0.39% |
| See more » |
Municipal Debt
| #1 |
iShares S&P California Municipal Bond Fund (CMF) Performance (1-YR): 4.92% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #2 |
iShares S&P Short Term National Municipal Bond Fund (SUB) Performance (1-YR): 0.31% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P New York Municipal Bond Fund (NYF) Performance (1-YR): 3.64% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| See more » |
Natural Resources
| #1 |
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES) Performance (1-YR): 32.38% Expense Ratio: 0.36% |
| #2 |
Vanguard Energy Index Fund (VDE) Performance (1-YR): 26.81% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #3 |
iShares MSCI Global Select Metals & Mining Producers Fund (PICK) Performance (1-YR): 0.16% Expense Ratio: 0.39% |
| See more » |
Real Estate
| #1 |
Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH) Performance (1-YR): 26.76% Expense Ratio: 0.07% |
| #2 |
SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR) Performance (1-YR): 26.38% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #3 |
PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio (KBWY) Performance (1-YR): 54.43% Expense Ratio: 0.35% |
| See more » |
Science & Technology
| #1 |
Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF (RYT) Performance (1-YR): 29.01% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| #2 |
Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT) Performance (1-YR): 15.22% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #3 |
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC) Performance (1-YR): 19.85% Expense Ratio: 0.60% |
| See more » |
Small-Cap
| #1 |
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SLY) Performance (1-YR): 33.27% Expense Ratio: 0.20% |
| #2 |
PowerShares S&P SmallCap Information Technology Portfolio (PSCT) Performance (1-YR): 26.92% Expense Ratio: 0.29% |
| #3 |
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) Performance (1-YR): 35.13% Expense Ratio: 0.08% |
| See more » |
Specialty: Equity
| #1 |
FlexShares Morningstar US Market Factors Tilt Index Fund (TILT) Performance (1-YR): 31.71% Expense Ratio: 0.27% |
| #2 |
iShares KLD 400 Social Index Fund (DSI) Performance (1-YR): 30.40% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| #3 |
iShares KLD Select Social Index Fund (KLD) Performance (1-YR): 25.22% Expense Ratio: 0.50% |
| See more » |
Telecommunication
| #1 |
Vanguard Telecommunication Services Index Fund (VOX) Performance (1-YR): 32.07% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
iShares S&P North American Technology-Multimedia Networking Index Fund (IGN) Performance (1-YR): 16.28% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P Global Telecommunications Sector Index Fund (IXP) Performance (1-YR): 20.21% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
U.S. Mortgage
| #1 |
Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Securities ETF (VMBS) Performance (1-YR): 0.66% Expense Ratio: 0.15% |
| #2 |
iShares Barclays MBS Bond Fund (MBB) Performance (1-YR): 0.61% Expense Ratio: 0.34% |
| See more » |
Utility
| #1 |
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund (VPU) Performance (1-YR): 19.05% Expense Ratio: 0.14% |
| #2 |
iShares Dow Jones US Utilities Sector Index Fund (IDU) Performance (1-YR): 18.40% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| #3 |
iShares S&P Global Utilities Sector Index Fund (JXI) Performance (1-YR): 17.56% Expense Ratio: 0.48% |
| See more » |
Value
| #1 |
SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) Performance (1-YR): 36.64% Expense Ratio: 0.25% |
| #2 |
SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV) Performance (1-YR): 34.39% Expense Ratio: 0.20% |
| #3 |
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV) Performance (1-YR): 31.67% Expense Ratio: 0.07% |
| See more » |
Updated 05.21.2013
