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.

Basic Materials

#1

Vanguard Materials Index Fund (VAW)

Performance (1-YR): 20.31% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME)

Performance (1-YR): 8.74% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Basic Materials Sector Index Fund (IYM)

Performance (1-YR): 12.85% Expense Ratio: 0.47%

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Capital Appreciation

#1

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA)

Performance (1-YR): 26.82% Expense Ratio: 0.16%

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China Region

#1

PowerShares Golden Dragon China Portfolio (PGJ)

Performance (1-YR): 12.89% Expense Ratio: 0.60%

#2

iShares MSCI China Index Fund (MCHI)

Performance (1-YR): 4.36% Expense Ratio: 0.61%

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Commodities

#1

PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund (DBB)

Performance (1-YR): 7.77% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

#2

iShares GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG)

Performance (1-YR): 8.06% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

#3

PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund (DBC)

Performance (1-YR): 5.95% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Consumer Goods

#1

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund (VDC)

Performance (1-YR): 22.80% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP)

Performance (1-YR): 21.74% Expense Ratio: 0.21%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Goods Sector Index Fund (IYK)

Performance (1-YR): 25.70% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Consumer Services

#1

Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund (VCR)

Performance (1-YR): 33.35% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY)

Performance (1-YR): 31.01% Expense Ratio: 0.21%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services Sector Index Fund (IYC)

Performance (1-YR): 29.56% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Emerging Markets

#1

BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE)

Performance (1-YR): 2.53% Expense Ratio: 0.30%

#2

Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE)

Performance (1-YR): 5.45% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#3

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Asia Index Fund (EEMA)

Performance (1-YR): 6.11% Expense Ratio: 0.49%

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European Region

#1

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK)

Performance (1-YR): 30.17% Expense Ratio: 0.12%

#2

iShares MSCI UK Index Fund (EWU)

Performance (1-YR): 18.98% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

#3

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (EZU)

Performance (1-YR): 35.30% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

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Financial Services

#1

Vanguard Financials Index Fund (VFH)

Performance (1-YR): 35.60% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE)

Performance (1-YR): 25.24% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

#3

PowerShares KBW High Dividend Yield Financial Portfolio (KBWD)

Performance (1-YR): 15.53% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Flexible Portfolio

#1

IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI)

Performance (1-YR): 3.72% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Global

#1

iShares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index Fund (ACWV)

Performance (1-YR): 14.76% Expense Ratio: 0.34%

#2

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund (VT)

Performance (1-YR): 22.66% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#3

iShares MSCI ACWI Index Fund (ACWI)

Performance (1-YR): 21.79% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Gold Oriented

#1

PowerShares DB Gold Fund (DGL)

Performance (1-YR): 16.47% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU)

Performance (1-YR): 15.14% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#3

Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)

Performance (1-YR): 39.97% Expense Ratio: 0.55%

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Growth & Income

#1

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI)

Performance (1-YR): 25.14% Expense Ratio: 0.06%

#2

iShares S&P Growth Allocation Fund (AOR)

Performance (1-YR): 14.26% Expense Ratio: 0.32%

#3

iShares S&P Moderate Allocation Fund (AOM)

Performance (1-YR): 9.95% Expense Ratio: 0.31%

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Growth

#1

Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG)

Performance (1-YR): 19.39% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG)

Performance (1-YR): 20.08% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#3

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG)

Performance (1-YR): 26.55% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

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Health/Biotechnology

#1

Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Health Care ETF (RYH)

Performance (1-YR): 31.49% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT)

Performance (1-YR): 32.25% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#3

SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH)

Performance (1-YR): 26.53% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Income

#1

WisdomTree Dividend ex-Financials Fund (DTN)

Performance (1-YR): 24.11% Expense Ratio: 0.38%

#2

Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)

Performance (1-YR): 24.83% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

#3

Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund (VYM)

Performance (1-YR): 24.56% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

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Industrials

#1

Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS)

Performance (1-YR): 29.17% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

iShares Dow Jones US Aerospace & Defense Index Fund (ITA)

Performance (1-YR): 32.46% Expense Ratio: 0.47%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Industrial Sector Index Fund (IYJ)

Performance (1-YR): 28.15% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Infrastructure

#1

iShares S&P Global Infrastructure Index Fund (IGF)

Performance (1-YR): 14.90% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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International

#1

Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF)

Performance (1-YR): 24.16% Expense Ratio: 0.09%

#2

SPDR S&P World ex-US ETF (GWL)

Performance (1-YR): 23.97% Expense Ratio: 0.34%

#3

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)

Performance (1-YR): 20.31% Expense Ratio: 0.16%

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International Real Estate

#1

iShares S&P Developed ex-US Property Index Fund (WPS)

Performance (1-YR): 26.05% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#2

WisdomTree Global ex-US RealEstate Fund (DRW)

Performance (1-YR): 20.75% Expense Ratio: 0.58%

#3

Vanguard Global ex-U.S. Real Estate Index (VNQI)

Performance (1-YR): 24.58% Expense Ratio: 0.32%

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Japanese

#1

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (EWJ)

Performance (1-YR): 24.74% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

#2

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ)

Performance (1-YR): 40.66% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Large-Cap

#1

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund (EUSA)

Performance (1-YR): 24.24% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

iShares Dow Jones US Index Fund (IYY)

Performance (1-YR): 24.68% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#3

iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF (ITOT)

Performance (1-YR): 24.88% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

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Latin American

#1

iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index Fund (EPU)

Performance (1-YR): 10.91% Expense Ratio: 0.61%

#2

Global X/InterBolsa FTSE Colombia 20 ETF (GXG)

Performance (1-YR): 5.26% Expense Ratio: 0.86%

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Long/Short Equity

#1

PowerShares S&P 500 BuyWrite Portfolio (PBP)

Performance (1-YR): 7.08% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Mid-Cap

#1

Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF (IVOO)

Performance (1-YR): 28.83% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF (SCHM)

Performance (1-YR): 30.70% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

#3

PowerShares FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid Portfolio (PRFZ)

Performance (1-YR): 33.71% Expense Ratio: 0.39%

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Natural Resources

#1

Vanguard Energy Index Fund (VDE)

Performance (1-YR): 23.68% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Equipment & Services ETF (XES)

Performance (1-YR): 35.80% Expense Ratio: 0.36%

#3

iShares MSCI Global Select Metals & Mining Producers Fund (PICK)

Performance (1-YR): 10.18% Expense Ratio: 0.39%

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Pacific Ex Japan

#1

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (EWS)

Performance (1-YR): 14.02% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

#2

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund (EPP)

Performance (1-YR): 17.49% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#3

iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index Fund (AAXJ)

Performance (1-YR): 9.47% Expense Ratio: 0.69%

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Pacific Region

#1

Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF (VPL)

Performance (1-YR): 21.33% Expense Ratio: 0.12%

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Precious Metals

#1

Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL)

Performance (1-YR): 31.30% Expense Ratio: 0.65%

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Real Estate

#1

Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH)

Performance (1-YR): 11.77% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

#2

SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR)

Performance (1-YR): 11.64% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#3

PowerShares KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT Portfolio (KBWY)

Performance (1-YR): 31.87% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Science & Technology

#1

Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF (RYT)

Performance (1-YR): 25.40% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT)

Performance (1-YR): 12.71% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#3

iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (IGM)

Performance (1-YR): 18.00% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Small-Cap

#1

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SLY)

Performance (1-YR): 29.97% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#2

Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA)

Performance (1-YR): 31.25% Expense Ratio: 0.08%

#3

PowerShares S&P SmallCap Information Technology Portfolio (PSCT)

Performance (1-YR): 26.53% Expense Ratio: 0.29%

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Specialty: Equity

#1

FlexShares Morningstar US Market Factors Tilt Index Fund (TILT)

Performance (1-YR): 26.89% Expense Ratio: 0.27%

#2

Guggenheim Insider Sentiment ETF (NFO)

Performance (1-YR): 30.82% Expense Ratio: 0.60%

#3

iShares KLD 400 Social Index Fund (DSI)

Performance (1-YR): 26.76% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

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Telecommunication

#1

Vanguard Telecommunication Services Index Fund (VOX)

Performance (1-YR): 20.86% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

iShares S&P North American Technology-Multimedia Networking Index Fund (IGN)

Performance (1-YR): 18.40% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Telecommunications Sector Index Fund (IYZ)

Performance (1-YR): 20.39% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Utility

#1

Vanguard Utilities Index Fund (VPU)

Performance (1-YR): 8.52% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

iShares Dow Jones US Utilities Sector Index Fund (IDU)

Performance (1-YR): 8.84% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares S&P Global Utilities Sector Index Fund (JXI)

Performance (1-YR): 9.50% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Value

#1

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV)

Performance (1-YR): 34.03% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#2

SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV)

Performance (1-YR): 28.94% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#3

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV)

Performance (1-YR): 26.22% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

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Updated 06.17.2013

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Top Performing ETFs as of 06.05.2013

iPath Global Carbon ETN (GRN)

Commodity | Commodities Funds

Total Return: 34.69%

Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN)

Global Equity | Natural Resources Funds

Total Return: 23.14%

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Equity | Natural Resources Funds

Total Return: 19.18%

Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF (GREK)

Global Equity | European Region Funds

Total Return: 88.56%

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN)

Equity | Natural Resources Funds

Total Return: 67.23%

Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF (GEX)

Global Equity | Natural Resources Funds

Total Return: 61.79%

* annualized