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.

Agriculture

#1

PowerShares Global Agriculture Portfolio (PAGG)

Performance (1-YR): 10.47% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

#2

Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (MOO)

Performance (1-YR): 7.68% Expense Ratio: 0.59%

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Basic Materials

#1

Vanguard Materials Index Fund (VAW)

Performance (1-YR): 7.20% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

iShares S&P Global Materials Sector Index Fund (MXI)

Performance (1-YR): 20.09% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

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

Performance (1-YR): 14.24% Expense Ratio: 0.47%

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Capital Appreciation

#1

Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)

Performance (1-YR): 14.59% Expense Ratio: 0.16%

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China Region

#1

iShares MSCI China Index Fund (MCHI)

Performance (1-YR): 16.73% Expense Ratio: 0.61%

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Commodities

#1

GreenHaven Continuous Commodity Index Fund (GCC)

Performance (1-YR): 17.24% Expense Ratio: 0.85%

#2

PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund (DBB)

Performance (1-YR): 17.92% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

#3

iShares GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust (GSG)

Performance (1-YR): 7.65% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Consumer Goods

#1

Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund (VDC)

Performance (1-YR): 7.68% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 5.73% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB)

Performance (1-YR): 15.84% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Consumer Services

#1

Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund (VCR)

Performance (1-YR): 8.34% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 9.37% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares S&P Global Consumer Discretionary Sector Index Fund (RXI)

Performance (1-YR): 0.32% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Emerging Markets

#1

BLDRS Emerging Markets 50 ADR Index Fund (ADRE)

Performance (1-YR): 13.67% Expense Ratio: 0.30%

#2

Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE)

Performance (1-YR): 14.85% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#3

SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ETF (GMM)

Performance (1-YR): 14.54% Expense Ratio: 0.59%

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European Region

#1

Vanguard European Index Fund (VGK)

Performance (1-YR): 17.45% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

iShares MSCI EMU Index Fund (EZU)

Performance (1-YR): 26.15% Expense Ratio: 0.54%

#3

iShares MSCI France Index Fund (EWQ)

Performance (1-YR): 26.28% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

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Financial Services

#1

Vanguard Financials Index Fund (VFH)

Performance (1-YR): 4.75% Expense Ratio: 0.23%

#2

iShares S&P Global Financials Sector Index Fund (IXG)

Performance (1-YR): 15.97% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares Dow Jones US Financial Services Index Fund (IYG)

Performance (1-YR): 7.07% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Flexible Portfolio

#1

IQ Hedge Multi-Strategy Tracker ETF (QAI)

Performance (1-YR): 0.74% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Global

#1

iShares MSCI Kokusai Index Fund (TOK)

Performance (1-YR): 5.89% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#2

iShares MSCI ACWI Index Fund (ACWI)

Performance (1-YR): 7.13% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Global Infrastructure

#1

iShares S&P Global Infrastructure Index Fund (IGF)

Performance (1-YR): 4.89% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Global Natural Resources

#1

Guggenheim S&P Global Water Index ETF (CGW)

Performance (1-YR): 3.98% Expense Ratio: 0.65%

#2

Market Vectors Coal ETF (KOL)

Performance (1-YR): 38.10% Expense Ratio: 0.62%

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Gold Oriented

#1

iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU)

Performance (1-YR): 4.19% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

#2

PowerShares DB Gold Fund (DGL)

Performance (1-YR): 2.92% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#3

Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ)

Performance (1-YR): 39.52% Expense Ratio: 0.60%

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Growth & Income

#1

Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTI)

Performance (1-YR): 1.77% Expense Ratio: 0.07%

#2

iShares S&P Growth Allocation Fund (AOR)

Performance (1-YR): 0.94% Expense Ratio: 0.32%

#3

iShares S&P Conservative Allocation Fund (AOK)

Performance (1-YR): 3.24% Expense Ratio: 0.30%

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Growth

#1

iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund (IWB)

Performance (1-YR): 2.00% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund (VOT)

Performance (1-YR): 3.31% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#3

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG)

Performance (1-YR): 2.80% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

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Health/Biotechnology

#1

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

Performance (1-YR): 0.63% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT)

Performance (1-YR): 3.52% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#3

SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (XPH)

Performance (1-YR): 11.53% Expense Ratio: 0.35%

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Income

#1

WisdomTree MidCap Dividend Fund (DON)

Performance (1-YR): 0.96% Expense Ratio: 0.38%

#2

WisdomTree Total Dividend Fund (DTD)

Performance (1-YR): 5.51% Expense Ratio: 0.28%

#3

WisdomTree Dividend ex-Financials Fund (DTN)

Performance (1-YR): 3.81% Expense Ratio: 0.38%

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Industrials

#1

Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS)

Performance (1-YR): 4.09% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

iShares Dow Jones US Industrial Sector Index Fund (IYJ)

Performance (1-YR): 3.57% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares S&P Global Industrials Sector Index Fund (EXI)

Performance (1-YR): 11.09% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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International

#1

Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF)

Performance (1-YR): 14.61% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

#2

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)

Performance (1-YR): 15.10% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#3

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

Performance (1-YR): 13.32% Expense Ratio: 0.34%

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International Real Estate

#1

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

Performance (1-YR): 9.24% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Japanese

#1

iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund (EWJ)

Performance (1-YR): 8.16% Expense Ratio: 0.54%

#2

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ)

Performance (1-YR): 6.20% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Large-Cap

#1

iShares MSCI USA Index Fund (EUSA)

Performance (1-YR): 2.51% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

iShares S&P 500 Index Fund (IVV)

Performance (1-YR): 2.71% Expense Ratio: 0.09%

#3

Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB)

Performance (1-YR): 1.80% Expense Ratio: 0.06%

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Latin American

#1

iShares MSCI All Peru Capped Index Fund (EPU)

Performance (1-YR): 1.64% Expense Ratio: 0.61%

#2

iShares MSCI Mexico Investable Market Index Fund (EWW)

Performance (1-YR): 3.05% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

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Long/Short Equity

#1

PowerShares S&P 500 BuyWrite Portfolio (PBP)

Performance (1-YR): 3.80% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

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Mid-Cap

#1

Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund (VO)

Performance (1-YR): 2.85% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 2.96% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

#3

iShares Russell Midcap Index Fund (IWR)

Performance (1-YR): 2.23% Expense Ratio: 0.21%

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Natural Resources

#1

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

Performance (1-YR): 16.01% Expense Ratio: 0.36%

#2

iShares S&P North American Natural Resources Sector Index Fund (IGE)

Performance (1-YR): 15.84% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

Vanguard Energy Index Fund (VDE)

Performance (1-YR): 8.18% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

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Pacific Ex Japan

#1

iShares MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index Fund (EPP)

Performance (1-YR): 10.27% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (EWS)

Performance (1-YR): 8.17% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

#3

iShares MSCI Hong Kong Index Fund (EWH)

Performance (1-YR): 11.15% Expense Ratio: 0.53%

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Pacific Region

#1

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (VPL)

Performance (1-YR): 8.93% Expense Ratio: 0.14%

#2

iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (EWY)

Performance (1-YR): 12.30% Expense Ratio: 0.61%

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Precious Metals

#1

PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund (DBP)

Performance (1-YR): 1.58% Expense Ratio: 0.75%

#2

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)

Performance (1-YR): 16.53% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#3

Global X Silver Miners ETF (SIL)

Performance (1-YR): 23.23% Expense Ratio: 0.65%

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Real Estate

#1

Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (SCHH)

Performance (1-YR): 10.76% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

#2

Vanguard REIT ETF (VNQ)

Performance (1-YR): 10.36% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#3

First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund (FRI)

Performance (1-YR): 10.25% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

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Science & Technology

#1

Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT)

Performance (1-YR): 7.85% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 7.04% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#3

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

Performance (1-YR): 5.36% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Small-Cap

#1

SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SLY)

Performance (1-YR): 0.67% Expense Ratio: 0.20%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 3.22% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

#3

Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund (VB)

Performance (1-YR): 3.02% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

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Specialty: Equity

#1

iShares KLD Select Social Index Fund (KLD)

Performance (1-YR): 1.56% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

#2

iShares KLD 400 Social Index Fund (DSI)

Performance (1-YR): 1.65% Expense Ratio: 0.50%

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Telecommunication

#1

Vanguard Telecommunication Services Index Fund (VOX)

Performance (1-YR): 6.40% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 22.59% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

iShares S&P Global Telecommunications Sector Index Fund (IXP)

Performance (1-YR): 3.30% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Utility

#1

Vanguard Utilities Index Fund (VPU)

Performance (1-YR): 8.54% Expense Ratio: 0.19%

#2

iShares Dow Jones US Utilities Sector Index Fund (IDU)

Performance (1-YR): 8.27% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

#3

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

Performance (1-YR): 7.29% Expense Ratio: 0.48%

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Value

#1

Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund (VBR)

Performance (1-YR): 3.00% Expense Ratio: 0.15%

#2

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

Performance (1-YR): 1.84% Expense Ratio: 0.13%

#3

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

Performance (1-YR): 1.16% Expense Ratio: 0.25%

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Updated 05.14.2012

Top Performing ETFs as of 04.04.2012

PIMCO 25+ Year Zero Coupon U.S. Treasury Index Fund (ZROZ)

Fixed Income | U.S. Treasury Funds

Total Return: 46.69%

Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index Fund (EDV)

Fixed Income | U.S. Treasury Funds

Total Return: 43.48%

iPath US Treasury 10-year Bull ETN (DTYL)

Fixed Income | U.S. Treasury Funds

Total Return: 39.76%

iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU)

Commodity | Gold Oriented Funds

Total Return: 19.77%

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)

Commodity | Gold Oriented Funds

Total Return: 19.76%

iShares Silver Trust (SLV)

Commodity | Precious Metals

Total Return: 18.83%

* annualized