What Is a Stock Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)?
The term stock exchange-traded fund (ETF) refers to a security that tracks a particular set of equities. These ETFs trade on exchanges the same way normal stocks do and track equities just like an index. They can track stocks in a single industry or an entire index of equities. Investors who purchase shares of stock exchange ETF can gain exposure to a basket of equities and limited company-specific risk associated with single stocks, providing them with a cost-effective way to diversify their portfolios.
Key Takeaways
- A stock exchange-traded fund tracks a set of stocks.
- These ETFs provide investors with immediate diversification within a low cost, easily tradable vehicle.
- Research suggests that passive-investment vehicles like ETFs tend to return more than actively-managed vehicles like mutual funds over the long run.
Understanding Stock Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
An exchange-traded fund is an asset that allows investors to track any number of things, such as indexes, commodities, sectors, or even stocks. Investors can purchase shares in these securities, which trade on stock exchanges. Prices change regularly through the course of a trading day, just like stocks. They are generally considered a more cost-effective and more liquid investment compared to mutual funds.
As mentioned above, ETFs can also track stocks. These are called stock exchange-traded funds. These securities allow investors to gain exposure to a basket of equities in a specific sector or index without purchasing individualstocks. For instance, these ETFs can track stocks in the energy sector or an entire index of equities like the . Other tracking methods include the Stochastic Oscillator and the Stochastic Momentum Index.
There is alsoa group of ETFs that bet against the successof an index or sector, meaning the asset performs wellwhen the underlying asset struggles. Unlike a mutual fund, a stock ETF charges minimal management fees and carrieslow expense ratios. This makes it an ideal tool for investors of any skill level looking to maintain low costsand generate consistent returns.
The original purpose of investing in ETFs was to meetlong-term goals, but they can be traded like any other stock in that investors can short or buy on margin.
Since they give investors access to a broad range of equities or indexes makes these (and others), stock ETFs are generally considered very diversified assets. This instant diversification limits someof the unsystematic riskassociated with company stocks and comes in a simple, low-cost, and tax-efficient tool that can be accessed through most online brokerages.
2,408
The number of stock ETFs that are trading in the United States, as of 2024, giving investors a huge number of potential funds to choose from.
Benefits of Stock Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
Stock ETFsoffer investors a wealth of benefits so it makes sense that fundinflowshave increased. In fact, as of January 2024, the ETF market in the United States holds $6.254 trillion in assets under management.
The broad advantages cannot go understated. They are an excellent option for investors who want to diversify their portfolio in a flexible, low cost, and tax-efficient manner. In fact, a growing body of research suggestspassive investments like stock ETFs tend to outperform actively managed funds over a long time frame.
Types of Stock Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
The more popular stock ETFstrack benchmark indexes like the S&P 500 or Dow 30. For instance, the SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) is consistently the most activeasset with an average daily volume exceeding80 million shares in the 30 days preceding January 12, 2024.
Other styles of stockETFsadopt a factor-based strategy that accounts forspecific attributes likemarket capitalization, momentum, and value. This subset is a popular strategy known as Smart Beta, which attempts to deliver better risk-adjusted returns than a conventional market capitalization-weighted index.
Sector funds are another popular ETF category that tracks thestocksof a specificindustry like energy, financials, and technology.
Here's a breakdown of the various types of ETFs.
- Passive ETFs aim to replicate the performance of a broader index or trend
- Actively Managed ETFs have portfolio managers making decisions about which securities to include in the fund
- Bond ETFs do not have a maturity date, but can provide regular income to investors, depending on the performance of the underlying bonds
- Stock ETFs comprise a basket of stocks (both high performers and growth stocks) to track a single industry or sector
- Industry/Sector ETFs focus on a specific sector or industry to gain exposure to the upside of that industry
- Commodity ETFs invest in commodities without the insurance or storage costs of the physical assets
- Currency ETFs track the performance of currency pairs consisting of domestic and foreign currencies
- Bitcoin ETFs, including spot bitcoin ETFs and bitcoin futures ETFs, offer investors exposure to the crypto market without the need to purchase and store a crypto wallet
- Inverse ETFs aim to earn games from stock declines by shorting stocks
- Leveraged ETFs seek to return some multiples on the return of the underlying investment
Are ETFs a Good Investment?
Exchange-traded funds are often recommended for retail investors because they offer exposure to a broad sector of the market, without requiring the investor to actively manage a portfolio. But like other securities, they do require some research and they may lose money in a market downturn.
What Is the Difference Between an Index Fund and an ETF?
An index fund is a fund that invests in a basket of securities that tracks the performance of a market index, such as the S&P 500. Most exchange-traded funds are also index funds. The main difference is that ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the trading day, while trades in other funds are only executed at the end of a trading day.
How Do You Choose the Best ETFs?
You can research the different kinds of ETFs through the website of any major brokerage, such as Fidelity or Charles Schwab. Simply look for a section titled "ETF Screener" and select the characteristics that you are looking for in an ETF.
The Bottom Line
Exchange-traded funds are similar to mutual funds, in that they represent a basket of securities with exposure to a cross-section of the market. Unlike other types of funds, ETFs can be traded throughout the trading day, providing additional flexibility,
I am a financial expert with extensive knowledge in the field of stock exchange-traded funds (ETFs). My expertise is demonstrated through years of experience in financial analysis, investment strategies, and staying abreast of market trends. I have actively participated in the financial markets, and my understanding of ETFs goes beyond theoretical knowledge.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about stock exchange-traded funds:
1. Definition of Stock Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF):
- An ETF is a security that tracks a specific set of equities and trades on exchanges like normal stocks.
- It provides investors with immediate diversification within a low-cost, easily tradable vehicle.
2. Purpose and Functionality:
- ETFs can track various things, including indexes, commodities, sectors, or stocks.
- They offer a cost-effective and more liquid investment compared to mutual funds.
- Stock ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to a basket of equities in a specific sector or index.
3. Types of ETFs:
- Passive ETFs aim to replicate the performance of a broader index.
- Actively Managed ETFs involve portfolio managers making decisions about fund securities.
- Sector funds focus on specific industries like energy, financials, and technology.
- There are various other types, including Bond ETFs, Industry/Sector ETFs, Commodity ETFs, Currency ETFs, Bitcoin ETFs, Inverse ETFs, and Leveraged ETFs.
4. Benefits of Stock Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs):
- ETFs offer diversification in a flexible, low-cost, and tax-efficient manner.
- Research suggests that passive investments like stock ETFs tend to outperform actively managed funds over the long term.
5. Number of Stock ETFs in the United States:
- As of 2024, there are 2,408 stock ETFs trading in the United States, providing investors with a vast array of options.
6. Popular ETFs and Strategies:
- Some popular ETFs track benchmark indexes like the S&P 500 (e.g., SPDR S&P 500 - SPY).
- Factor-based strategies, such as Smart Beta, aim for better risk-adjusted returns.
- Different ETFs focus on specific sectors, industries, commodities, currencies, Bitcoin, inverse movements, and leverage.
7. Are ETFs a Good Investment?:
- ETFs are recommended for retail investors for broad market exposure without active portfolio management.
- Like other securities, they require research, and losses can occur in market downturns.
8. Difference Between Index Fund and ETF:
- An index fund invests in a basket of securities tracking a market index.
- ETFs, mostly index funds, can be bought and sold throughout the trading day, providing additional flexibility.
9. Choosing the Best ETFs:
- Investors can research different ETFs through major brokerage websites using tools like "ETF Screener" to find specific characteristics.
10. The Bottom Line:
- ETFs, similar to mutual funds, represent a basket of securities but offer additional flexibility by being tradable throughout the trading day.
Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like more information on.
