Searching for the best exchange-traded funds (ETFs)? This guide will show you the best ETFs in terms of performance in the past year as well as across three-year and five-year time frames.
However, it’s worth noting that there’s no single ETF that’s the best choice for every investor. Different ETFs target different industries and are designed to suit a variety of investment strategies, so the best ETF for you depends on your investment time frame, financial goals and appetite for risk.
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Below are the 20 highest returning exchange-traded funds in the US, including all standard ETFs, synthetic ETFs and actively managed ETFs. This means some of them have higher risk than others. To understand more about what these terms mean, check out our comprehensive guide to ETFs.
It’s also worth noting that past performance is no guarantee of future success. If an ETF has performed well in the past, that doesn’t mean it will generate similar returns in the future.
That’s why performance is only one of several factors to consider when choosing an ETF. You should also look at fees, how risky the product is, your investment goals and how long you can afford to invest for.
The returns shown are net, meaning the management fees have already been deducted to offer a clearer view of performance.
| Symbol | ETF name | YTD returns | Expense ratio | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDL | GraniteShares 1.5x Long NVDA Daily ETF | 314.19% | 1.15% | 60M |
| FNGU | MicroSectors FANG+ Index 3X Leveraged ETN | 274.51% | 0.95% | 2.05B |
| KOLD | ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas | 228.30% | 0.95% | 177M |
| FBL | GraniteShares 1.5x Long Meta Daily ETF | 219.80% | 1.15% | 6M |
| BULZ | MicroSectors Solactive FANG & Innovation 3X Leveraged ETN | 189.90% | 0.95% | 512M |
As of September 2023, these are the 5 best ETFs based on year-to-date performance.
| Symbol | ETF name | 1Y returns | Expense ratio | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOLD | ProShares UltraShort Bloomberg Natural Gas | 335.21% | 0.95% | 177M |
| SVIX | -1x Short VIX Futures ETF | 90.48% | 1.47% | 63M |
| FNGU | MicroSectors FANG+â„¢ Index 3X Leveraged ETN | 67.28% | 0.95% | 2.05B |
| FNGO | MicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs | 62.88% | 0.95% | 170M |
| TUR | iShares MSCI Turkey ETF | 48.89% | 0.57% | 194M |
As of September 2023, these are the 5 best ETFs in the US based on 1-year performance.
| Symbol | ETF name | 3Y returns | Expense ratio | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEXX | Direxion Daily MSCI Mexico Bull 3X Shares | 67.87% | 1.23% | 18M |
| UCO | ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil | 55.54% | 1.62% | 746M |
| GRN | iPath Series B Carbon ETN | 53.66% | 0.75% | 49M |
| NRGU | MicroSectors U.S. Big Oil Index 3X Leveraged ETN | 52.95% | 0.95% | 1.17B |
| UGA | United States Gasoline Fund LP | 50.58% | 0.93% | 70M |
As of September 2023, these are the 5 best ETFs in the US based on 3-year performance.
| Symbol | ETF name | 5Y returns | Expense ratio | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TECL | Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares | 28.86% | 0.97% | 2.28B |
| USD | ProShares Ultra Semiconductors | 26.23% | 0.95% | 219M |
| ROM | ProShares Ultra Technology | 25.80% | 0.95% | 532M |
| SMH | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 23.69% | 0.35% | 9.54B |
| XSD | SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 23.44% | 0.35% | 1.49B |
As of September 2023, these are the 5 best ETFs in the US based on 5-year performance.
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Skyrocketing inflation has been a key factor impacting global stock markets for much of the past year. Inflation reached a 40-year high in 2022, with the rising cost of living putting the pinch on consumers and increasing investor pessimism.
The Fed steadily increased interest rates throughout the year in an effort to combat rising prices, but inflation levels have continued to remain high. Fears of a recession still remain, with many economists predicting a global recession in 2023, and the uncertainty around future rate rises has driven plenty of market volatility.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has also affected financial markets, increasing energy and food costs and sparking Europe’s energy crisis. The Chinese government’s zero-Covid approach to managing the pandemic is another key factor, with protests against the strict policies fueling investor worry.
But while other major global currencies like the euro and the pound mostly fell in value throughout 2022, the US dollar continued to be a strong performer. The dollar reached a two-decade high in September 2022, but has steadily fallen since then. And what lies ahead for the greenback in 2023 remains to be seen.
There are thousands of ETFs to choose from, so you’ll need to consider a wide range of factors when deciding where to invest your money. These include:
High fees can make a big dent in your overall investment returns. There are two main costs involved when investing in listed funds: brokerage and management fees.
To find the trading platform that offers the lowest fees, you’ll first need to decide how much you want to invest and how many lump sums you’ll be investing over a year. If it’s just a single lump sum, finding a platform that doesn’t charge an inactivity fee will be key. If you plan on frequently buying small amounts, the brokerage fee itself will be more important.
Before deciding whether ETFs are the best investment solution for you, make sure you’re fully aware of how they work and have an in-depth understanding of all the risks involved. These include:
Basic details about a fund can be found in its prospectus, which (in most cases) must be filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before an ETF can be publicly traded.
The prospectus breaks down key information about a fund including:
View all public filings related to ETFs and other regulated US securities on the SEC website. You can also access an ETF’s prospectus by visiting the issuing company’s website.
Once you’ve considered the risks of investing in ETFs and worked out your financial goals, you can buy and sell units in an ETF like any stock on the stock market through a fund manager or an online trading platform.
To invest in ETFs through an online trading platform, you must do the following:
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