Once upon a time, exchange-traded products (ETPs)—which comprise mostly exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a much smaller percentage of exchange-traded notes (ETNs)—were the new kid on the investment block. Not anymore.
You can choose from more than 3,300 different US ETFs/ETPs (including leveraged and inverse), with assets just over $8.8 trillion as of March 22, 2024 (per Bloomberg). And while the early ETFs tracked broad market indexes like the S&P 500® Index, now there are ETFs focused on virtually every imaginable corner of the market—from health care to solar energy, from Treasury bonds to emerging market debt, from commodities to currencies, and from Turkey to Thailand. You can also find style-based ETFs focused on growth, value, or capitalization, or theme-based ETFs, such as those aimed at green or socially responsible investors.
But like any investment vehicle, ETFs have risks along with potential rewards. So, how exactly do they work? What are their pros and cons? And how might they fit into your investment style and strategy?
The basics
Essentially, ETFs are baskets of securities that trade like stocks on an exchange. As with index mutual funds, many ETFs track an index, and those indexes can be very broad or extremely narrow.
But the way ETFs are priced, and bought and sold, differs from mutual funds. A mutual fund may be purchased or sold only at a price based on the net asset value (NAV) of the fund, which is typically determined once a day and is based on the closing price of all the securities in the portfolio at the end of the trading day. By contrast, you can buy and sell ETFs, like stocks listed on a stock exchange, throughout the trading day. When you want to buy or sell shares of an ETF, you'll see a bid and ask price for the shares, just like an individual stock. As with stocks, the price at which an ETF trades varies throughout the day.
With ETFs that trade frequently and track very liquid underlying securities, like the large-capitalization stocks in the S&P 500® Index, the price of the ETF and value of the securities in the fund tend to track closely. However, the price of an ETF that holds less liquid securities—like certain types of fixed income securities or stocks traded on a small foreign market that is closed during US trading hours—could vary more significantly from the NAV of the securities in the ETF. Also, most ETFs are passively managed (i.e., they attempt to track a benchmark index), while some are actively managed (i.e., they try to outperform a benchmark index).
The pros—plus some caveats
ETFs have many appealing features for both long-term investors and short-term traders. Here are some of the main advantages, with a few caveats.
Diversification: Unlike individual stocks or bonds, many ETFs represent a basket of securities. For this reason, they can be an easy way for individual investors to build a well-balanced strategic asset allocation of stocks and bonds, as well as alternative asset classes, including commodities, real estate, and even currencies. ETFs can also be an effective way to fill a gap in a well-balanced portfolio or to make more targeted investment decisions—say, on gold, financial services stocks, or emerging market debt—without having to pick individual securities or commodities.
Caveat: Not all ETFs are successful in tracking their index (benchmark) closely. If you're using an ETF for exposure to a particular index and your ETF isn't tracking it closely, you might not be getting what you paid for. In addition, other ETFs have emerged with a narrower focus. They may give you access to varying styles, sectors, or regions, but can be limited in their diversification benefits. For example, some country-specific ETFs offer you exposure, but do so through a limited number of stocks associated with the ETF's corresponding country index.
Low cost: ETFs often have lower expense ratios than mutual funds, nor do ETFs have investment minimums or fees for early redemptions, although certain brokers may impose early redemption fees.
Caveat: Of course, on most ETFs you will pay a bid-ask spread (the difference in price between the market price for buying the ETF and the market price for selling the ETF), which can erode some cost advantage ETFs might have relative to mutual funds. Plus there's a trend toward more narrowly focused ETFs and actively managed ETFs, both of which can come with higher expense ratios.
Lastly, some ETFs that hold less liquid positions can have wide bid-ask spreads, which can further add to the investment costs. In general, if you are likely to hold the ETF for only a short time, all other factors being equal, look for ETFs that have low bid-ask spreads.
Easy to trade: While you typically must wait until the end of the day for your mutual fund trade to be completed, you can trade ETFs any time during the day. That can be an advantage, particularly in fast-moving markets. Also, you can set stop, limit, and other order types with ETFs, just as with stocks. This can help you purchase an ETF at or near your desired price, or help limit your downside risk if the market moves against you. Finally, apart from a single share purchase, ETFs have no investment minimums.
Caveat: While mutual funds trade at their net asset value, ETFs can trade above or below the NAV of the underlying portfolio of securities. When markets are functioning normally, or if the ETF is composed of highly liquid securities, the ETF should trade at a market price at or near the NAV of the underlying securities. However, at other times, such as during periods of market turmoil, or if an ETF is composed of less liquid securities, premiums and discounts can develop.
One way to understand whether an ETF is accurately valued against its underlying securities is to look at the intraday indicative value (IIV) for the ETF. The IIV is designed to give investors a sense of the relationship between a basket of securities that are representative of those owned in the ETF and the share price of the ETF on an intraday basis. The IIV is updated by the listing exchange every 15 seconds and provides the investor a way to compare the market price with the ETF portfolio’s net asset value any time during market hours. Liquidity is another important factor when considering the ease of trading an ETF. Highly liquid ETFs are generally easier to buy and sell.
Transparency: Because many ETFs track an index, it's relatively easy to know exactly what you own. Generally ETFs are required to publish their holdings and weightings daily. As an investor, owning an ETF lets you become familiar with the positions and weights in the relevant index as well as the ETF. This can help you identify any overlap across your portfolio and provide you with timely risk measurements associated with the ETF’s holdings. Mutual funds also publish their holdings so you can identify any overlap across your portfolios, but just not as frequently. A mutual fund typically publishes its holdings every 1 to 3 months, depending on the fund’s investment policy.
Caveat: In general, ETFs are either index-based or actively managed ETFs. As with mutual funds, actively managed ETFs don’t seek to “track” their benchmark (they seek to outperform it). Although you will still have visibility into the actively managed ETF holdings, you will need to make sure your portfolio continues to be invested consistent with your overall risk tolerance and asset allocation strategy. Because the expense ratio is typically higher on actively managed ETFs—and expenses decrease fund returns—make sure you're getting the right level of return for the additional risk you are taking.
Tax efficiency: Some ETFs may be more tax efficient than similar mutual funds. Why? As we mentioned above, ETF investors can only redeem ETF shares on an exchange and they can't redeem their shares directly with the fund. When faced with redemption requests from investors, ETF managers usually don't have to sell individual securities to meet these redemption requests. Instead, the ETFs can deliver baskets of their underlying portfolio's stocks "in-kind," rather than cash, to large investors, known as authorized participants or "APs." APs deal directly with the ETF and in this regard work like a clearinghouse, matching the shares of the underlying securities when redemptions come in with those required to meet the demand of new investors. ETF managers can use this in-kind redemption process to remove the stock shares from the portfolio with the lowest cost basis, limiting the ETF’s potential for distributing gains.
Additionally, since most ETFs closely track their underlying index, their trading activity tends to be low, as with index funds. ETFs typically generate a lower level of capital gain distributions relative to actively-managed mutual funds. Of course, tax treatment may vary based on fund structure, asset class, holding period, and other factors. Due to the varying tax treatment associated with different ETFs, it's important to understand the fund structure and associated tax treatment before investing.
Caveat: While capital gains distributions are often lower with ETFs than with similar mutual funds, that's not always the case. Also, some ETF distributions are taxable as ordinary income. So, if you're considering such income-generating ETFs, a tax-advantaged account might make sense.
The cons
For all the advantages of ETFs, there are shortcomings as well. As with index mutual funds, index-based ETFs do not attempt to outperform their benchmark index. That’s the potential upside of actively managed funds or ETFs—and why investors may be willing to pay more for these instruments.
Also, keep in mind that leveraged and inverse ETFs are not designed for buy-and-hold investors who are trying to track an index over a long period of time. Rather, these investments are intended for very aggressive, sophisticated investors who actively manage their investments daily. Because of compounding, leveraged and inverse ETFs are not likely to track the performance of a benchmark index over extended periods. Therefore, holding them long term may entail considerable and unnecessary risk.
Finally, with the tremendous growth associated with ETFs, you should know there are “costs” associated with the benefits of ETFs. Before you invest, do your due diligence to understand the structure of the ETF and its associated risks and tax implications.
Be careful to balance the benefits of access and flexibility with the cost and complexity that may be inherent in some types of ETFs. Above all, investors considering an ETF should take the time to read its prospectus to understand its investment strategy and potential risks.
Another potential con of ETFs is that they can’t be personalized, so if you invest in one you’re committed to owning whatever’s in the ETF. However, if you’re looking for index-like returns but want the ability to personalize, you may have an option. Like ETFs, some low-minimum separately managed accounts (SMAs) provide diversification while seeking to track an index. Because you own the stocks directly, you have some ability to eliminate some stocks or even entire industries in order to personalize your portfolio. Many of these SMAs also include tax-loss harvesting. And with digital options featuring investment minimums starting at $5,000 and advisory fees as low as $20 for every $5,000 (0.40%)1 you have invested, this type of professionally managed option is now accessible to many investors through Fidelity Managed FidFolios®.
How to use ETFs
Are ETFs right for you? That will depend on your goals, level of investing experience, and investing style. Also, with so many choices, it’s critical to determine which type of ETF best fits your overall strategy.
Are you getting started with investing? Having an appropriate mix of investments—also known as asset allocation—can be a critical factor in the overall performance of your portfolio. How you determine your asset allocation depends largely on your comfort with risk and the time frame for your investments. Generally, the younger you are, the more risk you can afford to take with your investments. As you get older, you may be less interested in growth and more interested in protecting the value of your portfolio. Once you determine the right mix of stocks, bonds, and cash, identifying which ETFs to buy to build a well-diversified portfolio can be straightforward.
Are you looking to fill some gaps in your portfolio? Even if your basic asset allocation is well structured, you may have some gaps you’d like to fill. Perhaps you want exposure to some extended asset classes, such as commodities or REITs. An ETF can be a cost-effective solution that helps you target and diversify within a particular part of the market.
Are you confident about your market outlook? If you have a strong conviction on a specific style—growth or value—or sector of the market and you want to make a tactical investment with a small portion of your portfolio, an ETF can be a useful investment tool. ETFs enable you to get in and out of the market intraday. Some short-term traders employ sophisticated charting techniques to determine when to buy and sell an ETF. While this isn't a suitable investment strategy for long-term investors, it demonstrates another way ETFs can be used in the market.