ETF Specialist

These funds strike a balance between value and quality.

It is always a good time to brush up on best practices.

Record flows, launches, and closures were among the major milestones.

These trend followers don’t make great investments.

Dividend durability, dividend growth, and a low fee are trademarks of solid dividend exchange-traded funds.

There were a record number of new ETFs launched in 2020. These are our selections for the year's best and worst.

Most avoided capital gains distributions this year.

There is a strong case for multifactor funds, but even the best can underperform for a decade.

Investors poured an estimated $81.8 billion into equity ETFs in November.

The riskiest stocks have tended to offer disappointing returns, on average.

Gold may offer some insurance against a market meltdown, but there is a cost to own it.

A closer look at the growing menu of multifactor strategies and a tool kit to sort through it.

Traditional stock and bond portfolios will likely grow purchasing power over the long term better than instruments commonly used as inflation hedges.

This Silver-rated fund earns its stripes through its thoughtful factor pursuit and strong diversification.

This has been a seminal year for fixed-income ETFs.

Silver-rated Vanguard Total Corporate Bond ETF is a compelling option.

Is the market overvaluing growth, undervaluing innovation, or getting things right?

This actively managed ETF offers a thoughtful approach to investing in innovative companies, but it's not for the faint-of-heart.

Momentum may not work as well in practice as on paper, but well-constructed momentum funds still have a good chance to beat the market.

A low-volatility mandate should improve risk-adjusted performance.

Don't overlook profitability.

The Morningstar Factor Profile complements the Morningstar Style Box, incorporating additional factors that further explain funds’ exposures to well-documented sources of long-term returns.

This fund only invests in the most disciplined dividend payers.

Vanguard is well ahead of the pack, and bond ETF flows are on their way to a record year.

"Growth" is a broad description that doesn't account for meaningful differences between strategies.

Broad diversification and low costs make this fund a good option for core fixed-income exposure.

Thematic ETFs often come with a good story, but most lag the market.

These funds aren't for the faint of heart, but they should benefit more than most from a strong economic recovery.

This is a concentrated portfolio, but it offers clean exposure to firms positioned to profit from the growth of robotics and artificial intelligence.

Striking a careful balance between yield and risk is a big appeal.

What to understand about a fund and the sustainable index it tracks.

They have suffered 10 years of poor earnings growth.

Navigating the nuanced differences between these funds can be challenging.

Investors have piled into fixed-income ETFs in 2020.

Adoption of these sustainable index funds and ETFs is on the rise in the United States but still lags Europe.

A best-in-class expense ratio and low turnover help this large-growth ETF stand out in a crowded, competitive category.

Fundamental weighting doesn't explicitly target value stocks, but it can deliver similar exposure to traditional value index funds.

These securities feature prominently in most core bond funds.

A broadly diversified portfolio and sizable cost advantage make this a compelling option.

Over the long term, valuations should still be predictive of returns.

This actively managed ETF targets stocks making large cash distributions to shareholders through either dividends or net share buybacks.

The methods may need fine-tuning, but fundamentals still drive returns.

Gold ETFs stood atop the podium in July.

A smoother ride is possible.

Assessing the benefits and drawbacks of this novel fund type.

This sliver offers a lot of risk, and the associated rewards might not be sufficient.

This fund offers broad diversification and boasts a sizable cost advantage over its peers.

Lackluster recent performance may accelerate the category’s maturation.

This low-cost strategy carves an edge by targeting stocks with strong profitability and low valuations.

Sustainable investing isn't just about values, it's about managing risks that affect all investors.