The Best Equity ETFs

There’s much to like about exchange-traded funds.

• ETFs are easy to buy and sell.
• ETFs are generally low-cost.
• Depending on their investment set, ETFs are usually tax-efficient.
• ETFs are pretty transparent: What you see is what you get.

Given these qualities, ETFs can make terrific portfolio building blocks. They allow you to get exposure to the parts of the market that you want—and to avoid the parts of the market you don’t want.

A good place to start your screening process is with the

. ETFs that earn our top rating of Gold are the ones we think are most likely to outperform over a full market cycle.

Today, we’re taking a look at the best stock ETFs in three main asset-allocation Morningstar Categories: US large-cap stocks, US mid- and small-cap stocks, and international stocks.

68 Best Large-Cap Stock ETFs to Buy Now

These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US large-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.

1. Avantis U.S. Equity ETF AVUS
2. Avantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF AVLV
3. Brandes U.S. Value ETF BUSA
4. Capital Group Conservative Equity ETF CGCV
5. Capital Group Dividend Value ETF CGDV
6. Capital Group Growth ETF CGGR
7. Dimensional US Core Equity 1 ETF DCOR
8. Dimensional US Core Equity 2 ETF DFAC
9. Dimensional US Core Equity Market ETF DFAU
10. Dimensional US High Profitability ETF DUHP
11. Dimensional US Large Cap Value ETF DFLV
12. Fidelity High Dividend ETF FDVV
13. Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF ROUS
14. Invesco MSCI USA ETF PBUS
15. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV
16. iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF ITOT
17. iShares Core S&P US Growth ETF IUSG
18. iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF IUSV
19. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF ESGU
20. iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF SUSL
21. iShares Russell 1000 ETF IWB
22. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF IWF
23. iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF IWD
24. iShares Russell 3000 ETF IWV
25. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF IVW
26. iShares S&P 500 Value ETF IVE
27. JPMorgan Active Growth ETF JGRO
28. JPMorgan Active Value ETF JAVA
29. JPMorgan U.S. Research Enhanced Large Cap ETF JUSA
30. MFS Active Growth ETF MFSG
31. MFS Active Value ETF MFSV
32. Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF LSGR
33. Oakmark U.S. Large Cap ETF OAKM
34. Polen Focus Growth ETF PCLG
35. Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF BCHP
36. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF FNDX
37. Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF SCHB
38. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF SCHD
39. Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF SCHX
40. Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF SCHG
41. Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF SCHV
42. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF SPYG
43. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF SPYV
44. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF SPYM
45. State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF SPY
46. SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF SPTM
47. T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF TCHP
48. T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF TCAF
49. T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF TDVG
50. T. Rowe Price Growth Stock ETF TGRW
51. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF VIG
52. Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF ESGV
53. Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF VYM
54. Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF VUG
55. Vanguard Morningstar Large Cap ETF VV
56. Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap ETF MGC
57. Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF MGK
58. Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Value ETF MGV
59. Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF VTI
60. Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF VTV
61. Vanguard Mega Cap Value Vanguard Russell 1000 ETF VONE
62. Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF VONG
63. Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF VONV
64. Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF VTHR
65. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO
66. Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF VOOG
67. Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF VOOV
68. Xtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF USSG

The funds in this group provide exposure to the stocks of large companies, making them fine anchors for an equity portfolio. But there are strategic differences among them.

Some ETFs in the group, including iShares Core S&P 500 and Vanguard S&P 500, track the S&P 500. As a result, they provide access to large-cap stocks representing about 80% of the US stock market.

Others on the list, such as iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market, Schwab U.S. Broad Market, and Vanguard Total Stock Market, follow broader market indexes that include more stocks, some of which are smaller-cap names. While these funds also land in the large-blend category, they expose investors to a wider pool of stocks and market capitalizations.

Still other ETFs on the list grant exposure to a subset of stocks. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, for instance, exclusively focuses on dividend-paying stocks. Moreover, some names on the list focus on growth stocks, while others explore value stocks.

You can find more top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.

3 Undervalued International Stocks for US Investors

The ADRs of these wide-moat companies are attractive buys today.

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44 Best Mid- and Small-Cap Stock ETFs

These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US mid- or small-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.

1. Avantis U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF AVSC
2. Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF AVUV
3. Dimensional US Micro Cap ETF DFMC
4. Dimensional US Small Cap ETF DFAS
5. Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF DFSV
6. Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF DFAT
7. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF IJH
8. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF IJR
9. iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF ESML
10. iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF IWR
11. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF IWP
12. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF IWS
13. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF IJK
14. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF IJJ
15. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF IJT
16. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF IJS
17. Neuberger Small-Mid Cap ETF NBSM
18. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF FNDA
19. Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF SCHM
20. Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF SCHA
21. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF SPMD
22. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPSM
23. State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF ONEY
24. State Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF MDYG
25. State Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF MDYV
26. State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF SLYG
27. State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF SLYV
28. State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF MDY
29. State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF SDY
30. Vanguard Extended Market ETF VXF
31. Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF VO
32. Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF VOT
33. Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF VOE
34. Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF VB
35. Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF VBK
36. Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF VBR
37. Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF IVOO
38. Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF IVOG
39. Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF IVOV
40. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF VIOO
41. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF VIOG
42. Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF VIOV
43. Vanguard U.S. Momentum Factor ETF VFMO
44. Vanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF VFQY

Mid- and small-cap stocks certainly aren’t portfolio essentials, especially if you already own one of the broader-market index ETFs from the large-blend category. If you do, you already have some mid- and small-cap stock exposure.

However, if you have a large-stock-focused portfolio or if you’d like to boost your weighting in small company stocks, you’ll find what you need among our Gold-rated ETFs in the mid- and small-cap categories.

Some ETFs focus exclusively on mid-cap stocks, while others target smaller-company stocks; in addition, some skew toward growth stocks, while others favor value stocks.

49 Best International-Stock ETFs to Buy and Hold

These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s foreign or global stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.

1. Avantis International Equity ETF AVDE
2. Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF AVDV
3. Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth ETF BGGG
4. BNY Mellon Concentrated International ETF BKCI
5. Capital Group International Core Equity ETF CGIC
6. Dimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF DFIC
7. Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF DFAI
8. Dimensional International Small Cap Value ETF DISV
9. Dimensional International Small Cap ETF DFIS
10. Dimensional International Value ETF DFIV
11. Dimensional World Equity ETF DFAW
12. FPA Global Equity ETF FPAG
13. Franklin FTSE Japan ETF FLJP
14. Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF FLJH
15. Harbor International Compounders ETF OSEA
16. Hartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF RODM
17. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF IEFA
18. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF IEUR
19. iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF IXUS
20. iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF ESGD
21. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF EFG
22. iShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Factor ETF EFAV
23. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF EFV
24. iShares MSCI Global Minimum Volatility Factor ETF ACWV
25. iShares MSCI Kokusai ETF TOK
26. iShares MSCI World ETF URTH
27. John Hancock Disciplined Value International Select ETF JDVI
28. JPMorgan Dividend Leaders ETF JDIV
29. JPMorgan Global Select Equity ETF JGLO
30. JPMorgan International Growth ETF JIG
31. JPMorgan International Research Enhanced Equity ETF JIRE
32. JPMorgan International Value ETF JIVE
33. Oakmark Global Large Cap ETF OAKG
34. Oakmark International Large Cap ETF OAKI
35. Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETF FNDF
36. Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF SCHY
37. Schwab International Equity ETF SCHF
38. Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF SCHC
39. State Street SPDR MSCI World Strategic Factors ETF QWLD
40. State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF SPDW
41. Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF VSGX
42. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF VEU
43. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small Cap ETF VSS
44. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF VEA
45. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF VGK
46. Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF VIGI
47. Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index ETF VYMI
48. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF VXUS
49. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF VT

Like mid- and small-cap funds, international-stock ETFs certainly aren’t must-owns. After all, from a risk-reduction standpoint, international stocks aren’t great diversification tools for a portfolio heavy in US stocks. But remember that investment opportunities exist around the globe; many think it’s a mistake to limit your investments to US stocks.

The Gold-rated ETFs here target stocks of varying sizes and styles across international markets. If none of these ETFs fit the bill for you, you can find additional top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.

How to Find the Best ETFs for the Long Term

Many investors equate ETFs with low-cost indexing. But the ETF marketplace has grown increasingly complicated. Some ETFs track a very narrow part of the market or pursue specific themes. Some ETFs invest based on a particular factor or a combination of factors. And there are actively managed ETFs as well.

Use these Morningstar resources to help find the best ETFs for the long term:

• Learn about the types of exchange-traded funds, their costs, and how to invest in them by reading Morningstar’s Guide to ETF Investing.
• Find the highest-rated ETFs across all investment categories in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.
• Review Morningstar Director of Personal Finance Christine Benz’s suggested ETF portfolios for those saving for or already in retirement, including Tax-Efficient Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors, and Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors.
• Research ETFs based on your own selection criteria by using our Morningstar Investor Screener. The tool, which is available to Morningstar Investor members, allows investors to screen ETFs based on various criteria, including asset class, Morningstar Category, Medalist Rating, and fee level.
• Visit Morningstar’s ETF page for the latest articles and videos from our ETF specialists.