Top-Performing Stock ETFs

Stock exchange-traded funds, or equity ETFs, are often low-cost, tax-efficient instruments for investors to track popular indexes or leverage experienced manager choices to beat the market. The best ones serve as low-cost building blocks in a portfolio, and unlike open-end mutual funds, all ETFs are traded throughout the day on an exchange.

In October 2026, the top-performing stock ETFs included large growth fund Akre Focus ETF AKRE and small value fund Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF MVFD. Data in this article is sourced from Morningstar Direct.

Screening for the Best-Performing ETFs

When evaluating ETFs, investors should focus on long-term returns across multiple years and market cycles. However, short-term returns can provide valuable information about biases within strategies.

To find the month’s best-performing stock ETFs, we screened the ones in the Morningstar US equity category that trade within the United States. We excluded exchange-traded notes, known as ETNs, and ETFs with less than $100 million in total assets.

Within our list, four funds fell into the mid-cap value category, where the average name rose 6.19% in October.

The 10 Best-Performing ETFs for October 2026

1. Akre Focus ETF AKRE
2. Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF MVFD
3. Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF QVAL
4. iShares Core Dividend ETF DIVB
5. Horizon Dividend Income ETF DIVN
6. State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF ONEY
7. Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF CALF
8. Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF TPHD
9. GMO Domestic Resilience ETF DRES
10. Bushido Capital US SMID Cap Equity ETF RNIN

Metrics for the Best-Performing Stock ETFs

Akre Focus ETF

• Morningstar Rating
  : ★
• Expense Ratio
  : 0.98%
• Morningstar Category
  : Large Growth

The $5 billion Akre Focus ETF ranked first for the month, returning 12.12%. The Akre ETF, which is actively managed, beat the 4.84% loss on the average large growth fund. Over the past year, the fund has lost 9.20%, underperforming the 1.78% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 96th percentile for the period.

The Neutral-rated Akre Focus ETF launched in August 2009.

Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF

• Morningstar Rating: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 1.1%
• Morningstar Category: Small Value

The $146.7 million Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF was the second-best-performing ETF in October, with a 11.84% gain. The passively managed Monarch ETF beat the 3.99% gain on the average fund in Morningstar’s small value category for the month. Over the last year, the fund has gained 22.58%, performing roughly in line with the 22.27% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 50th percentile for the period.

The Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree ETF has not yet been awarded a Morningstar Medalist Rating.

Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF

• Morningstar Rating: ★★★★
• Expense Ratio: 0.28%
• Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Value

The third-best-performing ETF in October was the $720.8 million Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF. The actively managed Alpha Architect ETF returned 10.71%, outperforming the average mid-cap value fund, which gained 6.19%. Over the last year, the fund has climbed 42.22%, outperforming the 21.66% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the second percentile for the period.

The Neutral-rated Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF launched in October 2014.

iShares Core Dividend ETF

• Morningstar Rating: ★★★★
• Expense Ratio: 0.05%
• Morningstar Category: Large Value

The $2.3 billion iShares Core Dividend ETF ranked fourth for the month, returning 10.56%. The iShares ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 4.56% gain on the average large value fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 40.67%, outperforming the 20.69% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the first percentile for the period.

The Gold-rated iShares Core Dividend ETF launched in November 2017.

Horizon Dividend Income ETF

• Morningstar Rating: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 0.7%
• Morningstar Category: Large Value

The $350.3 million Horizon Dividend Income ETF was the fifth-best-performing ETF in October, with a 10.10% gain. The actively managed Horizon Investments ETF beat the 4.56% gain on the average fund in Morningstar’s large value category for the month. Over the last year, the fund has gained 30.38%, outperforming the 20.69% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 6th percentile for the period.

The Neutral-rated Horizon Dividend Income ETF launched in June 2025.

State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF

• Morningstar Rating: ★★★★
• Expense Ratio: 0.2%
• Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Value

The $679.5 million State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF ranked sixth for the month, returning 9.75%. The State Street ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 6.19% gain on the average mid-cap value fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 24.91%, outperforming the 21.66% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 25th percentile for the period.

The Gold-rated State Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF launched in December 2015.

Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF

• Morningstar Rating: ★★
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%
• Morningstar Category: Small Value

The seventh-best-performing ETF in October was the $3.9 billion Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF. The passively managed Pacer ETF returned 9.70%, outperforming the average small value fund, which gained 3.99%. Over the last year, the fund has climbed 36.47%, outperforming the 22.27% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 4th percentile for the period.

The Neutral-rated Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF launched in June 2017.

Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF

• Morningstar Rating: ★★★
• Expense Ratio: 0.52%
• Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Value

The $397.5 million Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF ranked eighth for the month, returning 9.62%. The Timothy Plan ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 6.19% gain on the average mid-cap value fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 18.66%, underperforming the 21.66% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 70th percentile for the period.

The Neutral-rated Timothy Plan High Dividend Stock ETF launched in April 2019.

GMO Domestic Resilience ETF

• Morningstar Rating: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 0.5%
• Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Blend

The ninth-best-performing ETF in October was the $151.8 million GMO Domestic Resilience ETF. The actively managed GMO ETF returned 9.32%, outperforming the average mid-cap blend fund, which gained 2.40%. Over the last year, the fund has climbed 21.79%, outperforming the 14.22% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 14th percentile for the period.

The Silver-rated GMO Domestic Resilience ETF launched in September 2025.

Bushido Capital US SMID Cap Equity ETF

• Morningstar Rating: N/A
• Expense Ratio: 0.68%
• Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Value

The $215.6 million Bushido Capital US SMID Cap Equity ETF ranked tenth for the month, returning 9.08%. The Bushido Capital ETF, which is actively managed, beat the 6.19% gain on the average mid-cap value fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 44.67%, outperforming the 21.66% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 1st percentile for the period.

The Silver-rated Bushido Capital US SMID Cap Equity ETF launched in May 2025.

What Are ETFs?

Exchange-traded funds are investments that trade throughout the day on stock exchanges, much like individual stocks. They differ from traditional mutual funds—known as open-end funds—which can only be bought or sold at a single price each day. Historically, ETFs have tracked indexes, but in recent years, more ETFs have been actively managed. ETFs cover a range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, commodities, and most recently cryptocurrency.

ETFs offer investors an efficient way to gain exposure to the markets, often with low fees and an ease of buying and selling. They also generally offer higher tax efficiency than open-end funds.

How to Find Top ETFs for the Long Term

ETFs are often equated with low-cost indexing. However, 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 them. And now there are actively managed ETFs.

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, ESG Tax-Sheltered 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 personal 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.