ETFs are baskets of stocks or bonds that trade like regular stocks. They're usually passively managed, meaning they seek only to match the underlying benchmark index.

Toolbox containing items representing financial investment concepts, such as graphs, pie chart, and money symbols.
Could ETFs Be Your Key to a Worry-Free Retirement?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a leveraged ETF?

    A leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a security that uses financial derivatives and debt to boost the returns of an underlying benchmark index. So while a traditional ETF may track securities of an index on a 1:1 basis, a a leveraged ETF may target a higher mark for a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio.

  • Are ETFs or mutual funds better for young investors?

    Many young or novice investors may have heard about exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds and are wondering which may be the better option. Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding between the two investing options. First, typical mutual funds are actively managed rather than passively tracking an index, which can be an advantage. Many mutual funds also may require a minimum investment, but many brokers now offer commission-free ETFs. Generally speaking, ETFs are more tax-efficient and more liquid than mutual funds, which is also something young investors should weigh.

  • What is an exchange traded product (ETP) ?

    Exchange traded products are financial instruments that track a benchmark index or a basket of underlying securities that trade on exchanges similar to stocks and bonds that are bought and sold in the open market. Some popular ones include exchange traded notes, exchange traded funds, and other related products.

  • What is a stock exchange traded fund (ETF)?

    A stock exchange traded fund is a financial product that tracks a basket of equities, which is an investing option that helps investors diversify their investments in a specific industry or set of companies, limiting the risk of investing in a single stock. Those funds also offer a more cost-effective way to get exposure to a selection of stocks that track a specific index, industry or category of equities.

  • What is a bond ETF?

    Similar to a stock ETF, a bond exchange traded fund is a financial product that tracks a basket of debt, which is an investing option that helps investors diversify their investments in a specific industry or set of companies, limiting the risk of investing in a single bond. They can mirror bond mutual funds that have a debt portfolio of various risk profiles, from safer U.S. Treasuries to higher yielding bonds of varying maturities and risk exposure.

  • What is an inverse ETF?

    An inverse exchange traded fund is a derivative product that uses securities tied to a benchmark index to profit from a decline in value of the underlying index. Inverse ETFs are also known as short ETFs or bear ETFs since the strategy involved investing on market declines or short positions in order to profit from the strategy. Inverse ETFs typically have higher fees compared to traditional ETFs, and can lead to losses if investors calculate the market direction incorrectly.

  • What is a Cryptocurrency ETF?

    Cryptocurrency Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) track the price performance of cryptocurrencies by investing in a portfolio linked to their instruments. Like other such funds, crypto ETFs trade on regular stock exchanges, and investors can hold them in their standard brokerage accounts.

Key Terms

A person seated at a desk looking at a computer screen displaying stock trading information
15 Funds That Have Dragged Down Portfolios for Over a Decade: What You Need to Know

Explore ETFs

A person using a slot machine, seated in a gaming area with visible machines and bright lights
How to Make Money From the Gambling Industry Without Betting
Nancy Pelosi speaking, holding a gavel
Could Trading Like a Member of Congress Be Your Next Big Investment Strategy?
A woman smiling while looking at a transparent digital interface displaying financial data and charts
Generate Monthly Income With ETFs—No Options Knowledge Required
Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., left, speaks to David Rubenstein, co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group, during the Economic Club of Washington dinner event in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
This ETF Says It'll Invest Like Warren Buffett With 15% Annual Income: What You Should Know
A person at a desk looks flummoxed looking at a tax bill.
Didn't Buy or Sell Any Stocks This Year? Here's Why You Might Still Face a Big Tax Bill
Two people smiles as they look at their ETF returns.
ETFs are Booming—Here's What It Means for Your Retirement Plans
A magnifying glass over small wood depictions of homes.
5 Surprising Facts About REIT ETFs Every Investor Should Know
Blackrock iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) signage at the Nasdaq
Should You Trade Options on Spot Bitcoin ETFs?
The logo of the American S&P 500 index and a candlestick chart can be seen in Trading View on the monitor of a computer in an office.
Got an Extra $50? Here's What You Could Make in 20 Years by Investing in an S&P 500 ETF
Financial advisor discussing investments with clients
Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) vs. Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): What’s the Difference?
U.K. Palace of Westminster
U.K. Equity ETFs: What They Are and What You Need to Know
Dow Jones BRIC 50 Index
Pros and Cons of BRICS ETFs
Aerial shot of a dam
Water ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Precious Metals ETFs: An ETF that holds assets like gold, silver, and platinum and sell shares in their portfolios.
Precious Metals ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Treasury ETF: An ETF that holds baskets of US Treasury securities, each with different yields, durations, and interest payments in their portfolios.
Treasury ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
A farmer in a field with a laptop
Agricultural ETFs: What You Need to Know
Bull and bear in front of Exchange Square in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Woman holding a Brazil flag
Brazil ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Worker loading gold bars onto a trolley
Gold ETFs and Gold Mining ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Workers in a factory crafting platinum
Platinum ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Young woman looking at a document and holding a calculator
ETF vs. Investment Trust: What’s the Difference?
Ethereum displayed on a mobile phone in someone's hand.
How an Ether Futures ETF Works
Ether Futures ETF: An investment vehicle that enables exposure to ether through futures contracts.
How Ether Futures ETFs Work and How To Invest
Crypto currency scattered around an image.
Exploring the Pros and Cons of Investing in Crypto ETFs
Woman talking on her mobile phone while looking at charts on her monitor.
What Is the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF?
Mother reading a card to daughter
How to Give an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) As a Gift
Colorful stock market quotes display reflected on glass
Single-Stock ETFs: What You Need to Know
A person sits at a table to balance their checking and savings account.
Put $10,000 in the S&P 500 ETF and Wait 20 Years
Man sitting in a cafe with a laptop
10 ETF Concerns That Investors Shouldn’t Overlook
A pair of hands placing a coin on a surface with a surrounding graph and colorful symbols relating to finance.
How to Start Investing in the S&P 500 Today
Vanguard Group, Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis
Who Owns Vanguard Group?
Closeup of a winning blackjack hand and piles of chips
2 ETFs To Invest in the Gambling Industry
Midsection Businessmen Analyzing Charts on Laptop in Office
ETFs vs. Index Mutual Funds: What's the Difference?
Regulated Investment Companies (RICs): Definition, Taxes & Examples
Man sitting at a table looking at a document and tapping on a laptop
What Are ETFs? Understanding Exchange-Traded Funds and Their Benefits
Pros and Cons of ETFs: A Complete Guide for Investors
Couple talking to their financial advisor
Advantages of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
Tracking Error: The difference between the performance of an investment and its benchmark.
Understanding Tracking Error: Meaning, Influencing Factors, and Example
Road signs for different investments over a newspaper
Building an All-ETF Portfolio
Abstract mirror building texture
Dissecting Leveraged ETF Returns: Explanation, Components, and Examples
How To Use a VIX ETF in Your Portfolio
Leveraged ETF: A security that uses financial derivatives and debt to amplify the returns of an underlying index or other assets it tracks.
Leveraged ETFs: The Potential for Big Gains—and Bigger Losses
Trader looking down at his tablet
How Are ETF Fees Deducted?
A boy plays video game online and sits in front of two big computer monitors.
eSports ETFs Seeking to Win Over Investors
Woman sitting on a sofa writing in front of an open laptop
How to Choose an ETF
Business Chart Showing Financial Success at the Stock Market
Target-Date Funds: Advantages and Disadvantages
Person using a laptop, surrounded by abstract shapes and symbols like question marks and exclamation points to illustrate thinking about an investment decision.
How To Choose an S&P 500 ETF
A person with a pen is pointing at a volatility chart.
What Is a Leveraged Volatility ETF?
Chief Investment Officer of ETF and Index Investments at Blackrock rings the opening bell as Bitcoin Spot ETFs are launched on the Nasdaq Exchange on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City.
Crypto ETFs Are Getting Cheaper—Here's What It Means for Your 401(K)
A close-up of a mobile device showing a trading screen with Ethereum
Spot Ether ETFs: A Comprehensive Guide
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell at podium
TIPS ETFs: What They Are and How They Work
Spot Bitcoin ETF: An investment vehicle that allows ordinary investors exposure to the price moves of bitcoin in their regular brokerage accounts.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs: Everything You Need to Know
Man with his face in his hands as price of investment declines
Why Are My Bond ETFs Losing Money, and What Should I Do?
Financial investment, stock market and exchange, accounting concept
How to Invest in ESG
Businessman reading financial stock market analysis
How to Buy Fractional Shares on Webull
Close-up of woman trading stock online on mobile phone
How to Buy Fractional Shares on Fidelity Investments
Business man trader investor analyst using mobile phone app and laptop
How to Invest in Commodities
Woman using smartphone to trade fractional shares at a coffee shop
How to Buy Fractional Shares
Over the shoulder view of Asian woman holding smartphone, analyzing investment trading data on crypto graph with smartphone and laptop while working at home. Cryptocurrency, bitcoin, digital ledger
How to Automate Your Investing
 Commodities
Best Commodities ETFs