| Ticker | Name | Category | Expense Ratio | AUM | YTD Return | Div Yield | Holdings |
|---|
Select 2–3 ETFs to compare side-by-side on cost, yield, performance, and holdings.
Broad US equity ETFs now average just 0.03% in expense ratios — that's $3 per year on a $10,000 investment. VOO, VTI, IVV, and SPLG all charge 0.03% or less, making cost virtually irrelevant for core equity holdings. The real fee differences emerge in thematic and sector ETFs, where expense ratios range from 0.10% to 0.75% — a gap that compounds to thousands of dollars over a 30-year investing horizon.
While SPY and VOO yield roughly 1.3%, dividend-focused ETFs like SCHD (3.5%), VYM (2.8%), and HDV (3.4%) deliver 2–4x higher income without sacrificing diversification. JEPI takes it further at 7.2% yield using a covered call strategy — though at the cost of capped upside. For retirees seeking income, a blend of SCHD and BND provides both equity growth and predictable distributions.
QQQ (+12.8%), VGT (+11.5%), and SOXX (+10.2%) lead 2026 YTD returns, driven by continued AI and semiconductor demand. However, these growth-heavy ETFs carry elevated valuations and higher concentration risk — QQQ's top 10 holdings represent over 50% of assets. International value ETFs like EFA and VWO have lagged but trade at significant discounts, offering potential mean-reversion opportunity for patient investors.
ETF data represents approximate values for 50 of the most widely held exchange-traded funds as of Q1 2026. Expense ratios are sourced from fund prospectuses. AUM (Assets Under Management), dividend yields, and YTD returns are based on publicly available data and may not reflect intraday changes. Holdings counts represent approximate numbers of underlying securities.
Preset screens use commonly accepted thresholds: Cheapest ETFs (expense ratio ≤ 0.10%), Highest Yield (dividend yield ≥ 3%), Largest AUM (assets ≥ $50B), and Best YTD Performance (YTD return ≥ 8%). Screens are for educational purposes and do not constitute buy recommendations.