Exchange-Traded Funds

ETFs

ETFs are baskets of assets traded like stocks, offering diversification, transparency, and typically lower fees than mutual funds. They track indexes, sectors, or themes.

ETF Table

All U.S.Canada

Top 20 ETFs by Change %

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ETF	Ticker	Price	Change % ▼	Change $	Volume	Market Cap	52W Change
VanEck Semiconductor ETF	SMH	$385.02	+5.98%	+$21.71	6,045,539	—	+52.65%
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF	XEC.TO	$28.22	+4.64%	+$1.25	120,535	—	+28.65%
ARK Innovation ETF	ARKK	$81.14	+4.20%	+$3.27	6,138,510	—	+37.64%
iShares Russell 2000 ETF	IWM	$255.48	+3.00%	+$7.45	32,949,371	—	+15.23%
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF	XEF.TO	$35.78	+2.71%	+$0.95	311,117	—	+24.16%
Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund	VWO	$55.25	+2.68%	+$1.44	11,225,533	—	+26.81%
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF	XLV	$159.66	+2.56%	+$3.98	14,504,099	—	+13.69%
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares	VEA	$63.88	+1.74%	+$1.09	16,241,529	—	+32.39%
Vanguard S&P 500 Index ETF	VFV.TO	$127.58	+1.54%	+$1.94	377,129	—	+13.07%
BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD)	ZSP.TO	$78.73	+1.54%	+$1.19	128,257	—	+12.87%
iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF	XUS.TO	$44.37	+1.51%	+$0.66	131,887	—	+12.69%
Vanguard FTSE Canada All Cap Index ETF	VCN.TO	$49.03	+0.88%	+$0.43	207,368	—	+27.52%
BMO S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF	ZCN.TO	$32.24	+0.84%	+$0.27	229,521	—	+28.82%
State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF	XLF	$55.61	+0.78%	+$0.43	44,432,285	—	+14.68%
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF	XLK	$146.53	+0.77%	+$1.12	13,405,765	—	+25.30%
Invesco QQQ Trust	QQQ	$624.02	+0.74%	+$4.59	42,800,172	—	+21.11%
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares	VTI	$340.05	+0.65%	+$2.20	6,363,121	—	+16.58%
iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF	XIU.TO	$35.62	+0.57%	+$0.20	3,066,426	—	+25.70%
Global X S&P/TSX 60 Corporate Class ETF	HXT.TO	$63.00	+0.57%	+$0.36	437,911	—	+29.01%
State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF	XLY	$120.90	+0.45%	+$0.54	11,303,033	—	+8.43%

Key metrics

Expense Ratio
Annual fee charged by the fund; lower is generally better for core holdings.
AUM
Assets under management; larger funds tend to be more liquid with tighter spreads.
Tracking Difference
How closely the ETF matches its index after fees and frictions.
Holdings Count
Diversification breadth; more holdings reduce single‑name risk.

Fees & costs

Expense ratioTypical: 0.03–0.75%
Core index funds are cheapest; thematic/active funds cost more.
SpreadTypical: 0.01–0.20%
Tends to tighten with volume and AUM.

Risks

Tracking errorLow
Can deviate from the index due to fees, cash drag, replication method.
LiquidityMedium
Underlying basket liquidity can widen spreads during stress.

How to get exposure

Broad market ETFs
Low‑cost core building blocks.
SPY (SPY)VTI (VTI)
Sector/Theme ETFs
Targeted tilts for views.
Semis (SMH)Energy (XLE)

ETFs Tracker

Common mistakes and fixes

Chasing hot themes after big runs
Ignoring expense ratios and tracking difference
Trading illiquid ETFs at the open/close (wider spreads)

Fix: set target weights, automate contributions, and rebalance on schedule.

Top instruments to use

S&P 500 ETF (SPY)Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ)ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)

How to pick

Low expense ratio
Tight spreads/high AUM
Low tracking difference

ETFs playbook

Broad market core

Pick a low-cost market-cap ETF
Check expense ratio and tracking error
Automate contributions and rebalancing

Thematic & factor

Add factors (value, momentum, quality)
Use themes sparingly and size small
Monitor liquidity and spreads

Income & bonds via ETFs

Blend duration across bond ETFs
Use short-term for rate risk control
Mind credit quality and fees

What to watch

Expense ratiosTracking errorLiquidity/spreadsIndex methodology

Risk rules

Define target allocation before buying
Position size based on risk, not conviction
Rebalance on schedule or bands
Prefer low-cost, diversified vehicles for core

Execution tips

Use limit orders for thin products
Mind bid/ask spreads and liquidity windows
Automate contributions where possible