ETFs: Begin with the Basics

By Sandra Testani - May 2021

Whether you're planning a trip to a far-away country, trying a new sport or learning a new musical instrument, you probably tried to learn something about it before starting on your endeavor.

ETFs are no different. Although you may have a vague idea of what they are or how they work, the market has grown and changed significantly since the introduction of the first ETF in 1993. That's why we think it makes sense to learn about what ETFs offer—to help you make better-informed decisions about how and when to use them in portfolios.

Why have investors embraced ETFs? Probably because they feature some attractive attributes:

• Trading flexibility: Unlike mutual funds, which are priced at the end of each trading day, ETFs are priced continually throughout the day and can be bought and sold relatively quickly.
• Transparency: Most ETFs must list their full holdings daily pursuant to SEC regulations, so investors know what they own.
• Tax efficiency: ETFs are often sold from one investor to another in transactions that don't require the sale of underlying securities. This direct trading, along with the mechanics of how ETF shares are issued and redeemed, enable fewer capital gains.
• Lower costs: Processing and management costs are typically reduced with the ETF vehicle, though commissions and other brokerage costs remain.

A Growing Menu

The first ETF tracked the S&P 500^® Index. Since then, the number and variety of ETFs has ballooned, with more than 2,100 covering equity and fixed income markets around the world. The amount of investor assets has also grown substantially, from less than $500 billion in 2005 to more than $5 trillion as of July 2018.* Early ETFs—which still claim most ETF assets—tracked market-weighted equity indices such as the S&P 500 Index and the Russell 1000^® Index.

As investors embrace ETFs, asset managers respond by expanding their menus. Today, ETFs span many different asset classes and investment styles. They can also be used in multiple ways and combined with mutual funds and individual securities to build diversified portfolios. Types of ETFs include:

• Passive, indexed ETFs: These ETFs seek to mirror the performance of a recognized, measurable benchmark such as a broad market (e.g. the S&P 500 Index), or a group of companies (sectors or industries), fixed income instruments, currencies or commodities—among other types of securities.
• Strategic beta or alternatively weighted ETFs: These index-tracking ETFs seek enhanced returns by selecting and weighting securities based on criteria other than market cap.
• Active ETFs: Actively managed ETFs apply the same fundamental expertise as many mutual funds, combining active management with the ETF structure.

ETFs and Mutual Funds: The Differences

How do ETFs stack up against mutual funds? Like mutual funds, ETFs are baskets or pools of individual securities, such as stocks or bonds. And like mutual funds, ETFs are structured as open-end investment companies. Both ETFs and mutual funds post net asset values (NAVs) of their underlying securities at the end of each trading day.

However, there are key differences between the two vehicles.

Learn More in Our Latest Publication

Our recent publication, "A Guide to Getting Started with ETFs," covers:

• The full range of exchange-traded portfolios
• The mechanics of how ETF shares are issued and redeemed
• Ways to consider using ETFs in portfolios
• Questions to consider before selecting ETFs for your portfolio