ETFs with the lowest costs

MAR 31, 2013
By  bcohn

Large-cap

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap SCHX 0.04% $1,243.6 10.09% 13.72% 13.11% N/A
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value SCHV 0.07% $487.5 11.61% 17.08% 13.61% N/A
iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ITOT 0.07% $536.9 10.17% 13.91% 13.12% 6.52%
Vanguard Value Index Fund VTV 0.10% $8,451.2 11.74% 16.44% 12.69% 5.33%
Vanguard Growth Index Fund VUG 0.10% $9,366.5 8.39% 10.85% 13.46% 7.65%
Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund VV 0.10% $3,809.5 10.05% 13.61% 13.11% 6.51%
 

Multicap

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab U.S. Broad Market SCHB 0.04% $1,650.3 10.40% 14.12% 13.41% N/A
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund VTI 0.06% $27,732.2 10.39% 14.15% 13.40% 7.00%
Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth SCHG 0.07% $605.7 8.45% 10.09% 12.40% N/A
Guggenheim Investments Wilshire 5000 Total Market WFVK 0.12% $10.1 10.37% 13.91% 13.16% N/A
iShares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index Fund USMV 0.15% $1,715.7 10.13% 15.85% N/A N/A
Vanguard Russell 3000 Index Fund VTHR 0.15% $41.9 10.38% 14.10% N/A N/A
 

Midcap

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab U.S. Mid-Cap SCHM 0.07% $450.7 13.00% 16.16% N/A N/A
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund VO 0.10% $4,496.9 11.88% 14.06% 14.30% 8.22%
Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund VOE 0.10% $1,429.4 13.46% 17.64% 13.99% 9.22%
Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund VOT 0.10% $1,394.5 11.49% 11.70% 14.91% 7.12%
Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund VXF 0.14% $1,777.4 12.31% 16.02% 14.88% 9.44%
 

Small-cap

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund VB 0.10% $5,547.7 12.39% 17.38% 15.02% 10.41%
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap SCHA 0.10% $939.4 12.75% 17.47% 15.15% N/A
Vanguard Small-Cap Growth Index Fund VBK 0.10% $2,521.5 12.27% 16.08% 16.22% 11.27%
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap IJR 0.16% $9,135.7 11.82% 16.25% 15.32% 9.80%
Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Index Fund VIOO 0.17% $56.5 11.81% 16.13% N/A N/A
 

Sector equity

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab US REIT SCHH 0.07% $466.6 6.16% 14.47% N/A N/A
Vanguard REIT Index Fund VNQ 0.10% $17,299.2 7.08% 16.20% 17.82% 8.31%
Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund VGT 0.14% $2,694.5 5.40% 0.56% 10.52% 8.72%
Vanguard Health Care Index Fund VHT 0.14% $1,249.9 12.70% 23.96% 14.70% 11.00%
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund VPU 0.14% $1,383.1 10.76% 15.38% 13.80% 5.14%
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary Index Fund VCR 0.14% $696.2 10.72% 19.19% 19.47% 13.67%
Vanguard Industrials Index Fund VIS 0.14% $713.8 12.55% 16.10% 14.75% 5.75%
Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund VDC 0.14% $1,248.7 10.91% 17.81% 15.20% 10.73%
Vanguard Materials Index Fund VAW 0.14% $790.1 6.78% 11.23% 11.24% 3.25%
Vanguard Energy Index Fund VDE 0.14% $2,067.3 11.20% 7.36% 12.20% 2.81%
Vanguard Telecommunication Services Index Fund VOX 0.14% $422.4 4.66% 14.96% 13.52% 8.07%
 

Developed markets

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab International Equity SCHF 0.09% $1,156.1 5.99% 11.40% 5.99% N/A
Vanguard MSCI EAFE VEA 0.12% $11,996.0 6.11% 12.44% 6.14% 0.08%
Vanguard MSCI Europe VGK 0.14% $5,860.7 4.69% 12.62% 6.50% -0.85%
iShares Core MSCI EAFE IEFA 0.14% $422.4 7.52% 0.00% N/A N/A
Vanguard MSCI Pacific Fund VPL 0.14% $1,858.4 8.89% 13.21% 6.34% 2.41%
 

Emerging markets

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity SCHE 0.15% $857.6 -0.81% 0.02% 3.87% N/A
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IEMG 0.18% $549.3 -0.51% 0.00% N/A N/A
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Fund VWO 0.20% $60,545.1 -1.92% -0.02% 4.16% 1.42%
iShares MSCI Emerg Mkts Minimum Volatility Index Fund EEMV 0.25% $1,423.0 1.66% 9.27% N/A N/A
PowerShares S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility EELV 0.29% $109.2 0.26% 7.65% N/A N/A
PowerShares S&P Emerging Markets High Beta EEHB 0.29% $2.3 -5.74% -7.57% N/A N/A
 

Fixed income

Ticker Expense ratio* Net assets ($M) YTD return 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return
Schwab U.S. Aggregate Bond SCHZ 0.05% $396.9 -0.54% 3.50% N/A N/A
Schwab U.S. TIPS SCHP 0.07% $590.9 -0.96% 4.86% N/A N/A
Schwab Short-Term US Treasury SCHO 0.08% $260.4 0.06% 0.59% N/A N/A
iShares Core Total US Bond Market AGG 0.08% $14,842.4 -0.49% 3.62% 5.13% 5.27%
PIMCO 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index TUZ 0.09% $135.0 0.05% 0.59% 1.14% N/A
Assets as of Feb. 28; performance-related figures as of March 15. Three- and five-year returns are annualized. N/A=not available (fund has been in operation less than the stated period). *Most recent net prospectus. Source: Lipper

Latest News

Trump drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit as $1.7B settlement fund takes shape
Trump drops $10 billion IRS lawsuit as $1.7B settlement fund takes shape

A last-minute court filing ends a case against the federal tax-collecting agency that had drawn unprecedented conflict-of-interest questions from Democratic critics.

You Can’t Spell Advisor without AI
You Can’t Spell Advisor without AI

Advisors discuss their use of AI now and how it will change going forward

DOJ's fraud sweep bags over $1B in convictions, guilty pleas and indictments in a single week
DOJ's fraud sweep bags over $1B in convictions, guilty pleas and indictments in a single week

Medicare scam, pandemic benefit theft, offshore tax evasion — federal prosecutors are casting a wide net.

Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout
Retirement without guaranteed income streams may mean near-total asset wipeout

Report finds that pension income acts as a financial lifeline for retirees facing late-life shocks and raises urgent questions about the DC-only future.

Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Federal judge dismisses Eltek manipulation lawsuit against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

Nine-month electronic trading freeze and share lending program at the center of dismissed claim.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline