What is an ETF?

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are a type of financial instrument whose unique characteristics have caught the eye of many an investor. In this article we define ETFs, highlight their advantages, and list some of the most popular ETFs available to investors.

Think of an Exchange Traded Fund as a mutual fund that trades like a stock. To learn more about the difference between ETFs and Mutual Funds, see Compare ETF Index Funds & Mutual Funds. Just like an index fund, an ETF represents a basket of stocks that reflect an index such as the S&P 500. (To read more on this subject, see our Index Investing tutorial.) An ETF, however, isn't a mutual fund; it trades just like any other company on a stock exchange. Unlike a mutual fund that has its net-asset value (NAV) calculated at the end of each trading day, an ETF's price changes throughout the day, fluctuating with supply and demand. It is important to remember that while ETFs attempt to replicate the return on indexes, there is no guarantee that they will do so exactly. It is not uncommon to see a 1% or more difference between the actual index's year-end return and that of an ETF.

By owning an ETF, you get the diversification of an index fund. Another advantage is that the expense ratio of an ETF is generally low because a tracking portfolio is not actively managed and therefore has little turnover. When buying and selling ETFs outside of your 401(k) plan, you pay your broker the same commission that you'd pay on any regular trade.

Varieties of ETFs
The first exchange-traded fund was the S&P 500 index fund (nicknamed spiders because of their SPDR ticker symbol), which began trading on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) in 1993. Today - tracking a wide variety of sector-specific, country-specific and broad-market indexes - there are hundreds of ETFs trading on the open market.

You can pretty much find an ETF for just about any kind of sector of the market. For example, if you were interested in the real estate sector, perhaps Cohen & Steer Realty Majors Index fund (ICF) would be worth looking into. Does the emerging markets peak your interest? Then take a look at the MSCI Emerging Market Index fund iShare (EEM).

Some of the more popular ETFs have nicknames like cubes (QQQQs), vipers (VIPERs) and diamonds (DIAs). Below you will find a closer look at some of the more popular ETFs:

Nasdaq-100 Index Tracking Stock (QQQQ)
This ETF represents the Nasdaq-100 Index, which consists of the 100 largest and most actively traded non-financial stocks on the Nasdaq, QQQQ offers broad exposure to the tech sector. Because it can help to curb the risk that comes with investing in individual stocks, the QQQQ is a practical way to invest in the long-term prospects of the technology industry. The diversification it offers can be an advantage when there's volatility in the markets. If a tech company falls short of projected earnings, it will likely be hit hard. Between 2000 and 2004, QQQQ was by far the most heavily traded index fund.

Standard and Poor's Depository Receipts (SPDRs)
Usually referred to as spiders, these investment instruments bundle the benchmark S&P 500 and give you ownership in the index. Imagine the trouble and expenses involved in trying to buy all 500 stocks in the S&P 500! SPDRs allow individual investors to own the index's stocks in a cost-effective manner.

iShares
iShares is Barclay's (Barclay's Global Investors "BGI”) brand of ETFs. In 2004 there were approximately 120 iShares trading on more than 10 different stock exchanges. Barclay has put out a number of technology-oriented iShares that follow Goldman Sachs's technology indexes. All of these particular ETFs trade on the AMEX.

DIAMONDs
These ETF shares, Diamonds Trust Series I, track the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The fund is structured as a unit investment trust. The ticker symbol of the Dow Diamonds is DIA, and it trades on the AMEX.

Conclusion
A great reason to consider ETFs is that they simplify index and sector investing in a way that is easy to understand. The combination of the instant diversification, low operating cost and the flexibility that ETFs offer, makes these instruments one of the most useful innovations and attractive pieces of financial engineering to date.

Visit our Investment Center to view all model portfolios and ETF index funds available in the ShareBuilder 401(k) and to access a prospectus for individual ETFs.