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In Goals

Best Low-Risk ETFs

Funds that aim for a smoother ride than the broad market. They hold short and medium-term bonds, low-volatility stocks or buffered strategies that absorb part of a fall in exchange for a cap on gains. Lower risk also means lower expected return. Each fund is graded against the other funds in its own category.

Categories for Lower Risk

The categories for Lower Risk, by Group
CategoryTop graded fundCategory return, YTDReturn YTDIts funds’ return since 1 January, weighted by assets.AssetsFundsCheapest fundA or B share

Built for this goal

Core US Bond

US Aggregate BondAAGG0.0%$663B114ABKAG69 of 114
Core Securitized BondAJMBS+0.5%$16.9B10Also top graded6 of 10

Treasury & Government Bond

Treasuries (3-10 Year)ASPTI−0.9%$128B19AVGIT12 of 19
US Treasury & GovernmentAGOVT+1.1%$77.5B16ASPTB8 of 16
Treasuries (10-20 Year)ASPTL−2.1%$26.1B6Also top graded5 of 6

Corporate Bond

Investment Grade Corporate (5-10 Year)ASPIB−0.8%$110B9AVCIT6 of 9
Investment Grade CorporateAUSIG−0.7%$74.9B49ASPBO29 of 49
Investment Grade Corporate (10+ Year)AIGLB−2.1%$11.5B7AVCLT5 of 7

Specialty Bonds

Mortgage-Backed SecuritiesASPMB+0.3%$84.4B24AVMBS8 of 24

Factor & Screened Index

US Low Volatility IndexALGLV+12.5%$37.8B16AQLV9 of 16

Sectors

Utilities (Broad)AFUTY+4.4%$36.9B10AXLU5 of 10
Consumer Staples (Broad)AXLP+20.1%$27.1B12Also top graded4 of 12

Buffered

S&P 500 Buffer 9-12%AZALT+9.9%$25.2B77CXTR29 of 77
S&P 500 Buffer 15%BPSMO+8.6%$18.3B51CCAUG5 of 51
S&P 500 Laddered BufferBPBFR+9.6%$17.9B18BALDB6 of 18
S&P 500 Buffer 20%BBALT+6.1%$6.6B24BPSFD7 of 24
S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30%BUFEB+8.4%$5.48B19CCTJL3 of 19
Nasdaq-100 Buffer 9-12%BPQAP+9.2%$3.11B12BQTR4 of 12
S&P 500 Ultra Buffer 30%BUJAN+8.2%$2.26B13DCTMA3 of 13
Developed International Buffer 15%BBUFI+8.0%$2.24B26CIDJN6 of 26
Nasdaq-100 BufferNo data+9.8%$1.78B4—QQHGNo data
Nasdaq-100 Buffer 15%BQBQF+7.7%$1.47B15CQQMY1 of 15
Russell 2000 Buffer 15%BQBKF+10.7%$1.33B14CSCAU3 of 14
S&P 500 BufferBSWAN+8.3%$924M7CHJUN2 of 7
Emerging Markets BufferBEBUF+5.5%$671M14CEMAU4 of 14
S&P 500 Max BufferBPMDE+4.7%$643M20BPMJN7 of 20
Other BufferedBKBFR+7.6%$354M9Also top graded4 of 9

Major Indexes

Trend-Following / Tactical IndexAWAMA+10.8%$9.94B20Also top graded9 of 20

Multi-Asset & Alternatives

Conservative AllocationAAOK+1.4%$6.65B7Also top graded2 of 7
Tactical AllocationAENDW+8.5%$4.39B46Also top graded23 of 46
Portfolio HedgingBSPD+1.8%$1.85B10BRFIX6 of 10

Active Equity

US Active Low VolatilityASELV+13.0%$4.27B10Also top graded5 of 10

Floor Protected

Managed FloorCSFLR+5.8%$2.97B5CMAUG0 of 5
S&P 500 Full ProtectionACPSL+4.6%$1.94B27Also top graded8 of 27
Other Floor ProtectedACPRY+5.4%$565M18AISWN9 of 18

Dual Directional

S&P 500 Dual DirectionalBDDFLNo data$582M7Also top graded2 of 7
S&P 500 Dual Directional, 9-12% BufferBDDFZNo data$356M9Also top graded2 of 9

Also fits this goal

Corporate Bond

Investment Grade Corporate (0-5 Year)AIGSB+1.7%$117B23AVCSH6 of 23

Treasury & Government Bond

Treasuries (1-3 Year)ASCHO+1.7%$107B15AVGSH10 of 15

Core US Bond

Global Aggregate Bond (Unhedged)ADFGP+0.4%$97.6B28ABNDW18 of 28
Short-Term Core BondABSV+1.0%$55.7B12Also top graded4 of 12

Specialty Bonds

TIPSASCHP+0.9%$83B40AVTIP22 of 40

Major Indexes

Dividend AristocratsASDY+20.0%$37B7CSNPD4 of 7

Municipal Bond

Intermediate Municipal BondsATAXI+0.6%$15.6B19Also top graded12 of 19

Multi-Asset & Alternatives

Balanced AllocationAAOR+6.9%$13.9B5Also top graded3 of 5
Merger ArbitrageBMRGR+3.3%$403M4Also top graded3 of 4

Target Maturity Bond

Defined-Maturity TreasuryAIBTG+1.0%$12.3B30AIBTH15 of 30

Accelerated Upside

S&P 500 Accelerated, 15% BufferCXMAR+7.9%$702M7CCTAU0 of 7
S&P 500 Accelerated, 9-12% BufferBXBAP+10.1%$383M6Also top graded2 of 6

ETF lists for this Goal: Retirement ETFs.

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