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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
CategoryFundsAssetsCategory return, YTDA or B shareTop graded fundCheapest fund

Built for this goal

Core US Bond

US Aggregate Bond115$948B−1.3%70 of 115AAGGABKAG
Core Securitized Bond10$16.9B−0.9%5 of 10AJMBSAJMBS

Treasury & Government Bond

Treasuries (3-10 Year)19$133B−2.2%12 of 19AVGITAVGIT
US Treasury & Government16$75.9B+0.3%9 of 16AGOVTASPTB
Treasuries (10-20 Year)6$25.5B−4.4%4 of 6ASPTLASPTL

Corporate Bond

Investment Grade Corporate (5-10 Year)9$112B−2.0%6 of 9ASPIBAVCIT
Investment Grade Corporate49$70.6B−1.9%28 of 49AUSIGASPBO
Investment Grade Corporate (10+ Year)7$12.3B−4.0%5 of 7AIGLBAVCLT

Specialty Bonds

Mortgage-Backed Securities24$85.2B−1.5%8 of 24ASPMBAVMBS

Sectors

Utilities (Broad)10$39B+1.0%6 of 10AFUTYAXLU
Consumer Staples (Broad)12$28.3B+14.5%3 of 12AXLPAXLP

Factor & Screened Index

US Low Volatility Index16$37B+8.4%9 of 16ALGLVAQLV

Buffered

S&P 500 Buffer 9-12%77$25.1B+9.3%28 of 77AZALTCXTR
S&P 500 Buffer 15%51$18.2B+8.1%5 of 51BPSMJCCMAY
S&P 500 Laddered Buffer18$17.7B+9.0%6 of 18ABUFDABUFR
S&P 500 Buffer 20%24$6.47B+5.7%8 of 24BBALTBPSFD
S&P 500 Deep Buffer 25-30%19$5.42B+7.9%4 of 19BUFEBCCTJL
Nasdaq-100 Buffer 9-12%12$3.13B+10.6%4 of 12APQAPBQTR
S&P 500 Ultra Buffer 30%13$2.22B+7.6%2 of 13BUJANDCTMA
Developed International Buffer 15%26$2.21B+6.7%4 of 26BBUFICIDJN
Nasdaq-100 Buffer4$1.8B+11.1%———BUFQ
Nasdaq-100 Buffer 15%15$1.47B+8.7%1 of 15BQBQFCQMY
Russell 2000 Buffer 15%14$1.31B+7.4%3 of 14ABUFSABUFS
S&P 500 Buffer7$915M+7.5%2 of 7APSFFAPSFF
Emerging Markets Buffer14$675M+6.5%4 of 14ABUFEABUFE
S&P 500 Max Buffer20$650M+4.4%7 of 20BPMDEBPMJN
Other Buffered9$345M+6.1%4 of 9BKBFRBKBFR

Major Indexes

Trend-Following / Tactical Index20$10.2B+10.9%11 of 20APTINBTRND

Multi-Asset & Alternatives

Conservative Allocation8$6.55B+0.3%2 of 8AAOKAAOK
Tactical Allocation46$4.46B+8.9%24 of 46AENDWACLSM
Portfolio Hedging11$1.93B+3.6%6 of 11BPFIXCIRVH

Active Equity

US Active Low Volatility10$3.93B+10.4%5 of 10ASELVASELV

Floor Protected

Managed Floor5$2.98B+5.7%0 of 5CTRIOCMAUG
S&P 500 Full Protection27$1.92B+4.3%7 of 27ACPSLACPSL
Other Floor Protected18$570M+5.1%9 of 18ACPROAISWN

Dual Directional

S&P 500 Dual Directional7$564M—1 of 7BDDFLBDDFL
S&P 500 Dual Directional, 9-12% Buffer9$357M—3 of 9BDDFZBDDFZ

Also fits this goal

Specialty Bonds

TIPS41$133B+1.0%21 of 41ASCHPAVTIP

Corporate Bond

Investment Grade Corporate (0-5 Year)23$123B+1.1%9 of 23AIGSBAVCSH

Treasury & Government Bond

Treasuries (1-3 Year)15$110B+1.2%11 of 15ASPTSAVGSH

Core US Bond

Global Aggregate Bond (Unhedged)28$94.8B−0.9%18 of 28ADFGPABNDW
Short-Term Core Bond12$79.8B+0.3%4 of 12ABSVABSV

Major Indexes

Dividend Aristocrats7$35.1B+12.6%4 of 7ASDYCSNPD

Municipal Bond

Intermediate Municipal Bonds19$14.2B−1.5%12 of 19ATAXIATAXI

Multi-Asset & Alternatives

Balanced Allocation5$14B+5.8%3 of 5AAORAAOR
Merger Arbitrage5$458M+2.9%3 of 5BMNABMNA

Target Maturity Bond

Defined-Maturity Treasury30$12B+0.4%13 of 30AIBTGAIBTH

Accelerated Upside

S&P 500 Accelerated, 15% Buffer7$705M+7.4%2 of 7BXJUN—CTAU
S&P 500 Accelerated, 9-12% Buffer6$380M+9.4%2 of 6BXBAPBXBAP

Other goals