Why are ETFs better than mutual funds?
Greater flexibility: Because ETFs are traded like stocks, you can do things with them you can't do with mutual funds, including writing options against them, shorting them, and buying them on margin.
ETFs have several advantages for investors considering this vehicle. The 4 most prominent advantages are trading flexibility, portfolio diversification and risk management, lower costs versus like mutual funds, and potential tax benefits.
*ETFs typically have higher daily liquidity and lower fees than mutual fund shares, making them an attractive alternative for individual investors.
ETFs are generally considered more tax-efficient than mutual funds, owing to the fact that they typically have fewer capital gains distributions. However, they still have tax implications you must consider, both when creating your portfolio as well as when timing the sale of an ETF you hold.
ETFs can be more tax-efficient than mutual funds. As passively managed portfolios, ETFs (and index mutual funds) tend to realize fewer capital gains than actively managed mutual funds. Mutual funds, on the other hand, are required to distribute capital gains to shareholders if the manager sells securities for a profit.
In terms of safety, neither the mutual fund nor the ETF is safer than the other due to its structure. Safety is determined by what the fund itself owns. Stocks are usually riskier than bonds, and corporate bonds come with somewhat more risk than U.S. government bonds.
With a mutual fund, you buy and sell based on dollars, not market price or shares. And you can specify any dollar amount you want—down to the penny or as a nice round figure, like $3,000. With an ETF, you buy and sell based on market price—and you can only trade full shares.
For instance, some ETFs may come with fees, others might stray from the value of the underlying asset, ETFs are not always optimized for taxes, and of course — like any investment — ETFs also come with risk.
Mutual funds are priced once a day at the net asset value and they're traded after market hours. ETFs are traded throughout the day on stock exchanges just as individual stocks are. ETFs often have lower expense ratios and are generally more tax-efficient due to their more passive nature.
How are ETFs and mutual funds different? How are they managed? While they can be actively or passively managed by fund managers, most ETFs are passive investments pegged to the performance of a particular index. Mutual funds come in both active and indexed varieties, but most are actively managed.
What are the benefits of ETFs compared to stocks?
ETFs offer advantages over stocks in two situations. First, when the return from stocks in the sector has a narrow dispersion around the mean, an ETF might be the best choice. Second, if you are unable to gain an advantage through knowledge of the company, an ETF is your best choice.
Disadvantages include high fees, tax inefficiency, poor trade execution, and the potential for management abuses.
The administrative costs of managing ETFs are commonly lower than those for mutual funds. ETFs keep their administrative and operational expenses down through market-based trading. Because ETFs are bought and sold on the open market, the sale of shares from one investor to another does not affect the fund.
Market-driven pricing vs. NAV stability in mutual funds impacts investor strategy. ETFs minimize capital gains compared to mutual funds, boosting after-tax returns. ETFs offer trading versatility and lower fees, while mutual funds may provide active management at a higher cost.
If you're paying fees for a fund with a high expense ratio or paying too much in taxes each year because of undesired capital gains distributions, switching to ETFs is likely the right choice. If your current investment is in an indexed mutual fund, you can usually find an ETF that accomplishes the same thing.
ETFs can be safe investments if used correctly, offering diversification and flexibility. Indexed ETFs, tracking specific indexes like the S&P 500, are generally safe and tend to gain value over time. Leveraged ETFs can be used to amplify returns, but they can be riskier due to increased volatility.
Actively managed ETFs are rising in popularity, offering investors targeted exposure and tax efficient benefits in a volatile market. In addition to tax efficiency, investors are seeking active management in certain asset classes and strategies, such as fixed income and thematic investing.
Because of how they are each set up, ETFs can incur fewer capital gains taxes and lower long-term capital gains rates than actively managed mutual funds. With ETFs, you also won't have to pay taxes on your capital gains until you sell the assets.
1. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 0.1%) Legendary investor Warren Buffett has said that the best investment the average American can make is a low-cost S&P 500 index fund like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF.
One isn't safer than the other. It all depends on what the fund owns. For example, an ETF invested in emerging markets would normally be considered riskier than one investing in developed markets, like the US. Or an index fund holding stocks might be considered riskier than one holding bonds.
Which is riskier stocks or ETFs?
ETFs are less risky than individual stocks because they are diversified funds. Their investors also benefit from very low fees.
Neither mutual funds nor ETFs are perfect. Both can offer comprehensive exposure at minimal costs, and can be good tools for investors. The choice comes down to what you value most. If you prefer the flexibility of trading intraday and favor lower expense ratios in most instances, go with ETFs.
| Fund (ticker) | YTD performance | 5-year performance |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) | 6.0 percent | 22.7 percent |
| Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) | 7.3 percent | 11.0 percent |
| Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) | 2.2 percent | 11.1 percent |
| Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) | 5.8 percent | 11.6 percent |
Summary. ETFs are not less safe than other types of investments, like stocks or bonds. In many ways, ETFs are actually safer, for instance thanks to their inherent diversification.
The single biggest risk in ETFs is market risk. Like a mutual fund or a closed-end fund, ETFs are only an investment vehicle—a wrapper for their underlying investment. So if you buy an S&P 500 ETF and the S&P 500 goes down 50%, nothing about how cheap, tax efficient, or transparent an ETF is will help you.
