What are ETFs? Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are low cost index funds that trade like stocks. ETFs track a variety of stock, bond, commodity, real estate and currency indexes. Investors can choose broadly diversified funds or narrowly focused funds. ETFs can be leveraged with margin, hedged with options, shorted or bought and held. Where are ETFs traded?
ETFs are listed and traded on major U.S. and foreign stock exchanges. They can be bought or sold via a regular brokerage account. In the United States, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the NASDAQ list most exchange-traded funds. How do I buy or sell ETFs?
ETFs are listed and traded with ticker symbols, the same way as individual stocks. They can be bought or sold through a full service or discount broker/dealer. A brokerage commission to buy or sell will usually apply.
What's the typical cost of an ETF?
There are a number of factors that affect the cost of an ETF, including the expense ratio and the brokerage commission to acquire the fund. Generally, the expense ratios of ETFs are consistently lower versus actively managed mutual funds. Also, expense ratios will vary among ETF companies, but this information can be obtained from the fund prospectus.
How liquid are ETFs?
The liquidity of an ETF is mainly affected by the liquidity of the underlying stocks or bonds in its index - not the trading volume of the fund itself. The reason is because it's less complicated for authorized participants or market makers to assemble creation units for liquid stocks or bonds. (Creation units are baskets of underlying stocks or bonds within an ETF that can be exchanged for ETF shares.) It's possible for ETFs with low trading volume to still be liquid. Do ETFs pay dividend income?
The dividend income received from underlying stocks or bonds in an ETF's portfolio are distributed to fund shareholders. The frequency of dividend payments can be quarterly or monthly, depending on the fund. Many bond ETFs pay out dividends monthly.
Who buys ETFs?
ETFs have gained favor with both individual investors, financial professionals and institutional investors because of their low expenses, tax efficiency, diversification, transparency, trading flexibility and intraday liquidity. ETFs are a convenient way to gain instant market exposure to global markets.
What kind of risks do ETFs carry?
Equity-based exchange traded funds have a similar risk profile to those of equity mutual funds, while fixed income-based ETFs have a risk profile that approximates bond mutual funds. Performance returns will fluctuate and are subject to market conditions, the economic environment and other related factors. ETF shares may be valued more or valued less than their original cost at the time of sale or redemption. ETFs that invest in foreign securities have higher risk characteristics versus domestic securities. Past performance is no guarantee of future results
What's the difference between the market price and NAV an ETF?
Net Asset Value (NAV) refers to a fund's total assets minus its liabilities, whereas market price refers to the quoted price that an ETF is trading at on an exchange. While large premiums/discounts are rare, at times the NAV and market price of ETFs will diverge. What is the ETF prospectus?
The ETF prospectus is a legal document that explains the fund's investment objectives, risks, fees and other expenses. Investors should carefully consider information contained in the prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. You should always read the prospectus carefully before investing.
What are ETNs?
ETNs are debt instruments linked to the performance of a single commodity, currency or index. They have a set maturity date and they do not usually pay an annual coupon or specified dividend rate. ETNs can be traded or redeemed before the maturity date. If the note is held to maturity, the investor is paid the return of the note's underlying index, minus the annual expense ratio.
What are the risks of ETNs?
ETNs carry issuer risk which is tied to the credit worthiness of the financial institution backing the note. If the issuer's financial condition deteriorates, it could negatively impact the value of the ETN, regardless of how its underlying index performs.
Are ETFs better than mutual funds?
Each kind of investment has its strengths and weaknesses. Any fair comparison of the two should be done in the context of not just performance, but tax efficiency, fees/total ownership costs, risks, and if the fund objectives match your financial objectives. Always refer to a prospectus for detailed information.
Are ETFs less expensive?
Generally speaking, in buying or selling ETFs, you will pay a trade commission to a broker, whereas in buying or selling no-load mutual funds, you generally pay none. However, some brokers impose a commission to buy or sell no-load mutual funds. Other so-called "no transaction fee" mutual funds don't charge a commission, but may carry higher expense ratios. Ultimately, any fair cost analysis between ETFs and mutual funds should look at the total spectrum of expenses - not just the commission to acquire the ETF or mutual fund. Specifically, investors also need to pay attention to the ongoing expenses, such as management fees, as well as the often ignored tax implications of owning a mutual fund versus an ETF.
How are exchange-traded funds like stocks?
While ETFs are traded on a securities exchange, and can also be sold short like individual stocks they are not the same. Rather, ETFs are more diversified and composed of an underlying portfolio of securities that track an index.
Are individual stocks better than ETFs?
Not necessarily. Each kind of investment has its strengths and weaknesses. Any fair comparison of the two, should be done in the context of not just performance, but risks and if the investment matches the financial objective of the investor.
How are ETFs taxed?
ETFs are required to distribute dividends and capital gains to shareholders. This is usually done at the end of each year and these distributions can be caused by index rebalancing, diversification rules, or other factors. Also, anytime you sell your fund this could generate tax consequences. Consult your tax advisor for more specific info/advice.
How is dividend income from ETFs taxed?
ETFs, like mutual funds, are required to distribute dividends to shareholders. Dividends are taxable as income to the shareholder, unless you own the ETF in a retirement account.
The Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 reduced the maximum tax rate on dividends from 35% to 15% for most investors. The rule also applies to dividend distributions paid to ETF shareholders. The dividend income from REIT ETFs may not be subject to the lower tax rate, although the capital-gains component of dividend income applies under the lower tax. Consult your tax advisor for more specific advice.
How are commodity ETFs taxed?
Many commodity ETFs uses futures contracts to obtain their commodities exposure while others, like the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), own the physical commodity. Under current tax law, commodity ETFs that hold physical gold or silver are taxed at a long-term capital gains rate of 28%. Commodity products that use futures contracts are taxed each year even if you don't sell them. Capital gains are currently taxed at a hybrid rate of 60% long-term and 40% short-term gains.
What are the tax advantages of ETFs?
Most ETFs are designed to track set benchmarks, which translates into fewer trades and lower portfolio turnover. This reduces the frequency of tax gain distributions. By comparison, actively managed portfolios generally have higher turnover, which can translate into untimely or more frequent tax distributions.
