10 Best ETFs to Buy for Q1 2025

Here our experts choose their favourite ETFs from a range of sectors, including the world’s most popular businesses. Find out their top 10 ‘exchange-traded fund’ picks and learn about where to get them.

What are the top performing ETFs to buy?

You can find the best ETFs in the table below. These have been chosen by our financial experts and you can find the latest price information for each one by following the links. Alternatively, scroll down for a description of the five ETFs and an explanation for why they were chosen.

1. Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF (NYSEARCA: SPMO)

• Current price: $83.90
• AUM: $1,558.5 million
• Annual expense ratio: 0.13%
• YTD performance: 23.93%
• Annual dividend yield: 1.04%

The Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF focuses on stocks within the S&P 500 that exhibit high momentum, meaning they have performed exceptionally well in the past year. This fund tracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index and aims to invest at least 90% of its assets in the securities comprising this index. The ETF is rebalanced biannually in March and September.

SPMO’s strategy of concentrating on top-performing stocks has resulted in impressive returns. Over the past year, the ETF has outpaced the average performance of its category peers significantly, boasting a one-year return of over 52.7%. This momentum-driven approach, while narrower than some broader market ETFs, has proven effective for investors seeking robust short-term gains. However, its concentrated nature may make it less appealing to those looking for a more diversified, long-term holding.

Notably, the fund’s holdings are heavily weighted towards information technology, with giants like NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft comprising a significant portion of the portfolio. This sector focus reflects the ongoing dominance of tech stocks in recent years. For investors confident in the sustained performance of high-momentum stocks, SPMO offers a tactical tilt towards these market leaders.

2. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust ETF (NYSEARCA: GBTC)

• Current price: $63.65
• AUM: $20.35 billion
• Annual expense ratio: 1.50%
• YTD performance: 71.91%
• Annual dividend yield: N/A

Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is among the largest and most traded Bitcoin ETFs, offering investors exposure to Bitcoin without the complexities of direct purchases and secure storage. Established in 2013 as a private placement, it has a decade-long track record of providing access to the burgeoning cryptocurrency market. In 2024, GBTC transitioned to a spot Bitcoin ETF and listed on NYSE Arca, enhancing its accessibility and liquidity.

The performance of GBTC has been closely tied to the surge in Bitcoin’s value. Managed by Grayscale Investments, a pioneer in the crypto asset management space, GBTC offers efficient exposure to Bitcoin. Each share represents ownership in the Trust, which holds substantial Bitcoin reserves. This structure allows investors to benefit from Bitcoin’s price movements within a regulated framework, avoiding the pitfalls of direct cryptocurrency ownership.

The transformation from a closed-end fund to an open-ended ETF has significantly improved GBTC’s appeal. This shift eliminated the discount to NAV that previously plagued the fund, aligning the trading price closer to the actual value of its Bitcoin holdings. As a result, investors now enjoy better liquidity and more reliable returns, making GBTC an attractive option for those looking to gain from Bitcoin’s potential in a traditional investment vehicle.

3. VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SMH)

• Current price: $254.41
• AUM: $20.55 billion
• Annual expense ratio: 0.35%
• YTD performance: 50.57%
• Annual dividend yield: 0.41%

The VanEck Semiconductor ETF offers investors a concentrated exposure to the U.S. semiconductor industry by tracking the 25 largest U.S.-listed semiconductor companies. This ETF includes a mix of giant, large, and mid-cap companies, providing a balanced risk/return profile. With its top 10 holdings accounting for over two-thirds of total assets, SMH is inherently top-heavy but well-positioned to benefit from the surge in semiconductor demand driven by technological advancements.

SMH has particularly thrived amid the recent AI boom, as semiconductors are pivotal in powering AI technologies. The ETF’s focus on companies involved in chip design, fabrication, and manufacturing machinery ensures comprehensive exposure to the entire semiconductor value chain, making it a robust choice for investors seeking diversified exposure in this sector.

As technology continues to advance, the demand for semiconductors is expected to grow. The SMH ETF offers a practical way to invest in this vital sector without needing to pick individual stocks. With holdings like Nvidia and Taiwan Semiconductor, SMH provides access to some of the most influential players in the industry, making it an attractive option for long-term investors.

4. Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA: VDE)

• Current price: $125.74
• AUM: $8.54 billion
• Annual expense ratio: 0.10%
• YTD performance: 6.15%
• Annual dividend yield: 3.04%

The Vanguard Energy Index Fund ETF offers broad-based exposure to the U.S. energy sector, making it a valuable tool for those looking to fine-tune their domestic equity portfolio or hedge against other sectors. With an expense ratio of just 0.10%, VDE is one of the most cost-effective energy ETFs available today. Investors looking for a fund that benefits from the energy sector’s rebound will find VDE appealing.

The fund has a long history dating back to 2004, and its recent performance has been bolstered by firm oil prices and increased energy demand. VDE’s holdings are predominantly in the oil, gas, and consumable fuels sectors, with top positions in Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. This concentration in major energy players supports its strong dividend yield, which stands at over 3.00% annually, one of the highest among energy ETFs.

What sets VDE apart from other energy ETFs like the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) is its broader exposure and diversified portfolio. While XLE focuses on the top 25 energy stocks, VDE includes 113 stocks, offering investors a more comprehensive stake in the energy sector.

5. SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEARCA: GLD)

• Current price: $217.82
• AUM: $62.81 billion
• Annual expense ratio: 0.40%
• YTD performance: 14.21%
• Annual dividend yield: N/A

The SPDR Gold Trust offers a straightforward way to gain exposure to gold, an asset class that has grown increasingly vital in portfolio diversification. GLD’s underlying assets consist of gold bullion stored in secure vaults, ensuring that its price movements closely track the spot gold price. This physically-backed nature eliminates uncertainties associated with futures-based strategies, making GLD a reliable option for both short-term hedges against market volatility and long-term investment strategies.

GLD has demonstrated robust performance, particularly as gold prices have surged in recent years. The ETF saw impressive returns of 18.19% over the past year and has consistently outperformed its category averages over multiple timeframes.

The current gold bull market, characterized by record high prices, presents a compelling case for including GLD in your investment portfolio. Unlike other assets, gold has a long history of maintaining its value over time, making it a reliable store of wealth. With the economic landscape filled with uncertainty, including persistent inflation and potential market corrections, GLD provides a hedge against these risks.

6. Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK)

• Assets: $72 billion
• Expense ratio: 0.09%
• Year of inception: 1998
• Average annual return since inception: 9.14%
• 30-day SEC yield: 0.66%
• Benchmark index: Technology Select Sector Index

Taking top spot on our list is the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF. The fund, which was set up in 2014 by Cathie Wood’s ArkInvest, has been one of the top performing ETFs over the past few years. Since the turn of the decade, it has generated over 200% in gains and over 800% since its inception. Although it has fallen since and its five year returns sit at approximately 50%. 

ARKW is an actively managed ETF that seeks long-term capital growth by investing in U.S. and foreign stocks that are relevant to the fund’s investment theme of the next-generation internet. With under 50 holdings, it offers investors exposure to many well known companies, including Tesla, Twitter, and Coinbase. 

The ETF structure is a tiered weighting system meaning some of its holdings can have a stronger impact on its overall performance. Similarly, its geographical spread is heavily geared to US based companies. Buying shares in ARKW could be a good idea, especially as it has proven its ability to perform well in all conditions when other ETF’s have struggled. 

7. iShares Global Tech ETF (IXN)

• Assets: $5.1 billion
• Expense ratio: 0.41%
• Year of inception: 2001
• Average annual return since inception: 10.8%
• 30-day SEC yield: 0.42%
• Benchmark index: S&P Global 1200 Information Technology 4.5/22.5/45 Capped Index

The iShares Global Tech ETF is another high-performing ETF to invest in. It is a fund that invests in some of the biggest tech companies from around the world. Most of its stocks are from the United States followed by Taiwan, Japan, Netherlands, and South Korea.

39% of the companies are in the semiconductors industry followed by software & services, and technology hardware. Some of the top companies in the fund are Microsoft, Apple, Nvidia, Broadcom, and Taiwan Semiconductor. 

The iShares Global Tech ETF has done well, helped by the strong demand for artificial intelligence tools. Most of its companies recorded strong financial results. Nvidia’s revenue grew by over 200% in the first quarter while Broadcom soared by more than 50%.

The benefit of this fund is that it has exposure to companies from key countries. It also has a record of strong growth.

8. iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ: SOXX)

• Assets: $16 billion
• Expense ratio: 0.35%
• Year of inception: 2001
• Average annual return since inception: 11.75%
• 30-day SEC yield: 0.65%
• Benchmark index: NYSE Semiconductor Index

The iShares Semiconductor ETF is one of the biggest semiconductor ETF in terms of assets. It holds 35 companies like Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor.

Like the other two funds, the SOXX ETF has done well because of its exposure to the AI industry and the ongoing investments in the chips industry. Nvidia has been the biggest driver to these gains as its stock surged, pushing its market cap to over $3 trillion.

Analysts are optimistic that chips demand will continue accelerating as the world becomes more digital. However, the risk is that the ETF exposes you to one industry that regularly goes through booms and busts. 

9. Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares ETF (SOXL)

• Assets: $5.1 billion
• Expense ratio: 0.76%
• Year of inception: 2010
• Average annual return since inception: 35%
• 30-day SEC yield: N/A
• Benchmark index: N/A

The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares ETF has been one of the best-performing ETFs in Wall Street. It has surged by more than 3,400% in the past decade and over 227% in the past nine months.

This ETF is different than the others because it uses leverage to maximize returns. Also, its goal is to generate daily returns that are 3 times those of semiconductor companies. For example, if the index rises by 1% in a day, it has a gross return will be 3%. The SOXL ETF does well when semiconductor companies like Nvidia and AMD are doing well. 

The risk of this fund is that it has a higher expense ratio than most ETFs and is more volatile, especially when semiconductor stocks sink.

10. ProShares Ultra Silver ETF (AGQ)

• Assets: $563 million
• Expense ratio: 0.95%
• Year of inception: 2008
• Average annual return since inception: -1.23%
• 30-day SEC yield: N/A
• Benchmark index: Bloomberg Silver Subindex

The ProShares Ultra Silver ETF is another fund that has done well because of the performance of silver prices. 

Like the SOXL ETF, this fund aims to generate a daily return that is two times that of the benchmark index. 

As a result, it has thrived because of the ongoing silver rebound. Silver has soared to a multi-year high, helped by the rising industrial demand, weaker dollar, and the rising possibility that the Fed will cut interest rates.

Where to buy the best ETFs

You can get all these ETFs straight away by going to one of the broker platforms below. You can use the links in the table to go to their website and sign up, or read through our in-depth reviews to compare their features.

4.6

eToro

Min. Deposit $100

Fees 1%

No. assets 3600+

Demo account Yes

Visit site

eToro review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

4.5

Plus500

Min. Deposit $100

Fees From 2%

No. assets 2800+

Demo account Yes

Visit site

Plus500 review

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorised by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

4.4

Public

Min. Deposit $20

Fees 1-2%

No. assets 9000+

Demo account No

Visit site

Public.com review

Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Public Crypto LLC. Crypto trading on Public platforms is served by Public Crypto LLC and offered through APEX Crypto. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

What is an ETF?

It’s a type of financial security that tracks the performance of an index, market, or another type of asset. ETFs trade on the stock exchange so that you can buy or sell them at any time during the day.

An ETF generally holds a range of different stocks. It’s often a good way to create an instant portfolio of your own without having to assess the qualities of individual companies. Similarly, it can give you exposure to stocks that you might not be able to afford on their own.

Are ETFs a good investment?

It depends on your overall goals. ETFs are ideal for beginners because they’re so easy to use and take away the pressure of having to make the right call on which stocks to own. They might not be the best choice if you want to actively manage your portfolio or make lots of short term trades.

Another factor to consider is the company that manages the ETF and the fees it charges. The likes of Vanguard and Blackrock have been at the top of the money-management field for a long time. Similarly, you should expect to pay low maintenance fees for an ETF, in particular if it’s a passive fund that simply tracks an index or sector.

AThe best way to stay informed about which ETFs might be best is to track the latest ETF news. You can follow what’s going on in the stock market by using the links below, or head straight to a broker in order to get an ETF right now.

Methodology: How we choose the best ETFs

At Invezz, we are dedicated to helping investors make informed decisions by providing authoritative, accessible, and engaging advice and recommendations. Our curated section of the best Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) is carefully selected by our team of experienced market analysts and reviewed by a sub-editor. This methodology outlines the rigorous process we follow to ensure our ETF recommendations are up-to-date, reliable, and insightful.

• Analyst research & recommendations: Our seasoned market analysts use their in-depth sector knowledge to identify ETFs with strong potential, ensuring they meet high standards of performance, liquidity, and market potential.
• ETF evaluation: We evaluate ETFs based on their underlying assets, historical performance, expense ratios, and tracking accuracy, alongside macroeconomic factors and sector trends.
• Fund performance reports: We assess ETFs through the latest performance reports, analyzing key metrics like returns, volatility, expense ratios, and assets under management (AUM).
• Sector analysis and external recommendations: Our detailed sector analysis, combined with recommendations from reputable sources like Barron’s and Zacks, provides an additional layer of validation for our selections.
• Quarterly review & refresh: We update our curated ETF list quarterly, re-evaluating each ETF based on the latest reports, industry developments, and market conditions to ensure our recommendations reflect the most current information available.