Best penny stock ETFs to buy in 2024

Penny stock ETFs are an easy way to gain exposure to a range of small companies. This beginner friendly guide picks five of the top penny stock ETFs for the year ahead.
By:
Updated: Oct 11, 2022
Listen

Trade your favourite markets with our top-rated broker, eToro.

10/10

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Visit site

Penny stock exchange traded funds invest in a selection of the cheapest publicly traded companies in the world. They cover a range of industries and geographies and can offer a way to diversify a portfolio. This page selects five of the best penny stock ETFs for this year. 

What are the top penny stock ETFs to buy?

Copy link to section

Our investment experts have found five of the best penny stock ETFs to buy for 2022. Check out the table below which has their name and ticker symbol, or continue scrolling to learn more about each in detail.

#ETF symbolETF nameWhere to Trade
1IWCiShares Micro-Cap ETF
Buy IWC

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2FDMThe First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund
Buy FDM

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3LOPXThe Direxion Low Priced Stock ETF
Buy LOPX

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4DWMCAdvisorshares Dorsey Wright Micro-cap ETF
Buy DWMC

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5DWAInvesco DWA SmallCap Momentum ETF
Buy DWA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

List chosen by our team of analysts, updated 21 July 2022

1. iShares Micro-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA: IWC)

Copy link to section

IWC invests in some of the smallest companies within the United States. It tracks the performance of the Russell Microcap index and includes almost 1800 holdings. It is one of the largest penny stock ETFs and has over $1 billion invested. Since its inception it has performed well, especially during the pandemic when its price surged by more than 200%.

The fund takes first spot on our list because of its diverse holdings. It spreads its funds across many sectors, although almost half is focused on healthcare, financial services, and industrials. The healthcare sector is often a favourite for penny stock investors and nearly a quarter of IWC is invested in it. 

iShares may not be suitable for ESG investors however. It holds a number of companies that operate in sectors some investors may not agree with. Some of these include firearms, coal production, and tobacco. However, IWC gives its investors access to many of the best performing small US based companies.

Sign-up & trade IWC ETF

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. The First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap Index Fund (NYSEARCA: FDM)

Copy link to section

The First Trust Dow Jones Select MicroCap invests in small companies listed on the NYSE, NYSEAMEX, and NASDAQ. It aims to track the performance of the Dow Jones Select index. FDM uses a screening process to determine which stocks to invest in. This is based on market capitalisation, trading volume, and a number of financial datasets. 

There are over 200 holdings in the fund split across a broad range of sectors. However, almost two thirds of it is focused on financial services, industrials, and consumer discretionary. Its $170 million in total assets is fairly equally distributed across all of its holdings. 

Since its inception in 2005, it has been performing well. Although when lockdowns began in 2020, the funds value was cut in half. It later regained its losses and finished 2021 at its highest price yet. As FDM includes much fewer holdings than IWC above, it is less diverse, but offers greater opportunity for growth.  

Sign-up & trade FDM ETF

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3. The Direxion Low Priced Stock ETF (NYSEARCA: LOPX)

Copy link to section

LOPX is the newest and smallest ETF on our list. It was created in July 2021 and includes just 50 stocks. It seeks to track the performance of The Solactive Two Bucks Index. As its name suggests, it invests in low priced stocks trading between $2 – $5. It includes companies globally, but the majority are U.S. based. 

The Direxion invests in four main sectors where over 75% of the fund resides: energy, healthcare, financial services, and consumer goods. Among its 50 holdings are a few well known stocks including AMC Entertainment, Moneygram, and Agenus. Its stocks are split based on certain criteria and its largest holding, AMC, makes up nearly 10% of the fund. 

In its short trading history it has experienced a difficult time. In the few months following its inception it lost 30% in value. As its largest holding falls into the meme stock category, LOPX can experience a lot of volatility and is best suited to investors willing to accept lots of ups and downs in price.

Sign-up & trade LOPX ETF

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4. Advisorshares Dorsey Wright Micro-cap ETF  (NASDAQ: DWMC)

Copy link to section

DWMC is an actively managed ETF that invests in micro-cap companies that have a market capitalisation of less than $1 billion. Unlike many ETFs that track the performance of a specific index, DWMC is run by an experienced portfolio manager who uses a strategy known as relative strength investing to decide what equities to buy and sell. 

The fund only invests in stocks that meet certain criteria which mainly involves analysing technical data. No company fundamental data is involved in the analysis. It has over 150 holdings spread across four main sectors including technology, healthcare, industrial, and consumer cyclical. 

Since its inception in 2018 its performance has been robust with gains of over 60% in that time. The Advisorshares offers a different approach to penny stock ETF investing as it doesn’t just simply invest in hundreds of stocks, but offers a more methodical approach. 

Sign-up & trade DWMC ETF

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5. Invesco DWA SmallCap Momentum ETF (NASDAQ: DWA)

Copy link to section

Last place on our list goes to the Invesco DWA SmallCap Momentum ETF. It tracks the performance of the Dorsey Wright SmallCap Technical Leaders index and invests in a mix of small cap and micro cap companies. It includes both growth and value stocks and has over 200 holdings. 

The fund has more than $500 million in total assets and is spread across multiple industries. However almost 75% of it belongs to the financial, healthcare, industrial, consumer, and energy sectors. Its weighting to each stock is mostly equal meaning no single company can impact its price. 

Since its inception in 2012 it has been a strong performer and has grown by over 300% in that time. It also pays a quarterly dividend to investors. Its long standing historical growth makes it a suitable ETF for investors looking for some stability in the penny stock sector. 

Sign-up & trade DWA ETF

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Where to buy the best penny stock ETFs

Copy link to section

If you want to invest in a penny stock ETF you’ll find it easiest to use an online broker. Our investment experts have selected the top brokers around for ETF investing which you can find in the table below. Click on any of the links to get started in just a few minutes.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank
Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
9.8
Trade +2000 CFDs on Shares, Options, Commodities & more
Unlimited risk-free Demo Account
0 commissions & attractive spreads with up to 1:5 leverage
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
American Express, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Discover, Google Pay, Mastercard, PayPal, SEPA, Trustly, Visa, , skrill
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FCA, FSA, MAS, cysec-250-14-regulator, isa-regulator

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.

3
Min. Deposit
-
Best offer
User Score
9.7
Diverse Stock Selection: Interactive Brokers offers a wide range of domestic and international stocks, providing investors with a diverse array of options for their portfolios.
Advanced Trading Tools: Investors benefit from real-time market data and advanced tools, empowering them to make informed decisions and execute trades with precision in the dynamic stock market.
Easy Portfolio Management: Interactive Brokers makes it simple to handle your investments by allowing you to easily switch between stocks and other assets on one platform, streamlining the way you manage your overall portfolio.
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
ACH, Bank Wire, Check
Full Regulations:
CFTC, FCA, FINRA, IIROC, NFA, NYSE, SIPC

What is a penny stock ETF?

Copy link to section

It’s an exchange traded fund that invests only in companies often referred to as penny stocks. ETFs are investment funds that are available to buy on the stock market. You are able to buy shares in an ETF through a stock broker. Each fund usually tracks the performance of a specific sector or index. 

Penny stock ETFs give investors exposure to some of the smallest and riskiest companies without having to buy individual stocks. They are an easy way to get exposure to a broad range of companies that have very low valuations. Penny stocks are inherently risky, however ETFs containing them, allow you to spread your risk and diversify your portfolio. 

Are penny stock ETFs a good investment?

Copy link to section

Yes they can be, but you need to consider the risks involved. Penny stocks are high risk, high reward options, so it’s not a good idea to put all of your money into them. Penny stock ETFs can make investing into the sector much easier as you’ll be able to invest in the best companies without having to research each individually. 

Some of the biggest companies today were once penny stocks, so they can make a good addition to a portfolio. One thing to take into consideration is the amount of holdings a specific ETF has. An ETF with thousands of investments will move much slower than one with just a few, although will offer more stability. Read more: best ETFs to invest in

Before buying an ETF you’ll need to register with a broker and keep up to date with the latest news and developments. Both of which you can do by clicking on the links below.

Sign up to a broker to buy penny stock ETFs

Latest penny stock news

Copy link to section
888 Holdings (LON: 888) share price has been a big disappointment in The City. After peaking at 493.2p in September 2021, the stock has plunged to 70.60P. This crash has brought its total market cap to just £300 million, a fall from grace for a company that acquired William Hill in a £2 billion deal
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) ETF has done well this year as American stocks jumped. The highly leveraged fund soared to a high of $46 in November, bringing the year-to-date gains to over 80%. It has jumped by more than 175% from the lowest point in December last year. There are signs that inves
Southwest Airlines Co (NYSE: LUV) says it is now close to signing a preliminary deal with its pilots’ union. Shares of the air carrier are up 5.0% at writing. What Southwest and pilots’ union have agreed on? The Dallas-headquartered airline has agreed with the union on retirement plan, pay raise, an
S&P 500 is trending up at writing even after Jerome Powell – the Chair of Federal Reserve dubbed it “premature” to expect aggressive rate cuts in 2024. BMO analyst shares view on S&P 500 Powell told his spectators at Spelman College in Atlanta on Friday that the Federal Open Market Committee
Shares of the Walt Disney Co (NYSE: DIS) are slightly in the red on Friday even though the mass media giant reinstated the dividend it had suspended some three years ago. Disney to pay 30 cents a share in dividend The announcement arrives only a day after Nelson Peltz of Trian Partners pushed for tw
Penny stocks like Green Giant (GGE), Neximmune (NEXI), Altimmune (ALT), and Harbor Custom Development (HCDI) were among the best-performing companies in Wall Street on Friday. All of them jumped by more than 40% even as the Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500 indices pulled back.  These companies have n


Risk disclaimer
Prash Raval
Financial Writer
Prash is a financial writer for Invezz covering FX, the stock market and investing. For over a decade he has traded spot FX full time while... read more.