Stock exchange-traded funds, or equity ETFs, are often low-cost, tax-efficient instruments for investors to track popular indexes or leverage experienced manager choices to beat the market. The best ones serve as low-cost building blocks in a portfolio, and unlike open-end mutual funds, all ETFs are traded throughout the day on an exchange.
In April 2024, the top-performing stock ETFs included the mid-cap value fund Global X SuperDividend US ETF DIV and the large-blend fund Simplify Volatility Premium ETF SVOL. Data in this article is sourced from Morningstar Direct.
Screening for the Best-Performing ETFs
To find the month’s best-performing stock ETFs, we screened those in the Morningstar US Equity category that trade within the United States. We excluded exchange-traded notes and ETFs with less than $100 million in total assets.
Within our list, four funds are in the large value category, where the average name fell 4.02% in April.
The 10 Best-Performing ETFs for April 2024
- Global X SuperDividend US ETF DIV
- Simplify Volatility Premium ETF SVOL
- TCW Transform Systems ETF NETZ
- Return Stacked US Stocks & Managed Futures ETF RSST
- Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF SPHD
- ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF ARKX
- Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF PTNQ
- Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF BGIG
- Capital Group Dividend Value ETF CGDV
- Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF PVAL
Best-Performing ETFs in the US
Metrics for the Best-Performing Stock ETFs
Global X SuperDividend US ETF
- Morningstar Rating: 1 star
- Expense Ratio: 0.45%
- Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Value
The $612 million Global X SuperDividend US ETF was the best-performing ETF in April, with a 1.04% loss. The passively managed Global X ETF fell less than the 5.04% decline on the average fund in Morningstar’s mid-cap value category for the month. Over the last 12 months, the Global X SuperDividend US ETF has returned 6.23%, underperforming the 14.36% gain on the average fund in its category, leaving the ETF in the 89th percentile.
The Global X SuperDividend US ETF has a Negative Morningstar Medalist Rating, meaning our analysts expect it to be one of the worst performers within its category and think it is unlikely to unlikely to deliver positive returns after fees.
Simplify Volatility Premium ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 1.16%
- Morningstar Category: Large Blend
The second-best-performing ETF in April was the $872 million Simplify Volatility Premium ETF. The passively managed Simplify Asset Management ETF declined 1.07%, falling less than the average large blend fund, which lost 4.19%. Looking back over the last 12 months, the Simplify Volatility Premium ETF has returned 19.74%, roughly in line with the 20.33% return on the average fund in its category, leaving the ETF in the 65th percentile.
The Neutral-rated Simplify Volatility Premium ETF was launched in May 2021.
TCW Transform Systems ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 0.75%
- Morningstar Category: Large Blend
The $125 million TCW Transform Systems ETF ranked third for the month, falling 1.18%. The TCW ETF, which is actively managed, declined less than the 4.19% average loss on funds in the large blend category for April. Over the last 12 months, the TCW ETF has returned 37.61%, ahead of the 20.33% gain on the average fund in its category, leaving the ETF in the 1st percentile.
The TCW Transform Systems ETF considers environmental, social, and governance criteria. This fund has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Neutral.
Return Stacked US Stocks & Managed Futures ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 1.04%
- Morningstar Category: Large Blend
With a 1.69% loss, the $119 million Return Stacked US Stocks & Managed Futures ETF ranked fourth in April. The actively managed Newfound ETF dropped less than the 4.19% loss on the average large blend fund. The fund was first launched in September 2023, and as a result, it does not have a one-year track record.
The Return Stacked US Stocks & Managed Futures ETF has a Negative Morningstar Medalist Rating.
Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF
- Morningstar Rating: 2 stars
- Expense Ratio: 0.30%
- Morningstar Category: Large Value
The fifth-best-performing ETF was the $2.9 billion Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF, which fell 2.05% in April. This passively managed Invesco ETF declined less than the 4.02% average loss on funds in the large value category. Over the past year, the Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF rose 7.53%, underperforming the 14.40% return on the average fund in its category and placing it in the 91st percentile.
The Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF, launched in October 2012, has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Neutral.
ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF
- Morningstar Rating: 1 star
- Expense Ratio: 0.75%
- Morningstar Category: Mid-Cap Growth
The $236 million ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF was the sixth-best-performing US ETF in April, with a 2.2% loss. The return on the actively managed ARK ETF fell less than the 6.35% decline on the average fund in Morningstar’s mid-cap growth category. Looking back over the last 12 months, the ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF has returned 9.60%, underperforming the 17.47% return on the average fund in its category, leaving the ETF in the 91st percentile.
The Neutral-rated ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF was launched in March 2021.
Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF
- Morningstar Rating: 4 stars
- Expense Ratio: 0.65%
- Morningstar Category: Large Growth
The seventh-best-performing ETF in April was the $1.2 billion Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF. The passively managed Pacer ETF lost 2.28%, declining less than the average large growth fund, which lost 4.86%. Looking back over the last 12 months, the Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF has returned 23.36%, underperforming the 29.16% return on the average fund in its category, leaving the ETF in the 79th percentile.
The Pacer Trendpilot 100 ETF has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Silver. It was launched in June 2015.
Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 0.45%
- Morningstar Category: Large Value
The $136 million Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF ranked eighth for the month, falling 2.39%. The Bahl & Gaynor ETF, which is actively managed, fell less than the 4.02% average loss on funds in the large value category. The fund was first launched in September 2023, and as a result, it does not have a one-year track record.
The Bahl & Gaynor Income Growth ETF has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Negative.
Capital Group Dividend Value ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 0.33%
- Morningstar Category: Large Value
With a 2.40% decline, the $7.2 billion Capital Group Dividend Value ETF ranked ninth in April. The actively managed Capital Group ETF edged out the 4.02% loss on the average large value fund. Over the last 12 months, the fund has returned 25.85%, ahead of the 14.40% return on funds in its category, placing it in the 3rd percentile.
The Capital Group Dividend Value ETF, launched in February 2022, has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Silver.
Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF
- Morningstar Rating: N/A
- Expense Ratio: 0.56%
- Morningstar Category: Large Value
The tenth-best-performing ETF was the $488 million Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF, which fell 2.53% in April. The actively managed Franklin Templeton ETF fell less than the 4.02% average loss on funds in the large value category. Over the past year, the Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF rose 27.13%, outperforming the 14.40% return on the average fund in its category and placing it in the 2nd percentile.
The Putnam Focused Large Cap Value ETF has a Morningstar Medalist Rating of Silver. It was launched in May 2021.
What Are ETFs?
Exchange-traded funds are investments that trade throughout the day on stock exchanges, much like individual stocks. They differ from traditional mutual funds—known as open-end funds—which can only be bought or sold at a single price each day. Historically, ETFs have tracked indexes, but in recent years, more ETFs have been actively managed. ETFs cover a range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, commodities, and most recently cryptocurrency.
ETFs offer investors an efficient way to gain exposure to the markets, often with low fees and ease of buying and selling. They also generally offer higher tax efficiency than open-end funds.
The Best Stock ETFs: More Ideas to Consider
Investors who would like to find more of the top-performing or cheapest ETFs can do the following:
- Read Morningstar’s guide to ETF investing.
- Explore the best ETFs and how they fit into your portfolio.
- Review the full list of US Stock ETFs. Funds with at least 70% of assets in US stocks are placed within the US equity categories.
- Use the Morningstar Investor Screener tool to find the best ETFs according to your specific criteria. You can search for funds based on their fees, Morningstar Medalist Ratings, manager tenures, and more.
- Use Morningstar Investor to build a watchlist of the best ETFs and easily follow their valuations, ratings, and fees.
- Watch our ETF video series, hosted by Daniel Sotiroff, for ideas to consider.
This article was compiled by Bella Albrecht and edited by Lauren Solberg.
As part of our mission to put more information into the hands of investors, this article was compiled from Morningstar’s data and independent research using automation technology. The original article was written by Morningstar reporters and editors. This updated version was reviewed by an editor.
The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article.Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies.
