Explaining ETFs | BlackRock (2024)

This website contains information intended only for financial intermediaries acting as agents on behalf of non-U.S. Persons within the meaning of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). By accessing the website, you certify that you are a financial intermediary acting as an agent on behalf of a non-U.S. Person, that you are not seeking to purchase an investment product for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person and that you shall only distribute the materials contained in this website to non-U.S. Persons, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the relevant jurisdiction in which such materials will be distributed. Investment products described on the website may not be registered under the Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except to persons outside the U.S. in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act pursuant to the terms of such investment product. For purposes of this verification, “U.S. Person” includes, but is not limited to, any natural person resident in the U.S. and any partnership or corporation organized or incorporated under the laws of the U.S.

On this website,financial intermediariesare investors that qualify as institutional investors, qualified investor, or professional investors in their respective jurisdiction of residence (as such term is defined by the applicable regulations in such relevant jurisdiction), acting as agents on behalf of non-U.S. Persons.

If you are uncertain as to whether you can be classified as an institutional, professional or qualified investor under the applicable rules of your jurisdiction of residence, then you should seek independent advice.

Termsandconditions

Please read this page before proceeding, as it explains certain restrictions imposed by law on the distribution of this information and the countries in which our funds are authorized for sale. It is your responsibility to be aware of and to observe all applicable laws and regulations of any relevant jurisdiction.

Please note that you are required to read and accept the terms of ourPrivacy Policybefore you are able to access our websites.

Once you have confirmed that you agree to the legal information in this document, and thePrivacy Policy– by indicating your consent above – we will place a cookie on your computer to recognize you and prevent this page reappearing should you access this site, or other BlackRock sites, on future occasions. The cookie will expire after six months, or sooner should there be a material change to this important information.

“BlackRock”, “we”, “us” or “our” means BlackRock, Inc., and each of the direct or indirect subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc.

By confirming that you have read this important information, you are also:
(i) Agree that such information will apply to any subsequent access to all the sections of this website by you, and that all such subsequent access will be subject to the disclaimers, risk warnings and other information set out herein; and
(ii) Warrant that no other person will access this website from the same computer and logon as you are currently using.

The funds described in the following pages can be marketed in certain jurisdictions only. It is your responsibility to be aware of the applicable laws and regulations of your country of residence. Further information is available in the relevant fund’s offering documents.

This does not constitute an offer or solicitation to sell shares in any of the funds referred to on this website, by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or distribution would be unlawful, or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

As a result of money laundering regulations, additional documentation for identification purposes may be required when investing in a fund referred to on this website. Details are contained in the relevant fund’s offering documents.

If you are unsure about the meaning of any information provided, please consult your financial or other professional adviser.

The information contained on this website is published in good faith but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by BlackRock or by any person as to its accuracy or completeness and it should not be relied on as such. BlackRock shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use or reliance on the information provided including without limitation, any loss of profit or any other damage, direct or consequential. No information on this website constitutes investment, tax, legal or any other advice.

Where a claim is brought against BlackRock by a third party in relation to your use of this website, you hereby agree to fully reimburse BlackRock for all losses, costs, actions, proceedings, claims, damages, expenses (including reasonable legal costs and expenses), or liabilities, whatsoever suffered, or incurred directly by, BlackRock resulting from your improper use of this website. Neither party should be liable to the other for any loss or damage which may be suffered by the other party due to any cause beyond the first party's reasonable control including without limitation any power failure.

You may leave this website when you access certain links on this website. BlackRock has not examined any of third-party websites and does not assume any responsibility for the contents of such websites nor the services, products or items offered through such websites.

The information contained on this website is subject to copyright with all rights reserved. It must not be reproduced, copied or redistributed in whole, or in part.

©2022 BlackRock, Inc. All Rights Reserved.BLACKROCKandiSHARESare registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc. All other trademarks are those of their respective owners.

Explaining ETFs | BlackRock (2024)

FAQs

Explaining ETFs | BlackRock? ›

ETFs are investment funds that track the performance of a specific index – like the STI Index or S&P 500. Just like stocks, you can trade ETFs on a stock exchange at any point during market hours.

What is a simple way to explain ETF? ›

ETFs or "exchange-traded funds" are exactly as the name implies: funds that trade on exchanges, generally tracking a specific index. When you invest in an ETF, you get a bundle of assets you can buy and sell during market hours—potentially lowering your risk and exposure, while helping to diversify your portfolio.

What is ETF basics for beginners? ›

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a type of index funds that track a basket of securities. Mutual funds are pooled investments into bonds, securities, and other instruments. Stocks are securities that provide returns based on performance.

Are ETFs good for beginners? ›

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are ideal for beginning investors due to their many benefits, which include low expense ratios, instant diversification, and a multitude of investment choices. Unlike some mutual funds, they also tend to have low investing thresholds, so you don't have to be ultra-rich to get started.

Can you sell ETFs anytime? ›

Trading ETFs and stocks

There are no restrictions on how often you can buy and sell stocks, or ETFs. You can invest as little as $1 with fractional shares, there is no minimum investment and you can execute trades throughout the day, rather than waiting for the NAV to be calculated at the end of the trading day.

What is a good example of an ETF? ›

Two of the most popular ETFs include index funds based on the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq 100 index, which contain high-quality businesses listed on American exchanges: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), with an expense ratio of 0.03 percent. Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), with an expense ratio of 0.20 percent.

How much money should I put in an ETF? ›

You expose your portfolio to much higher risk with sector ETFs, so you should use them sparingly, but investing 5% to 10% of your total portfolio assets may be appropriate. If you want to be highly conservative, don't use these at all.

How many ETFs should I own as a beginner? ›

Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.

Should I just put my money in ETF? ›

For most individual investors, ETFs represent an ideal type of asset with which to build a diversified portfolio. In addition, ETFs tend to have much lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds, can be more tax-efficient, and offer the option to immediately reinvest dividends.

How do ETFs work for dummies? ›

A cross between an index fund and a stock, they're transparent, easy to trade, and tax-efficient. They're also enticing because they consist of a bundle of assets (such as an index, sector, or commodity), so diversifying your portfolio is easy. You might have even seen them offered in your 401(k) or 529 college plan.

Can you cash out ETFs? ›

Redeeming Shares

Those shareholders who don't close their position in the ETF while it is still traded will receive their money, most likely in the form of a check. The amount of a liquidation distribution is based on the number of shares an investor held and the net asset value (NAV) of the ETF.

How to pick a good ETF? ›

Before purchasing an ETF there are five factors to take into account 1) performance of the ETF 2) the underlying index of the ETF 3) the ETF's structure 4) when and how to trade the ETF and 5) the total cost of the ETF.

What is the downside of ETFs? ›

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.

What is the primary disadvantage of an ETF? ›

ETF trading risk

Spreads can vary over time as well, being small one day and wide the next. What's worse, an ETF's liquidity can be superficial: The ETF may trade one penny wide for the first 100 shares, but to sell 10,000 shares quickly, you might have to pay a quarter spread.

Do you pay taxes on ETFs if you don't sell? ›

At least once a year, funds must pass on any net gains they've realized. As a fund shareholder, you could be on the hook for taxes on gains even if you haven't sold any of your shares.

How is an ETF different from a stock? ›

Key differences between stocks and ETFs

Stocks represent a piece of ownership in a publicly traded company. ETFs are a bundle of assets and securities such as different stocks and bonds.

How does my money grow in a ETF? ›

Most ETF income is generated by the fund's underlying holdings. Typically, that means dividends from stocks or interest (coupons) from bonds. Dividends: These are a portion of the company's earnings paid out in cash or shares to stockholders on a per-share basis, sometimes to attract investors to buy the stock.

Does an ETF mean you own stock? ›

ETFs are made up of individual stocks and other investments. Like stocks, ETFs can be traded on exchanges and have unique ticker symbols that let you track their price activity. Unlike stocks, which represent just one company, ETFs represent a basket of stocks.

What is the tax loophole of an ETF? ›

Thanks to the tax treatment of in-kind redemptions, ETFs typically record no gains at all. That means the tax hit from winning stock bets is postponed until the investor sells the ETF, a perk holders of mutual funds, hedge funds and individual brokerage accounts don't typically enjoy.

How long do I have to hold an ETF for? ›

For most ETFs, selling after less than a year is taxed as a short-term capital gain. ETFs held for longer than a year are taxed as long-term gains. If you sell an ETF, and buy the same (or a substantially similar) ETF after less than 30 days, you may be subject to the wash sale rule.

Which is the safest ETF? ›

Key Data Points. When it comes to safe investments, the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF is the next safest thing to simply holding cash in your portfolio. The index fund invests in a portfolio of Treasury securities with maturity dates of three months or less.

What is an ETF summary? ›

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a low-cost way to earn a return similar to an index or a commodity. They can also help to diversify your investments. You can buy and sell units in ETFs through a stockbroker, the same way you buy and sell shares.

What are the basics of ETF funds? ›

ETFs typically track a specific market index, sector, commodity, or other asset class, providing investors with exposure to a diverse range of securities in a single investment. Their benefits include liquidity, lower expenses than mutual funds, diversification, and tax advantages.

What is an ETF and how is it different from a mutual fund? ›

Both mutual funds and ETFs offer investors pooled investment product options. Mutual funds have more complex structuring than ETFs with varying share classes and fees. ETFs typically appeal to investors because they track market indexes. Mutual funds appeal because they offer a wide selection of actively managed funds.

How are ETFs working? ›

How do ETFs work? Exchange-traded funds work like this: The fund provider owns the underlying assets, designs a fund to track their performance and then sells shares in that fund to investors. Shareholders own a portion of an ETF, but they don't own the underlying assets in the fund.

Top Articles
The 13 Best Ways For Teenagers To Make Money Online in 2023
10 Secrets to Successfully Start an Airbnb in 2024
Nullreferenceexception 7 Days To Die
The UPS Store | Ship & Print Here > 400 West Broadway
Craigslist Campers Greenville Sc
oklahoma city for sale "new tulsa" - craigslist
Poe Pohx Profile
Women's Beauty Parlour Near Me
Ashlyn Peaks Bio
Barstool Sports Gif
Was sind ACH-Routingnummern? | Stripe
C-Date im Test 2023 – Kosten, Erfahrungen & Funktionsweise
Craigslist Alabama Montgomery
Scholarships | New Mexico State University
Where does insurance expense go in accounting?
10 Best Places to Go and Things to Know for a Trip to the Hickory M...
2024 U-Haul ® Truck Rental Review
979-200-6466
Lawson Uhs
Foxy Brown 2025
Beryl forecast to become an 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 hurricane
Acts 16 Nkjv
Drug Test 35765N
Costco Gas Hours St Cloud Mn
Skycurve Replacement Mat
Synergy Grand Rapids Public Schools
Nk 1399
Duke University Transcript Request
Busch Gardens Wait Times
LG UN90 65" 4K Smart UHD TV - 65UN9000AUJ | LG CA
Why comparing against exchange rates from Google is wrong
Perry Inhofe Mansion
Duke Energy Anderson Operations Center
Moses Lake Rv Show
Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service hiring General Manager in Cincinnati Metropolitan Area | LinkedIn
House Of Budz Michigan
Directions To 401 East Chestnut Street Louisville Kentucky
Tugboat Information
Pp503063
Craigslist Free Manhattan
Booknet.com Contract Marriage 2
'The Nun II' Ending Explained: Does the Immortal Valak Die This Time?
Babykeilani
How the Color Pink Influences Mood and Emotions: A Psychological Perspective
Samsung 9C8
Terrell Buckley Net Worth
Is Chanel West Coast Pregnant Due Date
Great Clips Virginia Center Commons
Mkvcinemas Movies Free Download
Predator revo radial owners
Obituary Roger Schaefer Update 2020
La Fitness Oxford Valley Class Schedule
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6380

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.