Long-term investing
ETFs & index funds.
A focused shortlist of familiar funds, grouped by what they do. Start with broad US funds, then compare growth, dividends and other investment goals.
Start with the job, not the ticker. “Core” means broad diversification. “Growth” usually means more price movement. “Dividend” focuses on company payouts. The speculative group has higher risk. Daily leveraged and inverse trading products are excluded.
The four range columns show low and high prices. YTD %, below the current price, shows this year’s price change; dividends are excluded. Fund fit is a simple role-and-trend guide; Chart setup uses the long-term price checklist for ETFs. Mutual funds show “Daily NAV” because their price is set once a day. Neither replaces checking holdings, expense ratio, taxes or fit for your plan.
3 funds shown for “VO”. Prices, ranges and YTD price return use the latest available session. Mutual funds normally update once a day. Curated 2026-09-26.
| Ticker | Fund / job | Now / YTD % | 1 wk | 1 mo | 3 mo | YTD range | Fund fit | Chart setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broad USStart here for broad US stock exposure. Similar index funds are alternatives, not extra diversification. | ||||||||
| VOOETF | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF500 large US companiesBroad US · Core | $712.32 YTD +13.6% | $697 $714Current in range | $689 $714Current in range | $670 $716Current in range | $578 $716Current in range | 91Strong fit | Wait |
| VOETF | Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETFMid-sized US companiesBroad US · Growth | $80.26 YTD +10.6% | $78 $80Current in range | $78 $83Current in range | $78 $85Current in range | $70 $85Current in range | 83Strong fit | Wait |
| SpeculativeConcentrated themes or crypto exposure with much larger potential swings. | ||||||||
| ARKGETF | ARK Genomic Revolution ETFGenomics and biotech innovationSpeculative · High volatility | $56.77 YTD +96.0% | $53 $57Current in range | $45 $57Current in range | $37 $57Current in range | $25 $57Current in range | 75Strong fit | Wait |
One-line reading: the four low / high cells are observed ranges. YTD % is the split-adjusted price change from the final trading close of the prior year, excluding dividends and cash distributions. It can differ from the fund’s published total return. Fund fit combines fresh range direction, room below the YTD high and the fund’s stated job. The bright Chart setup badge is a separate checklist, not a promise.
Learning the basics? Compare two funds that do the same job, then check holdings, costs, taxes and how much risk you can live with.
Read the ETF lesson →