Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are one of the most popular ways for investors to gain diversified exposure to markets. But with thousands of funds out there, how do you find the right ones for your strategy?
In this quick lesson from the Beginner’s Guide to ETFs, we break down three powerful Barchart tools that every trader and investor should know: ETF Finder, Top Holdings, and Related ETFs.
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The ETF Finder is your starting point when you’re looking for funds by asset class, sector, or strategy.
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Search across equities, commodities, or currencies
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Filter by investing themes like crypto, cybersecurity, semiconductors, or energy
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Narrow results by leverage, performance, or assets under management (AUM)
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Sort by volume, yield, or other metrics to focus on the most relevant ETFs
Example: Looking for exposure in AI and digital infrastructure? You can quickly pull up a list of ETFs that track semiconductor stocks (SMH) or cloud computing (SKYY), and instantly compare performance to other funds in the space.
When you find an ETF you like, click into it and open the Top Holdings tab (or into the “Constituents” menu on the left). This shows the full list of underlying stocks, sorted by portfolio weight.
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See the largest positions first to understand what’s driving returns
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Save holdings as a watchlist to track the key stocks behind the ETF
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Screen your holdings watchlist with Barchart’s tools (Opinion Ratings, RSI, Volume Leaders) for deeper analysis
Example: If you’re considering a clean energy ETF, the Top Holdings view lets you check if it’s concentrated in solar stocks, diversified across utilities, or tilted toward global players.
Already have a favorite stock? The Related ETFs page shows you which funds hold it.
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Search for a stock, like Nvidia (NVDA) or Apple (AAPL)
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Click “Related ETFs” to instantly see where it’s a top holding
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Discover ETFs that give you indirect exposure to your favorite companies
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Use this approach for thematic investing (e.g., semiconductors, cloud, AI) without buying a single stock
Example: Instead of buying Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) directly, you might invest in a semiconductor ETF that includes AMD — giving you broader exposure to the whole sector.