There’s much to like about exchange-traded funds.
- ETFs are easy to buy and sell.
- ETFs are generally low-cost.
- Depending on their investment set, ETFs are usually tax-efficient.
- ETFs are pretty transparent: What you see is what you get.
Given these qualities, ETFs can make terrific portfolio building blocks. They allow you to get exposure to the parts of the market that you want—and to avoid the parts of the market you don’t want.
A good place to start your screening process is with the Morningstar Medalist Rating. ETFs that earn our top rating of Gold are the ones we think are most likely to outperform over a full market cycle.
Today, we’re taking a look at the best stock ETFs in three main asset-allocation Morningstar Categories: US large-cap stocks, US mid- and small-cap stocks, and international stocks.
27 Best Large-Cap Stock ETFs to Buy Now
These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US large-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in March 2026.
- Brandes U.S. Value ETF BUSA
- Capital Group Conservative Equity ETF CGCV
- Capital Group Dividend Value ETF CGDV
- iShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV
- iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF ITOT
- MFS Active Value ETF MFSV
- Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF LSGR
- Oakmark U.S. Large Cap ETF OAKM
- Polen Focus Growth ETF PCLG
- Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF SCHB
- Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF SCHD
- Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF SCHX
- State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF SPYM
- SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF SPTM
- T. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF TCAF
- T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF TDVG
- Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF VIG
- Vanguard Growth ETF VUG
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF VYM
- Vanguard Large-Cap ETF VV
- Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF VONG
- Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF VONV
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO
- Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF VOOG
- Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF VOOV
- Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF VTI
- Vanguard Value ETF VTV
The funds in this group provide exposure to the stocks of large companies, making them fine anchors for an equity portfolio. But there are strategic differences among them.
Some ETFs in the group—including iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF—track the S&P 500. As a result, they provide access to large-cap stocks representing about 80% of the US stock market.
Others on the list—such as iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF, Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF, and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF—follow broader market indexes that include more stocks, some of which are smaller-cap names. While these funds also land in the large-blend category, they expose investors to a wider pool of stocks and market capitalizations.
Still other ETFs on the list grant exposure to a subset of stocks. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, for instance, exclusively focuses on dividend-paying stocks. Moreover, some names on the list focus on growth stocks, while others explore value stocks.
You can find more top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.
11 Best Mid- and Small-Cap Stock ETFs
These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US mid- or small-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in March 2026.
- Dimensional US Small Cap ETF DFAS
- Dimensional US Targeted Value ETF DFAT
- SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF SPMD
- SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPSM
- SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF ONEY
- Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF VO
- Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF VOE
- Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF IVOO
- Vanguard Small-Cap ETF VB
- Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF VBK
- Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF VBR
Mid- and small-cap stocks certainly aren’t portfolio essentials, especially if you already own one of the broader-market index ETFs from the large-blend category. If you do, you already have some mid- and small-cap stock exposure.
However, if you have a large-stock-focused portfolio or if you’d like to boost your weighting in small company stocks, you’ll find what you need among our Gold-rated ETFs in the mid- and small-cap categories.
Some ETFs focus exclusively on mid-cap stocks, while others target smaller-company stocks; in addition, some skew toward growth stocks, while others favor value stocks.
13 Best International-Stock ETFs to Buy and Hold
These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s foreign or global stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in March 2026.
- Capital Group International Core Equity ETF CGIC
- Capital Group New Geography Equity ETF CGNG
- Franklin FTSE Japan ETF FLJP
- Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF FLJH
- iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF IXUS
- iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF EFV
- JPMorgan Global Select Equity ETF JGLO
- Vanguard FTSE All-World ex US ETF VEU
- Vanguard FTSE All-World ex US Small Cap ETF VSS
- Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF VGK
- Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF VIGI
- Vanguard Total International Stock ETF VXUS
- Vanguard Total World Stock ETF VT
Like mid- and small-cap funds, international-stock ETFs certainly aren’t must-owns. After all, from a risk-reduction standpoint, international stocks aren’t great diversification tools for a portfolio heavy in US stocks. But remember that investment opportunities exist around the globe; many think it’s a mistake to limit your investments to US stocks.
The Gold-rated ETFs here target stocks of varying sizes and styles across international markets. If none of these ETFs fits the bill for you, you can find additional top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.
How to Find the Best ETFs for the Long Term
Many investors equate ETFs with low-cost indexing. But the ETF marketplace has grown increasingly complicated. Some ETFs track a very narrow part of the market or pursue specific themes. Some ETFs invest based on a particular factor or a combination of factors. And there are actively managed ETFs as well.
Use these Morningstar resources to help find the best ETFs for the long term:
- Learn about the types of exchange-traded funds, their costs, and how to invest in them by reading Morningstar’s Guide to ETF Investing.
- Find the highest-rated ETFs across all investment categories in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.
- Review Morningstar director of personal finance Christine Benz’s suggested ETF portfolios for those saving for or already in retirement, including Tax-Efficient Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors, and Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors.
- Research ETFs based on your own selection criteria by using our Morningstar Investor Screener. The tool, which is available to Morningstar Investor members, allows investors to screen ETFs based on various criteria, including asset class, Morningstar Category, Medalist Rating, and fee level.
- Visit Morningstar’s ETF page for the latest articles and videos from our ETF specialists.