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The 10 Best Performing Growth ETFs in the Last 10 Years 

Over the past twelve months, large-cap growth stocks have outperformed other equity styles, and small-cap growth names have delivered returns comparable to those of large-cap value stocks. 

This trend has been fueled mainly by a significant rally in the technology sector, which constitutes 51% of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (represented by IWF) and 21.5% of the Russell 2000 Growth Index (represented by IWO). 

Line chart showing the trailing twelve-month total returns of four Russell indices from September 2023 to September 2024. Russell 1000 Growth leads with 42.19%, followed by both Russell 2000 Growth and Russell 1000 Value at 27.66%, and Russell 2000 Value at 25.88%.

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The year started with three major stocks propelling a significant portion of the market’s gains, including 49% of the S&P 500’s first-half returns. However, this dynamic shifted in the third quarter as the S&P 493 outperformed the “Magnificent Seven” stocks (see our full Q3 Economic Update for more on this storyline).

omparative performance line chart of the S&P 500, S&P 493, and the top 7 stocks from June to September 2024. The S&P 493 outperforms at 7.65% total return, S&P 500 at 5.89%, and the top 7 stocks at 1.52%.

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This market rotation can be partly attributed to a shift in monetary policy when the Federal Reserve implemented its first rate cut of the cycle—a 50 basis point cut in September. This adjustment was primarily in response to inflation rates falling closer to the Fed’s target and in accordance with the other half of their dual mandate—fostering maximum employment.

Our recent white paper, “Which Asset Classes Perform Best When Inflation Is Driven Lower?” highlights that equities tend to excel in stable price environments. On average, growth stocks have returned 23.8% during the six periods where inflation was effectively driven down and contained. Between March 1997 and February 1998, growth stocks produced a 43.7% return that outperformed all other asset classes.

table highlighting total returns for various asset classes during specific periods when CPI was controlled within a targeted range. Highlights include US Growth stocks peaking with a 43.7% return during March 1997 to February 1998.
Get your copy of “Which Asset Classes Perform Best As Inflation is Driven Lower” here:

Building on these insights, we have curated a list of the top-performing growth ETFs on a 1, 3, 5, 10, and year-to-date basis (excluding leveraged and inverse ETFs). Additionally, you’ll see examples of how efficiently you can examine each fund’s sector exposure using Quickflows in YCharts. 

For a broader perspective, explore our additional blogs on the top-performing REITs, Value, Emerging Market, and overall equity ETFs to see how these growth strategies compare to the best in other categories.

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Best Performing Growth ETFs YTD

These are the best-performing Growth ETFs year-to-date in 2024, as of September 30, 2024.

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chart displaying the best performing growth ETFs as of September 2024, led by Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF at 38.83%, followed by iShares MSCI USA Quality Growth ETF at 30.29%, and American Century Focused Dynamic Growth ETF at 30.14%.

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Interested in seeing the sector exposure of these funds? It only takes two taps on your tablet or two clicks on your desktop with Quickflows: 

A gif showing the sector exposure quickflow in YCharts

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Best-Performing Growth ETFs over the Last Year

These are the best-performing Growth ETFs over the past year as of September 30, 2024.

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chart of the top-performing growth ETFs over the last year ending September 2024. Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF leads with a 59.14% return, followed by Alger 35 ETF at 53.81%, and Alpha Architect US Quantitative Momentum ETF at 50.18%

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Growth ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last Year

These Growth ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the past year as of September 30, 2024.

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Line chart showing the max drawdowns for Pacer Trendpilot® 100 ETF, Brookstone Growth Stock ETF, and Motley Fool Capital Efficiency 100 ETF from November 2023 to September 2024. Pacer Trendpilot® 100 ETF has the least severe maximum drawdown at -7.55%

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Best Performing Growth ETFs in the Last 3 Years

These are the best-performing Growth ETFs on an annualized basis between September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart detailing the best three-year performance of growth ETFs as of September 2024. Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF shows the highest increase with a 56.38% total return, followed by iShares MSCI USA Quality Growth ETF and SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Ex ETF

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Growth ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 3 Years 

These Growth ETFs had the lowest drawdown between September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart displaying max drawdowns within their category for Pacer Trendpilot® 100 ETF, Invesco S&P 500® Momentum ETF, and SPDR® S&P 1500 Momentum Tilt ETF from January 2022 to September 2024.

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Best Performing Growth ETFs in the Last 5 Years

These are the best-performing Growth ETFs on an annualized basis between September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart of growth ETFs showing the best five-year performance up to September 2024, with Invesco QQQ Trust leading at 167.1% total return, followed by iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF.

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Growth ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 5 Years 

These Growth ETFs had the lowest drawdown between September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart outlining the ETFs with the lowest maximum drawdowns from 2020 to 2024. QRAFT AI-Enhanced US Large Cap ETF has a max drawdown of 30.2%. Fidelity Enhanced Large Cap Growth ETF and Pacer Trendpilot® 100 ETF also show relatively low drawdowns of -30.30% and -28.06%, reflecting their lower risk profiles.

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Best Performing Growth ETFs in the Last 10 Years

These are the best-performing Growth ETFs on an annualized basis between September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart displaying the 10-year total return percentage growth of leading growth ETFs from September 2014 to September 2024. Invesco QQQ Trust leads with a 435.8% return, followed by iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF at 404.6%, and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF at 359.8%.

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Growth ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 10 Years

These Growth ETFs had the lowest drawdown between September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2024.

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Line chart depicting the ETFs with the least severe drawdowns in their category over a decade, from 2014 to 2024. Direxion NASDAQ-100® Equal Weighted ETF, First Trust NASDAQ-100 ex-Tech Sector ETF, and Fidelity Enhanced Large Cap Growth ETF exhibit maximum drawdowns significantly lower than typical for the sector, at -32.11%, -30.40%, and -30.30% respectively.

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What Was the Growth of $10,000 Over the Last 10 Years?

If you invested $10,000 10 years ago into any of the ten best-performing Growth ETFs over the last 10 years, your balance today would be no less than $40K. (See the best-performing equity ETFs, Value ETFs, and Emerging Market ETFs for comparison)

The best-performing Growth ETF over the past decade was the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ). A $10,000 investment into QQQ 10 years ago would be worth over $53K today. Right behind it was the iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF (IWY); investing $10,000 into IWY back in 2014 would’ve turned into over $50K.

Line chart showing the monetary growth in value of investments in leading growth ETFs over ten years, calculated from a hypothetical $10,000 initial investment made in September 2014. Invesco QQQ Trust shows the highest growth, reaching approximately $53.58K by September 2024, followed closely by iShares Russell Top 200 Growth ETF and Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF.

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Advisors and distribution teams can effectively explore and compare the performance of various Growth ETFs or any other ETF or mutual fund using YCharts tools like the Fund Screener, Comp Tables, and Quickflows, simplifying the process of identifying top performers or assessing sector exposures with ease. These functionalities underscore the utility of YCharts in facilitating informed investment decisions, particularly in a shifting economic landscape.

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Want to know which Asset Classes Perform Best When Inflation is Driven Lower? Download our latest piece of research on the subject:

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