The 10 Best Performing ETFs Over the Last 10 Years

In 2024, the ETF industry reached a new high with $1.1 trillion in net inflows, reshuffling market share leaders across various asset classes and peer groups, as detailed in our 2024 ETF market share recap. 

Notably, several strategies that captured increased market share benefited significantly from robust long-term performance. Below, we explore some of the top-performing ETFs across different timeframes.

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Now, let’s dive into the best-performing ETFs of the past decade. To create this list, we analyzed the entire ETF universe using the YCharts Fund Screener to find the best-performing ETFs on a 1-, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year (excluding leveraged and inverse ETFs). We also observed funds with the lowest max drawdowns during this period, as well.

Click to jump to a section:

• Best-Performing ETFs (1Y)
• Best-Performing ETFs in the Last 3 Years
• Best-Performing ETFs in the Last 5 Years
• Best-Performing ETFs in the Last 10 Years
• What Was the Growth of $10,000 Over the Last 10 Years?

Best Performing ETFs (1Y)

These are the top-performing ETFs over the past year as of February 28, 2025.

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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last Year

As of February 28, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last year. The chart below has an expanded timeframe to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.

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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 3 Years

These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between February 28, 2022 and February 28, 2025.

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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 3 Years 

As of February 28, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last three years. The chart below has an expanded timeframe to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.

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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 5 Years

These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between February 28, 2020 and February 28, 2025.

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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 5 Years 

As of February 28, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last five years. The chart below has an expanded timeframe to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.

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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 10 Years

These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between February 28, 2015 and February 28, 2025.

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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 10 Years

As of February 28, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last ten years. The chart below has an expanded timeframe to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.

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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 ETFs over the last 10 years, your balance today would be no less than $50K.

The best-performing ETF in the last 10 years was VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH). A $10,000 investment into SMH 10 years ago would be worth over $91K today. Right behind it was the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX); investing $10,000 into SOXX back in 2014 would’ve turned into over $72K.

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