The 10 Best Performing ETFs Over the Last 10 Years
Updated as of: January 6, 2026
In 2025, the ETF industry reached a new high with $1.5 trillion in net inflows, reshuffling market share leaders across various asset classes and peer groups.
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-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year basis (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 in the Last Year
- 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?
Looking for lists of the best performing mutual funds? Check out our analysis on the Best Performing Mutual Funds here.
Best Performing ETFs in the Last Year
These are the top-performing ETFs over the past year, as of December 31, 2025.
| Symbol | Name | 1 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Total Returns Since Inception (Monthly) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLVP | iShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF | 202.83% | 65.14% | 0.39% | $835,036,239 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| SILJ | Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF | 184.19% | 61.13% | 0.69% | $3,862,899,083 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| GOEX | Global X Gold Explorers ETF | 179.41% | 16.43% | 0.65% | $136,505,967 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| AGMI | Themes Silver Miners ETF | 176.22% | 174.17% | 0.37% | $7,671,150 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| SGDJ | Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF | 174.65% | 372.81% | 0.50% | $347,897,500 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| GDXJ | VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | 172.03% | 482.15% | 0.51% | $9,339,707,031 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| SIL | Global X Silver Miners ETF | 166.14% | 124.89% | 0.65% | $4,998,429,526 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| RING | iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF | 164.75% | 72.04% | 0.39% | $2,916,444,111 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| AUMI | Themes Gold Miners ETF | 164.18% | 259.73% | 0.35% | $27,462,452 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| GDX | VanEck Gold Miners ETF | 154.71% | 171.28% | 0.51% | $25,728,707,964 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last Year
As of December 31, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last year. The chart below can be expanded to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown (1Y) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VRP | Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 4.26% | 0.50% | $2,344,930,181 | Equity Income Funds |
| GCAD | Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense ETF | 5.31% | 0.00% | $14,729,481 | Industrials Funds |
| PFFV | Global X Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 6.07% | 0.25% | $288,126,282 | Equity Income Funds |
| KEAT | Keating Active ETF | 7.45% | 0.85% | $105,205,543 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| ACWV | iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF | 7.56% | 0.20% | $3,297,391,396 | Global Multi-Cap Value |
| DWMF | WisdomTree International Multifactor Fund | 7.74% | 0.38% | $36,101,335 | International Multi-Cap Value |
| EDGH | 3EDGE Dynamic Hard Assets ETF | 7.86% | 0.72% | $140,145,212 | Basic Materials Funds |
| FPWR | First Trust EIP Power Solutions ETF | 8.45% | 0.96% | $18,321,863 | Alternative Energy Funds |
| XLP | State Street Cons Staples Sel Sec SPDR Inc ETF | 8.53% | 0.08% | $14,641,323,970 | Consumer Goods Funds |
| FXU | First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund | 8.57% | 0.61% | $1,823,053,026 | Utility Funds |
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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 3 Years
These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between January 1st, 2023 and December 31, 2025.
| Symbol | Name | 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 3 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WGMI | CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF | 760.76% | 104.94% | 0.75% | $247,821,460 | Specialty/Miscellaneous Funds |
| DAPP | VanEck Digital Transformation ETF | 542.70% | 85.92% | 0.50% | $328,027,890 | Global Science/Technology Funds |
| BITQ | Bitwise Crypto Industry Innovators ETF | 501.58% | 81.87% | 0.85% | $377,550,858 | Specialty/Miscellaneous Funds |
| SATO | Invesco Alerian Galaxy Crypto Economy ETF | 482.75% | 79.95% | 0.60% | $9,412,454 | Global Science/Technology Funds |
| BKCH | Global X Blockchain ETF | 456.41% | 77.20% | 0.50% | $328,219,182 | Global Science/Technology Funds |
| CRPT | First Trust SkyBridge Crypto Ind and Digi Econ ETF | 366.04% | 67.04% | 0.85% | $117,414,088 | Science & Technology Funds |
| IBLC | iShares Blockchain and Tech ETF | 353.92% | 65.57% | 0.47% | $85,818,606 | Global Science/Technology Funds |
| TESL | Simplify Volt TSLA Revolution ETF | 314.25% | 60.60% | 0.97% | $23,419,924 | Science & Technology Funds |
| BLOK | Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF | 305.64% | 59.48% | 0.70% | $1,147,105,581 | Science & Technology Funds |
| STCE | Schwab Crypto Thematic ETF | 302.61% | 59.08% | 0.30% | $265,386,736 | Specialty/Miscellaneous Funds |
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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 3 Years
As of December 31, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last three years. The chart below can be expanded to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown (3Y) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DWMF | WisdomTree International Multifactor Fund | 7.74% | 0.38% | $36,101,335 | International Multi-Cap Value |
| SELV | SEI Enhanced Low Volatility US Large Cap ETF | 8.93% | 0.15% | $205,173,327 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| HEDG | Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF | 9.92% | 0.92% | $342,600,262 | Large-Cap Core Funds |
| GLOV | Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity | 10.04% | 0.15% | $1,506,643,605 | Global Multi-Cap Value |
| VFMV | Vanguard US Minimum Volatility ETF | 10.35% | 0.13% | $327,761,605 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| HDV | iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 10.49% | 0.08% | $12,042,345,734 | Equity Income Funds |
| GCAD | Gabelli Commercial Aerospace and Defense ETF | 10.66% | 0.00% | $14,729,481 | Industrials Funds |
| HDEF | Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hi Dv Yld Eq ETF | 11.15% | 0.09% | $2,229,941,610 | International Equity Income Funds |
| LGLV | State Street SPDR SSGA US Lg Cap Low Vol Index ETF | 11.31% | 0.12% | $1,112,708,296 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| EMLP | First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure | 11.47% | 0.95% | $3,416,725,703 | Energy MLP Funds |
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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 5 Years
These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2025.
| Symbol | Name | 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 5 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URA | Global X Uranium ETF | 240.73% | 27.79% | 0.69% | $5,652,125,024 | Alternative Energy Funds |
| SMH | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 239.86% | 27.72% | 0.35% | $38,683,884,544 | Science & Technology Funds |
| AMZA | InfraCap MLP ETF | 225.33% | 26.61% | 2.75% | $383,862,876 | Energy MLP Funds |
| ARGT | Global X MSCI Argentina ETF | 225.18% | 26.60% | 0.59% | $751,149,308 | Latin American Funds |
| XME | State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | 224.79% | 26.57% | 0.35% | $3,414,412,253 | Basic Materials Funds |
| PXE | Invesco Energy Exploration & Production ETF | 215.42% | 25.83% | 0.61% | $77,040,984 | Natural Resources Funds |
| DXJ | WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 205.71% | 25.04% | 0.48% | $5,081,853,179 | Japanese Funds |
| FCG | First Trust Natural Gas ETF | 205.00% | 24.99% | 0.57% | $453,839,146 | Natural Resources Funds |
| GREK | Global X MSCI Greece ETF | 202.82% | 24.81% | 0.57% | $299,322,236 | Emerging Markets Funds |
| URNM | Sprott Uranium Miners ETF | 199.99% | 24.57% | 0.75% | $1,884,787,321 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 5 Years
As of December 31, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last five years. The chart below can be expanded to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown (5Y) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LVHI | Franklin Intl Low Volatility High Dividend Index | 12.02% | 0.40% | $3,814,248,203 | International Large-Cap Value |
| HEDG | Equable Shares Hedged Equity ETF | 12.20% | 0.92% | $342,600,262 | Large-Cap Core Funds |
| DIVO | Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF | 13.73% | 0.54% | $5,844,437,253 | Equity Income Funds |
| VRP | Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF | 13.76% | 0.50% | $2,344,930,181 | Equity Income Funds |
| AUSF | Global X Adaptive US Factor ETF | 14.24% | 0.27% | $753,114,533 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| IAK | iShares US Insurance ETF | 14.74% | 0.38% | $492,803,962 | Financial Services Funds |
| HEFA | iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF | 14.77% | 0.35% | $6,768,338,308 | International Large-Cap Core |
| DDWM | WisdomTree Dynamic International Equity Fund | 14.82% | 0.40% | $1,096,360,299 | International Multi-Cap Value |
| DBEF | Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 14.99% | 0.35% | $8,213,745,280 | International Large-Cap Core |
| IYK | iShares US Consumer Staples ETF | 15.04% | 0.38% | $1,167,448,019 | Consumer Goods Funds |
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Best Performing ETFs in the Last 10 Years
These are the top-performing ETFs on an annualized basis between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2025.
| Symbol | Name | 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Annualized 10 Year Total Returns (Monthly) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMH | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 1405.42% | 31.15% | 0.35% | $38,683,884,544 | Science & Technology Funds |
| SOXX | iShares Semiconductor ETF | 1014.77% | 27.27% | 0.34% | $18,257,088,451 | Science & Technology Funds |
| PSI | Invesco Semiconductors ETF | 877.18% | 25.60% | 0.56% | $1,052,288,550 | Science & Technology Funds |
| IYW | iShares US Technology ETF | 694.24% | 23.03% | 0.38% | $21,042,353,206 | Science & Technology Funds |
| XME | State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | 689.86% | 22.96% | 0.35% | $3,414,412,253 | Basic Materials Funds |
| GOEX | Global X Gold Explorers ETF | 681.91% | 22.83% | 0.65% | $136,505,967 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| ARKW | ARK Next Generation Internet ETF | 678.51% | 22.78% | 0.76% | $2,108,988,638 | Science & Technology Funds |
| XSD | State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 672.62% | 22.69% | 0.35% | $1,652,618,099 | Science & Technology Funds |
| RING | iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF | 668.63% | 22.62% | 0.39% | $2,916,444,111 | Precious Metals Equity Funds |
| VGT | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF | 664.30% | 22.55% | 0.09% | $112,746,401,005 | Science & Technology Funds |
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Equity ETFs with the Lowest Drawdown in the Last 10 Years
As of December 31, 2025, these equity ETFs had the lowest drawdown over the last ten years. The chart below can be expanded to comprehensively depict the peak-to-trough performance of the observed funds.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown (10Y) | Net Expense Ratio | Share Class Assets Under Management | Peer Group Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBIF | WBI BullBear Value 3000 ETF | 20.28% | 1.65% | $24,513,740 | Multi-Cap Core Funds |
| PTMC | Pacer Trendpilot US Mid Cap ETF | 20.53% | 0.60% | $387,098,786 | Small-Cap Core Funds |
| CDC | VictoryShares US EQ Income Enh Vol Wtd ETF | 21.36% | 0.35% | $704,000,504 | Multi-Cap Value Funds |
| CFO | VictoryShares US 500 Enhanced Volatility Wtd ETF | 24.33% | 0.35% | $404,743,699 | Multi-Cap Core Funds |
| XLP | State Street Cons Staples Sel Sec SPDR Inc ETF | 24.50% | 0.08% | $14,641,323,970 | Consumer Goods Funds |
| KXI | iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF | 24.59% | 0.39% | $883,438,376 | Consumer Goods Funds |
| RTH | VanEck Retail ETF | 24.99% | 0.35% | $247,349,749 | Consumer Services Funds |
| GMOM | Cambria Global Momentum ETF | 25.02% | 1.01% | $120,974,032 | Global Multi-Cap Core |
| FSTA | Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF | 25.09% | 0.08% | $1,307,696,153 | Consumer Goods Funds |
| WBIL | WBI BullBear Quality 3000 ETF | 25.30% | 1.55% | $29,586,717 | Multi-Cap Core Funds |
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What Was the Growth of $10,000 in the Top ETFs 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 $76K.
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 $150,000 today. Right behind it was the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX); investing $10,000 into SOXX back in 2015 would’ve turned into $111,480.
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