For long-term investors, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide a low-cost way to build a diversified portfolio. Based on verified data as of June 2026, four ETFs stand out for their broad market exposure and historical performance.
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) tracks the S&P 500 index, offering exposure to large-cap U.S. stocks. As of mid-2026, VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% and has delivered an average annual return of approximately 13% over the past decade, according to Vanguard data.
The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) covers the entire U.S. equity market, including small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks. Its expense ratio is 0.03%, and it has a 10-year average annual return of about 12%, per Vanguard.
For fixed-income exposure, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) provides diversified bond holdings. BND has an expense ratio of 0.03% and a yield of around 4.5% as of June 2026, based on Bloomberg data.
Finally, the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) offers international diversification. It has an expense ratio of 0.07% and a 10-year average annual return of about 5%, according to Vanguard. These ETFs are suitable for buy-and-hold strategies due to their low costs and broad diversification.
