Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you expect contrarian stock picks to perform well over time, as they reflect out-of-favor companies with under-appreciated prospects, the Russell Contrarian ETF
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The contrarian ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a relatively low 0.37%.
This ETF doesn't have much of a performance record yet, as it's less than a year old. It's extremely small, too, so if you're thinking of buying, beware of occasionally large spreads between its bid and ask prices. You might want to just keep an eye on it as it matures a bit, or you might want to be an early investor. Remember that as with most investments, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.
What's in it?
Most of the stocks in this ETF haven't shown strong gains over the past year -- which reflects their status as contrarian picks. Hewlett-Packard
Berkshire Hathaway
The big picture
Contrarian investing has paid off handsomely for many investors. A well-chosen ETF can grant you instant diversification across any industry or group of companies -- and make investing in and profiting from it that much easier.
Learn about the 5 ETFs That Could Soar in 2012. And if you're looking for some great investments beyond ETFs, consider these 12 Dividend Stocks for 2012.