Which S&P 500 ETF has the highest growth?

By definition, all S&P 500 ETFs should deliver the same returns over the long term, net of fees. So, the S&P 500 ETFs with the best performance are likely to be those with the lowest fees (expense ratios). The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF are two examples of S&P 500 ETFs with an expense ratio of 0.03%, the lowest in the industry.

What is the average return of the S&P 500 ETF?

Returns vary depending on the specific S&P 500 ETF and the time period under consideration. But over multidecade periods, the S&P 500 has averaged about a 10% annualized return, including dividends.

What if I invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago?

A $1,000 investment in the S&P 500 10 years ago would have been worth about $4,170 (as of Sept. 2, 2026). The return will vary depending on the exact dates you're considering.

Why does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?

Warren Buffett considers the S&P 500 to be a bet on American business, which has historically generated annualized returns of approximately 10% over extended periods.

Which is the largest S&P 500 ETF?

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF is the largest exchange-traded fund that tracks the S&P 500. As of mid-2026, it had $1.7 trillion under management, including the mutual fund version of the same fund.

Are S&P 500 ETFs good for beginners?

Yes, S&P 500 ETFs are suitable for beginner investors. They can be a great way to gain exposure to the stock market with minimal effort and at a low investment fee.

Is VOO the same as the S&P 500?

The S&P 500 is a benchmark index of the 500 largest U.S. companies; however, it cannot be invested in directly. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, or VOO, is an index fund that owns all 500 stocks in the index and aims to match its returns over time.

Best S&P 500 ETFs to Buy in 2026

A fund that invests in the companies in the S&P 500 can be a great way to start a portfolio and invest for the long term.

By Matthew Frankel, CFP – Updated Sep 2, 2026 at 2:28 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

S&P 500 ETFs offer a simple way to invest in top US companies with minimal fees.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF manages $1.7 trillion, reflecting strong investor trust.
SPDR S&P 500 ETF was the first in the U.S., now with $805 billion in assets.

It's a common misconception that you need to buy individual stocks to create wealth in the stock market. While it's certainly possible to achieve excellent returns by doing so, you might be surprised at how well the stock market as a whole has performed over time.

Over periods of several decades, the benchmark S&P 500 -- widely regarded as the best indicator of the overall stock market -- has delivered annualized total returns of approximately 10%. A return rate like this, sustained over a long period, can help you create a surprising amount of wealth.

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That's where an S&P 500 exchange-traded fund (ETF) can be handy. There are several great ETFs that allow you to track this benchmark index at minimal expense.

With that in mind, here are five top ETFs that track the performance of the S&P 500 index.

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Top S&P 500 ETFs to consider

In no particular order, here are five great examples of S&P 500 ETFs you might want to consider.

Data as of Sept. 2, 2026. Data sources: State Street Global Advisors SPDR, iShares, Vanguard, and ProShares.
ETF Name	Annual Fees (Expense Ratio)	Assets Under Management	Description
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT:SPY)	0.0945%	$805 billion	The first S&P 500 ETF in the U.S.
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:IVV)	0.03%	$876 billion	An S&P 500 ETF managed by one of the largest asset managers around.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO)	0.03%	$1.7 trillion	Low-cost S&P 500 ETF option from a pioneer in the retail investing industry.
ProShares Short S&P500 (NYSEMKT:SH)	0.89%	$858 million	A fund designed to profit from betting against the S&P 500.
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (NYSEMKT:RSP)	0.20%	$96 billion	An ETF that provides equal exposure to all 500 components of the index.

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1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

NYSEMKT: SPY

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

Today's Change

(0.74%) $5.65

Current Price

$769.64

Key Data Points

AUM

$818B

Dividend Yield

0.99%

Expense Ratio

0.09%

Top Holdings

NVDA

8.44%

AAPL

7.28%

MSFT

5.75%

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The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY +0.74%) from State Street Global Advisors was the first ETF to be listed in the U.S. The fund has been available since 1993. Given the S&P 500 index's popularity, this has made the SPDR S&P 500 ETF one of the largest exchange-traded funds, with about $805 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 2026.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF tracks the performance of the S&P 500 index, less its small annual fee (expense ratio), and distributes dividends paid by the companies in the index. The ETF charges an annual fee of 0.0945%. For every $1,000 invested, that works out to just under $0.95 per year, deducted from the fund's performance.

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2. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

NYSEMKT: IVV

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

Today's Change

(0.74%) $5.72

Current Price

$773.10

Key Data Points

AUM

$888B

Dividend Yield

1.09%

Expense Ratio

0.03%

Top Holdings

NVDA

8.35%

AAPL

7.45%

MSFT

5.70%

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The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV +0.74%) is another long-tenured U.S. ETF that invests in the stocks of the S&P 500 index. It offers an investment product almost identical to the SPDR offering, except that iShares' expense ratio is even lower at just 0.03%.

The fund was launched in 2000 and had $876 billion in assets under management in Sept. 2026. iShares is the ETF division of massive investment manager BlackRock (BLK -0.44%), which collectively manages $14 trillion in global assets.

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Assets Under Management (AUM)

The total market value of the financial assets an entity or advisor manages for their clients.

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3. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

NYSEMKT: VOO

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

Today's Change

(0.74%) $5.19

Current Price

$707.54

Key Data Points

AUM

$1.8T

Dividend Yield

1.05%

Expense Ratio

0.03%

Top Holdings

NVDA

8.09%

AAPL

7.04%

MSFT

5.70%

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Like the previous two ETFs, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO +0.74%) is a simple way to invest in the companies of the S&P 500 index. It also charges just 0.03% annually. This fund (along with its mutual fund version) has about $1.7 trillion in assets under management as of Sept. 2026.

Vanguard’s founder, Jack Bogle, invented the passive index fund in the 1970s, helping revolutionize access to investing for everyday retail investors.

4. ProShares Short S&P500

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NYSEMKT: SH

ProShares Trust - ProShares Short S&p500

Today's Change

(-0.65%) $-0.21

Current Price

$32.12

Key Data Points

AUM

$980M

Dividend Yield

3.96%

Expense Ratio

0.89%

Top Holdings

IQMM

87.68%

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Unlike the previous ETFs, the ProShares Short S&P 500 (NYSEMKT: SH) fund is a way to bet against the S&P 500 index. An investor might seek to profit by betting against an investment, as some did during the 2022 bear market. It can also be used as a hedge if you think the market might be a little overvalued, but you aren't exactly ready to start selling your stocks.

The ProShares Short S&P 500 aims to provide a return that is exactly the inverse of the S&P 500 index's daily return. So, if the S&P 500 is up 1% on a given day, the ProShares fund will be down 1% (before fees, which total 0.89% annually).

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The fund may have a place in the portfolios of investors seeking to hedge against a market downturn. However, remember that due to the use of derivative contracts and the compounding effect of returns, the ProShares fund is designed only to reflect the S&P 500's daily inverse returns, not to serve as a buy-and-hold fund over extended periods. Fund performance will deviate from the exact inverse of the S&P 500's performance.

Additionally, although designed to act as a hedge in a bear market, this ETF will decline significantly in value during a bull market. Investors should note this risk and understand the fund's role as a short-term hedge.

5. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF

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NYSEMKT: RSP

Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF

Today's Change

(0.35%) $0.73

Current Price

$209.73

Key Data Points

AUM

$95B

Dividend Yield

1.52%

Expense Ratio

0.20%

Top Holdings

0.29%

MRNA

0.29%

ILMN

0.27%

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One problem with the S&P 500 is that it's a weighted index, meaning that larger companies contribute more to its performance. These days, massive tech stocks like Nvidia (NVDA +1.34%) and Microsoft account for a disproportionate share of the index's weight.

The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (SH -0.65%) takes a different approach. It invests in the same 500 companies as other S&P 500 ETFs, but it allocates an equal amount of money to each one. In other words, all 500 of the companies in the index get a 0.2% weighting in the fund -- no more, no less. This can be a good ETF to consider if you want a broad index fund but aren't comfortable with a large percentage of your performance dependent on just a handful of stocks.

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What to look for when choosing an S&P 500 ETF

As you can see, we've discussed a few excellent S&P 500 ETFs, and this isn't an exhaustive list of all available products. Before deciding which is best for you, consider a few key factors.

Expense ratio: Of course, between two funds that track the exact same index, a lower fee structure is better. While the difference between a 0.03% and 0.04% expense ratio isn't going to have a big impact on your performance over the long run, there are enough excellent S&P 500 ETFs that under no circumstances should you accept an expense ratio above 0.1%.
Weighted or not: Before you buy a traditional S&P 500 ETF, you need to be comfortable with more than 40% of your money being invested in just 10 big companies. If you'd prefer a more diversified approach, the equal-weight fund discussed earlier could be the better option.
Performance: All S&P 500 index funds publish their performance history compared to the benchmark index. Make sure that the index fund you buy doesn't have a significant tracking error -- that is, make sure its long-term performance is very close to that of the index.

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Benefits and drawbacks of investing in the S&P 500

Benefits

As Warren Buffett has said, investing in the S&P 500 is a bet on American business, which has historically been a good bet for long-term investors.

In a nutshell, buying shares of an S&P 500 ETF allows you to benefit from the growth of the U.S. economy over time and the most successful companies in the nation, but without the guesswork and added risks of choosing individual stocks.

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Drawbacks

Investing in an S&P 500 ETF can lay a great foundation for an investment portfolio. It isn't necessarily the be-all and end-all of investing, though. Just a few things to keep in mind:

The S&P 500 is a market-cap-weighted index. In mid-2026, the top 10 stocks in the index made up roughly 40% of the S&P 500.
Investing solely in the S&P 500 may not be the optimal strategy for retirees seeking income. Incorporating other asset classes into the mix would be advisable.
Younger investors with decades before they plan to tap their investments may also want to invest outside the S&P 500.

Nevertheless, for investors seeking a straightforward way to start their investing journey, an S&P 500 ETF is an excellent place to begin.

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S&P 500 ETF FAQ

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About the Author

Matt Frankel, CFP®, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in the real estate and financial sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, Globe St, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his real estate, financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

TMFMattFrankel

@MattFrankelUSC

Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Best S&P 500 ETFs to Buy in 2026

A fund that invests in the companies in the S&P 500 can be a great way to start a portfolio and invest for the long term.

Key Points

Top S&P 500 ETFs to consider

1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

Key Data Points

2. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

Key Data Points

3. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

Key Data Points

4. ProShares Short S&P500

Key Data Points

5. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF

Key Data Points

What to look for when choosing an S&P 500 ETF

Benefits and drawbacks of investing in the S&P 500

Benefits

Drawbacks

Related investing topics

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S&P 500 ETF FAQ

Which S&P 500 ETF has the highest growth?

Which S&P 500 ETF has the highest growth?

What is the average return of the S&P 500 ETF?

What is the average return of the S&P 500 ETF?

What if I invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago?

What if I invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago?

Why does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?

Why does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?

Which is the largest S&P 500 ETF?

Which is the largest S&P 500 ETF?

Are S&P 500 ETFs good for beginners?

Are S&P 500 ETFs good for beginners?

Is VOO the same as the S&P 500?

Is VOO the same as the S&P 500?

About the Author

Stocks Mentioned

Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick

Premium Investing Services

Key Data Points

5. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF

What to look for when choosing an S&P 500 ETF

Benefits and drawbacks of investing in the S&P 500

Benefits

Drawbacks

Best ETFs for Beginners and How to Invest

3 Best S&P 500 Index Funds to Buy in 2026

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S&P 500 ETF FAQ

Which S&P 500 ETF has the highest growth?

Which S&P 500 ETF has the highest growth?

What is the average return of the S&P 500 ETF?

What is the average return of the S&P 500 ETF?

What if I invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago?

What if I invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago?

Why does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?

Why does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?

Which is the largest S&P 500 ETF?

Which is the largest S&P 500 ETF?

Are S&P 500 ETFs good for beginners?

Are S&P 500 ETFs good for beginners?

Is VOO the same as the S&P 500?

Is VOO the same as the S&P 500?

4. ProShares Short S&P500

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points

Key Data Points