ETFs That Can Weather Stock Market Volatility

Investors often can’t avoid the turbulence of a stock-market downturn. Instead of hunting for “safe” individual stocks, the article argues for low-cost index ETFs that track the broad U.S. market and can be held through short-term drops. It highlights three options: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO, +0.69%) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI, +0.73%), plus Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB, +0.78%). All charge an expense ratio of just 0.03%. VOO has existed since September 2010 with average annual returns around 14.9% since inception. SCHB, launched in November 2009, averages about 14.3%, while VTI (since May 2001) averages about 9.4%.