What is the average fee for an ETF?
Also known as ETF transaction fees or ETF transaction costs, these may range from $8 to $30 at brokerage firms. Trading commissions are charged per trade, so they can add up if investors buy and sell a lot—and they're usually more expensive when an order is placed in person or over the phone.
Brokerage houses may charge a commission for ETF trades just as they charge for any other market-traded security. These fees are typically around $20 per trade or less but they can add up over time if the investor trades ETFs often.
Brokerage, STT, and Other Charges
The average brokerage charge on purchasing ETFs is 0.01% of the turnover value. There are certain charges that the SEBI levies on the purchase of stocks from an exchange. Since ETFs also trade like stocks and are listed on the exchange, ETFs attract such charges from SEBI.
ETFs typically have an expense ratio of 0.05%. An investor can determine the expense ratio by dividing the annual expenses of the investment by the fund's total value, though the expense ratio is also typically found on the fund's website.
The Average ETF Expense Ratio Is Lower Than Mutual Funds
The average expense ratio for index ETFs is typically lower than that of index mutual funds, historically 0.57% for ETFs versus 0.84% for mutual funds. Importantly, the higher costs of mutual funds can add up and impact portfolio returns over the long run.
ETFs have lower costs on average than passively managed mutual funds and don't charge 12b-1 fees. The expense ratio is the cost of the mutual fund, including any management fees, fees for expenses, and 12b-1 fees, and expressed as a percentage of the total assets under management.
VOO and IVV boast the lowest management fee at 0.03%, about one-third of the SPY ETF. While the difference between a 0.03%, and 0.0945% expense ratio may seem trivial, such fees can really add up. For every $10,000 invested, these respective fees equal $3 and $9.45 annually.
$0 trading commissions
Pay nothing to trade stocks, ETFs, and Vanguard mutual funds online.
Fidelity to charge $100 servicing fee on some ETFs.
The price of an ETF share generally stays very close to NAV but if the share price is below the NAV, then the ETF is said to be trading at a discount. Conversely, if the ETF share price is more expensive than NAV, the ETF is said to be trading at a premium.
Does Schwab charge for ETF trades?
Online listed stock and ETF trades at Schwab are commission-free. Online options trades are $0.65 per contract. Service charges apply for automated phone trades ($5) and broker-assisted trades ($25) for stocks, ETFs, and Options. Futures trades are $2.25 per contract8 for both online and broker-assisted trades.
Fund (ticker) | YTD performance | 5-year performance |
---|---|---|
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 10.4 percent | 15.0 percent |
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) | 10.4 percent | 15.0 percent |
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 10.4 percent | 15.0 percent |
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) | 8.6 percent | 20.7 percent |
![What is the average fee for an ETF? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YNOgoR9k0i8/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLCKKmCamoMWXmByu0B6gz7gkryVsg)
Most ETF income is generated by the fund's underlying holdings. Typically, that means dividends from stocks or interest (coupons) from bonds. Dividends: These are a portion of the company's earnings paid out in cash or shares to stockholders on a per-share basis, sometimes to attract investors to buy the stock.
ETF fees are accrued daily, which means they are reflected in the daily price of an ETF; however, the fees are typically deducted from fund assets on a monthly basis. From the investor's perspective, ETF fees are not directly paid like a monthly bill. Instead, they are reflected in a fund's net return.
What's the minimum investment? Because they trade like stocks, ETFs do not require a minimum initial investment and are purchased as whole shares. You can buy an ETF for the price of just one share, usually referred to as the ETF's "market price."
Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio |
---|---|---|
SPLG | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 0.02% |
BBUS | JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% |
BND | Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.03% |
AGG | iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF | 0.03% |
You can day buy and sell an ETF on the same day. It would be considered a day trade or intraday trade. If you've ever traded an individual stock, buying and selling an ETF will feel familiar because they're traded the same way. Once again, you'll need a trading platform and a brokerage firm to trade them.
ETFs often generate fewer capital gains for investors than mutual funds. This is partly because so many of them are passively managed and don't change their holdings that often.
VTI is a total U.S. market fund and holds more than 3,500 stocks. VTI is better diversified and benefits from small and mid-cap stocks that grow into large caps. VOO is less diversified, tracking the performance of the S&P 500 Index. VOO excludes small and mid-cap stocks.
In a bid to attract cost-conscious investors, some ETF providers have begun to offer products with a 0% expense ratio. Yes, you read that correctly—these ETFs come without any management fees, making them essentially free to invest in (aside from the bid-ask spread and any other trading costs).
Is it wise to invest in VOO?
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
- Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) ...
- Vanguard Extended Market ETF (VXF) ...
- Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) ...
- Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) ...
- Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) ...
- Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) ...
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) ...
- Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)
While Fidelity wins out overall, Vanguard is the best option for retirement savers. Its platform offers tools and education focused specifically on retirement planning.
Unlike mutual funds, however, ETFs are traded on the open market like stocks and bonds. While mutual fund shareholders can only redeem shares with the fund directly, ETF shareholders can buy and sell shares of an ETF at any time, completely at their discretion.
Vanguard charges no closing, transfer or inactivity fees. There is a $20 annual account service fee for all brokerage accounts and IRAs that is easily waived for clients who sign up for statement e-delivery.