5 Low-Cost Tech ETFs For Investors

 | Jan 20, 2020 01:00AM ET

The tech sector has been red-hot in recent months thanks to its inherent strength, increased adoption of emerging technologies and the announcement as well as the signing of the U.S.-China phase-one trade deal. Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund 5 Tech ETFs Riding High on Iran Tensions ).

Not only higher demand for technologies, the sector is also known for investors’ value maximization. Notably, the tech corner of the S&P 500 Index made maximum share repurchases — worth $1.37 billion in the past 10 years and $871.6 million in the past five years (read: 4 Sector ETFs Sizzling With Solid Buybacks ).

Cloud computing and artificial intelligence will keep ruling the technology sector, with 2020 likely to be a breakout year for edge computing, per Deloitte . The sector carries a Zacks Rank #2. The thesis makes it intriguing for continued bets on technology ETFs.

Why Low Expense Ratio Funds Are Better

While there are a number of factors that investors consider before investing in ETFs, cost is an important factor that drives their investment decision. In the long run, cheaper funds can handily outperform expensive ones, at least when other factors remain constant.

Consider an expense ratio of 1%, a fund of $10,000 invested at 8% annual return will grow to $19,672 in 10 years, while the same fund invested at an expense ratio of 0.1% will grow by a higher amount of $21,390. The difference between the returns will keep zooming out, increasing the holding period.

Considering the same parameters, with an expense ratio of 0.1%, a fund of $10,000 will grow to $97,869 in 30 years (at the same 8% rate of return). The same fund will however grow to a much lesser value of $76,123 with an expense ratio of 1%.

The price war among issuers has intensified of late owing to rising competition. For a long period of time, the lowest cost corner was ruled by Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) and Vanguard. But now other players like State Street (NYSE:STT) BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) are resorting to fee cuts to grab market share.

Against such a backdrop, we have highlighted five tech ETFs with ultra-low expense ratios that can be considered at the current operating backdrop.

Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (TSXV:FTEC) – Expense ratio (ER) 0.08%, Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy)

Vanguard Information Technology ETF (HN:VGT) – ER 0.10%, Zacks Rank #1 (read: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) at All-Time High, Poised for an Upbeat Q1: ETFs to Benefit)

Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLK) – ER 0.13%, Zacks Rank #1

iShares Evolved U.S. Technology ETF IETC – ER 0.13%

Invesco S&P SmallCap Information Technology ETF PSCT – ER 0.29%

Get The News You Want
Read market moving news with a personalized feed of stocks you care about.
Get The App

Defiance Next Gen Connectivity ETF 9 Successful New ETFs of 2019 )

Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?

Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Zacks Investment Research

Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.

Sign out
Are you sure you want to sign out?
NoYes
CancelYes
Saving Changes