The Best ETFs to Watch in 2023

Roberto Rivero

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) make investing in funds much more accessible to retail investors and, consequently, have grown enormously in popularity over the last decade. This increase in popularity has led to thousands of new ETFs springing up in recent years. With so much choice, it can be difficult for investors to find the best ETFs to invest in.

So, which are the best ETFs for 2023? In this article, we will examine 4 ETFs for investors to watch this year.

What Is an ETF?

ETFs are a type of fund which are traded throughout the trading day on stock exchanges, just like the shares of a company. This characteristic of being traded on stock exchanges makes ETFs low-cost to trade, liquid and accessible to retail investors, who, these days, simply require an internet connection to begin investing in the best ETFs.

ETFs use investor money to purchase a basket of securities which are usually picked in order to replicate an underlying asset, index, sector or economy. Therefore, ETFs provide instant diversification across a number of assets with one single investment.

Unlike buying and holding shares in a company, there are ongoing management costs involved in holding an ETF, which are charged annually. These are typically expressed as a percentage of the total value of your investment and can vary depending on the type of ETF in which you are thinking of investing in.

It is important to make sure you factor these costs in – together with brokers’ commissions - when you are choosing the best ETF to invest in, as high costs can begin to eat into any potential gains.

Remember, when looking for the best ETFs to buy now, it is important to do your own research and to only make investments which conform to your personal strategy and investing goals.

The Best ETFs to Watch in 2023

After a turbulent year in 2022, the economic outlook has certainly steadied in 2023. Inflation is falling in many economies and, although growth is likely to remain suppressed, its looking increasingly likely that the global economy will avoid a recession.

Nevertheless, we are not totally out of the woods. Inflation still remains above target levels and interest rates are likely to remain elevated for the remainder of the year, both of which are likely to dampen consumer spending, the most important component of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Given this complicated backdrop, what are the best ETFs for 2023? In the following sections, we will examine the prospects of 4 ETFs for investors to consider this year.

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Vanguard Health Care ETF

Ongoing Charge Distribution Yield 1-Year Performance 3-Year Performance 5-Year Performance
0.10% 1.45% 5.53% 32.13% 65.69%

Source: Vanguard – Data as of 30 June 2023 (Distribution Yield as of 7 July 2023). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

As its name implies, this ETF tracks the performance of an index composed of US companies which operate in the healthcare sector.

During times of economic uncertainty, investors tend to gravitate towards stocks which operate in defensive industries or, in other words, industries where demand tends to remain fairly steady throughout the economic cycle. In theory, so-called defensive stocks should be able to rely on a constant stream of revenue regardless of what is happening in the wider economy.

Healthcare is one of the best examples of a defensive industry. Unfortunately, people get ill and require medical treatment throughout all stages of the economic cycle, and expenditure on healthcare is not something which can be easily deferred.

Consequently, companies which operate in the healthcare sector tend to perform fairly consistently, and it’s this kind of consistency which investors may value until the economic outlook becomes clearer.

Depicted: Admirals MetaTrader 5 – Vanguard Health Care ETF Daily Chart. Date Range: 9 July 2018 – 6 July 2023. Date Captured: 7 July 2023. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF

Ongoing Charge Distribution Yield 1-Year Performance 3-Year Performance 5-Year Performance
0.15% - 16.92% 15.74% 12.51%

Source: iShares – Data as of 30 June 2023. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

As many economies slow or flirt with recession, Japan’s economy has been robust so far in 2023, expanding 2.7% in the first quarter, and things are looking promising for the country’s economic outlook. Consequently, one of the best ETFs to buy now could be one which tracks the Japanese stock market, such as the iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF.

As with many parts of the world, Japanese inflation is historically high. However, unlike many other parts of the world, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Japan. For much of the last couple of decades, Japan has struggled with low inflation, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) straying into negative territory on many occasions.

However, inflation currently hovers around 3%, above target levels, but nowhere near the levels seen in other developed economies recently. But, hold on, isn’t inflation bad? Well, yes and no.

Unchecked inflation which rises too quickly is indeed a negative for the economy. However, a low and stable rate of inflation is generally viewed as being conducive to a healthy economy, as it encourages consumers to spend rather than save. This helps stimulate the economy and leads to increased business earnings, both of which are positive for the stock market.

Conversely, when inflation is very low – or negative, a phenomenon known as deflation – it reduces this incentive for consumers to spend money in the present. This can be a drag on economic growth and, indeed, it has been for Japan in recent years. Despite being the third largest economy in the world, Japan’s GDP growth and stock market performance has often underwhelmed.

The performance metrics of the ETF highlighted in the table above make this abundantly clear. Compare the five-year performance of this fund to that of a fund which tracks one of the US benchmark indices (which we will look at shortly) and you will see just how stagnant the Japanese stock market has been in recent years.

Inflation, as well as potentially stimulating the economy, may also incentivise people who previously saved money in the bank to turn to the stock market in an attempt to counteract the devaluing effect of inflation on their money. This would also have an upwards effect on the stock market.

Add to this the fact that, unlike many central banks, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) has held its interest rates at ultra-low levels, and things are currently looking good for the Japanese markets.

Depicted: Admirals MetaTrader 5 – iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF Daily Chart. Date Range: 9 July 2018 – 6 July 2023. Date Captured: 7 July 2023. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Nevertheless, as with any investment, there are risks associated with investing in this ETF and investors should approach it with caution. Whilst it has risen more than 12% in the first half of 2023, it is possible that the improved sentiment around investing in Japanese stocks will fade, causing the ETF to fall.

Furthermore, whilst inflation has fallen in the first half of the year and is currently at a fairly manageable level, ongoing ultra-loose monetary policy from the BoJ may fuel further price increases in the future.

Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (VUSA)

Ongoing Charge Distribution Yield 1-Year Performance 3-Year Performance 5-Year Performance
 0.07% 1.29% 19.23% 49.22% 75.83%

Source: Vanguard – Data as of 30 June 2023 (Distribution Yield as of 7 July 2023). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

After soaring 21% in 2021, the S&P 500 plummeted by more than 20% in 2022, erasing all its gains from the previous year. Nevertheless, in the first half of 2023, the index has thrived, gaining more than 16%.

The S&P 500 is a stock index which tracks the performance of 500 of the largest companies listed on the US stock exchanges. The long-term performance of this index has been exceptional, producing an average total annual return of around 10% for more than five decades.

Although 10% may not sound like a terribly striking figure, over the long-term, this kind of growth has the potential to create significant wealth for investors who contribute to their investments regularly.

This impressive long-term growth means that ETFs which track the S&P 500 are frequently touted amongst the best ETFs to buy and hold. One such ETF is the Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF, which boasts very low fees.

An investment in this S&P 500 ETF offers investors instant diversification over 500 successful US companies from a variety of industries. However, investors may want to consider that the index is becoming increasingly weighted towards technology stocks which could cause issues if this industry struggles in the future.

iShares NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF

Ongoing Charge Distribution Yield 1-Year Performance 3-Year Performance 5-Year Performance
0.33% 0.38% 32.55% 51.03% 120.40%

Source: iShares – Data as of 30 June 2022 (Distribution Yield as of 7 July 2023). Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

After struggling for most of 2022, technology stocks have come roaring back in 2023. In fact, much of the S&P 500’s gains this year have been thanks to a handful of mega-cap tech stocks. What if you want to focus your investment more on this revival in the technology sector? What is the best tech ETF?

The Nasdaq-100 index is composed of 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Although the index spans a number of industries, it is heavily skewed towards technology.

Consequently, for those feeling bullish on the tech sector, an ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100 may be a good option for 2023. The iShares NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF is one such ETF.

After a year to forget in 2022, when the ETF fell by 32.7%, it has so far fared much better in 2023, gaining almost 40%, which places it amongst the best performing ETFs in the first half of 2023.

However, despite holding stakes in 100 different companies, as stocks in the underlying index are weighted according to their market capitalisation, the performance of this ETF is strongly influenced by a handful of companies.

At the time of writing, the following seven stocks account for almost 55% of the entire fund:

  • Microsoft
  • Apple
  • Amazon
  • Nvidia
  • Meta Platforms
  • Tesla
  • Alphabet (Google)

As things stand then, the success of this ETF is heavily dependent on the continued success of these companies. Whilst these stocks have been some of the best performing stocks in recent years, hence why this has also been one of the best performing ETFs over the last decade, their continued growth is not guaranteed. Investors should, therefore, bear this in mind before investing in a Nasdaq-100 ETF.

Depicted: Admirals MetaTrader 5 – iShares NASDAQ-100 UCITS ETF Weekly Chart. Date Range: 1 January 2017 – 7 July 2023. Date Captured: 7 July 2023. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

How to Invest in the Best ETFs

If you are looking for somewhere to invest in the best ETFs, look no further than an Invest.MT5 account from Admirals! 

An Invest.MT5 account allows you to invest in over 200 ETFs from some of the world’s largest stock exchanges! In order to start investing in ETFs today, follow these steps:

  • Open an Invest.MT5 account and log in to the Dashboard
  • Find your account details and click ‘Invest’ in order to open the Admirals Platform
  • Search for the best ETF you want to invest in and open the instrument page
  • Enter the number of shares you wish to purchase and click ‘Buy’ to send your order to the market!
Depicted: Admirals Platform - iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF. Date Captured: 7 July 2023. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

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Best ETFs for 2023 - FAQ

What Is UCITS ETF?

A UCITS ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund which complies with the Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), which is the regulatory framework for funds based in the EU.

What Is a Bond ETF?

A bond ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund which invests exclusively in government or corporate bonds.

What Is a Leveraged ETF?

A leveraged ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund which uses debt and/or financial derivatives to magnify the returns of its underlying index. Whereas a traditional ETF will seek to mirror the returns of its underlying index, a leveraged ETF seeks to magnify the returns by a fixed ratio, such as 2:1.

Whilst this approach may produce significant returns when the underlying index is performing well, it can also lead to significant losses when the underlying index performs badly.

What Is an Accumulating ETF?

An accumulating ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund in which any dividends paid out by its holdings are automatically reinvested back into the ETF rather than distributed amongst ETF shareholders. This has the effect of increasing the value of each shareholder’s stake without them doing anything, allowing them to potentially benefit from the compounding effect over time.

Do ETFs Pay Dividends?

Whether or not an ETF pays dividends depends on the assets it holds and the type of ETF in question. If an ETF holds assets which produce income, such as dividend stocks or bonds, and is a distributing ETF, then it will distribute any income earned to shareholders as cash.

If, on the other hand, it is an accumulating ETF, it will automatically reinvest this money back into the ETF on behalf of shareholders.

INFORMATION ABOUT ANALYTICAL MATERIALS: 

The given data provides additional information regarding all analysis, estimates, prognosis, forecasts, market reviews, weekly outlooks or other similar assessments or information (hereinafter “Analysis”) published on the websites of Admirals investment firms operating under the Admirals trademark (hereinafter “Admirals”) Before making any investment decisions please pay close attention to the following:

  • This is a marketing communication. The content is published for informative purposes only and is in no way to be construed as investment advice or recommendation. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and that it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
  • Any investment decision is made by each client alone whereas Admirals shall not be responsible for any loss or damage arising from any such decision, whether or not based on the content.
  • With view to protecting the interests of our clients and the objectivity of the Analysis, Admirals has established relevant internal procedures for prevention and management of conflicts of interest.
  • The Analysis is prepared by an independent analyst Roberto Rivero, Freelance Contributor (hereinafter "Author") based on personal estimations.
  • Whilst every reasonable effort is taken to ensure that all sources of the content are reliable and that all information is presented, as much as possible, in an understandable, timely, precise and complete manner, Admirals does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within the Analysis.
  • Any kind of past or modelled performance of financial instruments indicated within the content should not be construed as an express or implied promise, guarantee or implication by Admirals for any future performance. The value of the financial instrument may both increase and decrease and the preservation of the asset value is not guaranteed.
  • Leveraged products (including contracts for difference) are speculative in nature and may result in losses or profit. Before you start trading, please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
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