Back

Fundamental ETFs

A fundamental ETF is a so-called smart beta ETF that follows an index that selects stocks to buy using some fundamental measure about a company, such as the company's total revenue, or total stockholders equity, or debt to equity ratio. In the investing world, the term "fundamental" generally refers to information about a company that you can obtain from the company's financial statements. Some fundamental indexes also weight the stocks they are holding not on each stock's market capitalization but instead using each stock's total sales revenue, or some other fundamental measure of a company's size.

The idea is to select "good companies" based on each company's financial statements. Proponents of fundamental indexes believe that traditional stock market indexes that select and weight stocks using each company's market capitalization end up holding too many stocks that are "overvalued" or "overhyped".

We end up classifying most fundamental ETFs as "multi-factor" ETFs, because many fundamental ETFs select stocks using some measure of the company's earnings, which is the quality factor, or they select stocks with dividends.

The fundamental ETFs use different approaches, so let's run through a few examples of what they are doing.

FNDB, the Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market Index ETF, tracks the Russell RAFI U.S. index, which selects and weights stocks using the average of three fundamental measures of company size: retained operating cash flow, adjusted sales, and dividends plus buybacks. FNDB is very much a "multi-factor" ETF, because by selecting stocks based on retained operating cash flow and dividends it is using the "quality" factor, while also selecting stocks based on dividends plus stock buybacks. FNDB also is using an alternate weighting scheme.

RWL, the Revenue Shares Large Cap Fund ETF, tracks the S&P 500 but weights the stocks using each company's top line revenue rather than market capitalization.

FNDB and RWL are good examples of the challenge investors face when looking at smart beta ETFs:

  • Smart beta ETFs are fairly new
  • Every smart beta ETF seems to use a slightly different methodology (it seems like no two smart beta ETFs are ever the same)
  • It is hard to understand what "factor tilts" you are getting

One thing to always worry about with these smart beta ETFs is the unintended factor tilts that occur. RWL weights the S&P 500 using top line revenue. Is that really a good thing? The data provided by RWL's website clearly shows a value tilt, but it is hard to know what other factor tilts occur by doing this. Quality is one of the most well documented factors -- all things being equal, the stocks of highly profitable companies tend to outperform over long periods of time. Does ranking the S&P 500 by top line revenue unintentionally reduce your exposure to the "quality" factor? It is hard to know.

Both FNDB and RWL have decent track records so far, so we don't want to sound like we are being too critical. We are just trying to illustrate the difficulties associated with analyzing smart beta ETFs. Especially since every one seems to use a slightly different approach.

Here are the fundamental ETFs that use fundamental factors as an investment factor:

NameSymbolLast priceCurrencyAUMExpense ratio, %Inception date
Schwab US Dividend Equity ETFARCX:SCHD28.07USD67,995,242,4960.06Oct 20, 2011
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETFBATS:QUAL184.10USD51,255,084,4330.15Jul 18, 2013
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETFARCX:DGRO63.47USD30,765,669,7210.08Jun 12, 2014
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETFARCX:FNDX24.68USD18,139,875,3280.25Aug 15, 2013
VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETFBATS:MOAT95.81USD14,702,918,0800.46Apr 25, 2012
Schwab Fundamental International Equity ETFARCX:FNDF34.57USD13,567,887,3600.25Aug 15, 2013
Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETFXNYS:SPHQ67.24USD12,079,617,4800.15Dec 06, 2005
iShares Core High Dividend ETFARCX:HDV114.44USD11,185,854,3340.08Mar 31, 2011
First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETFXNAS:RDVY62.52USD11,078,860,3600.49Jan 07, 2014
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETFARCX:FNDA30.71USD9,928,787,9680.25Aug 15, 2013
First Trust Capital Strength ETFXNAS:FTCS89.93USD8,985,914,1830.54Jul 11, 2006
iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETFARCX:IQLT38.94USD7,991,407,8400.30Jan 21, 2015
Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1000 ETFARCX:PRF42.10USD7,622,455,5000.29Dec 19, 2005
Schwab Fundamental Emerging Markets Equity ETFARCX:FNDE29.58USD6,260,644,3520.39Aug 15, 2013
First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETFXNAS:SDVY37.80USD5,249,313,0670.60Nov 03, 2017
JPMorgan U.S. Quality Factor ETFARCX:JQUA59.39USD4,405,366,0000.12Nov 09, 2017
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II Invesco S&P 500 Revenue ETFARCX:RWL102.96USD4,296,743,2200.39Feb 19, 2008
Invesco S&P 500 GARP ETFARCX:SPGP110.60USD4,181,649,6400.29Jun 16, 2011
First Trust Morningstar ETFARCX:FDL41.25USD4,024,261,8790.45Mar 15, 2006
WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity FundARCX:DXJ110.75USD4,016,043,2000.48Jun 16, 2006
WisdomTree India Earnings FundARCX:EPI43.55USD3,914,849,7600.85Feb 26, 2008
iShares U.S. Infrastructure ETFBATS:IFRA48.45USD3,299,418,0720.30Apr 05, 2018
Schwab Fundamental International Small Equity ETFARCX:FNDC34.94USD3,170,176,5120.39Aug 15, 2013
VanEck Fallen Angel High Yield Bond ETFXNYS:ANGL29.03USD2,974,272,5700.25Apr 11, 2012
Invesco FTSE RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETFXNAS:PRFZ43.07USD2,717,388,1200.29Sep 20, 2006
SPDR S&P Kensho New Economies Composite ETFARCX:KOMP54.02USD2,223,770,0000.20Oct 22, 2018
iShares Cohen & Steers REIT ETFBATS:ICF61.05USD2,085,778,4910.33Feb 02, 2001
iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETFXNAS:FALN27.10USD1,910,796,1800.25Jun 21, 2016
SPDR Portfolio Corporate Bond ETFARCX:SPBO28.72USD1,884,370,0000.03Apr 06, 2011
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II Invesco S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue ETFARCX:RWJ47.72USD1,841,803,7270.39Feb 19, 2008
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-U.S. ETFARCX:PXF49.80USD1,711,476,0000.45Jun 25, 2007
WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity FundARCX:HEDJ46.54USD1,618,889,2600.58Jan 15, 2010
FlexShares High Yield Value-Scored Bond Index FundARCX:HYGV41.23USD1,412,323,2400.37Jul 18, 2018
Invesco BuyBack Achievers ETFXNAS:PKW119.97USD1,286,894,2700.50Dec 20, 2006
iShares Morningstar Large-Cap ETFARCX:ILCB84.34USD1,250,738,5570.03Jul 13, 2004
Invesco FTSE RAFI Emerging Markets ETFXNYS:PXH20.27USD1,243,375,2000.49Sep 27, 2007
Fidelity Quality Factor ETFARCX:FQAL67.87USD1,062,495,7520.16Sep 16, 2016
iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap ETFARCX:IMCB79.78USD1,041,614,7040.04Jul 13, 2004
U.S. Global Jets ETFARCX:JETS26.25USD973,465,5000.60Apr 30, 2015
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II Invesco S&P MidCap 400 Revenue ETFXNYS:RWK116.85USD933,447,6200.39Feb 20, 2008
iShares International Dividend Growth ETFBATS:IGRO69.72USD928,909,4250.15May 19, 2016
SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETFARCX:ONEY112.38USD920,430,0000.20Dec 02, 2015
WisdomTree U.S. LargeCap FundARCX:EPS63.63USD911,805,1650.08Feb 23, 2007
Schwab Fundamental U.S. Broad Market ETFARCX:FNDB24.23USD910,276,8000.25Aug 15, 2013
Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETFARCX:GIGB45.20USD868,312,5000.14Jun 08, 2017
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II Invesco S&P Ultra Dividend Revenue ETFARCX:RDIV49.47USD836,953,2800.39Sep 30, 2013
WisdomTree U.S. MidCap FundARCX:EZM64.83USD760,199,0400.38Feb 23, 2007
iShares Emerging Markets Dividend Index Fund Exchange Traded FundARCX:DVYE26.44USD692,209,3450.49Feb 24, 2012
JPMorgan USD Emerging Markets Sovereign Bond ETFARCX:JPMB38.49USD649,060,0000.39Jan 31, 2018
Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETFXNAS:IUS51.55USD642,432,5010.19Sep 12, 2018
Invesco S&P MidCap 400 GARP ETFARCX:GRPM116.85USD606,667,0000.35Dec 03, 2010
WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap FundARCX:EES55.41USD595,502,7100.38Feb 23, 2007
iShares Core Dividend ETFBATS:DIVB49.35USD592,037,4750.05Nov 09, 2017
First Trust DJ Global Select DividendARCX:FGD22.78USD525,412,4450.56Nov 27, 2007
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETFARCX:EDIV35.61USD520,039,9990.49Feb 23, 2011
FlexShares Morningstar Developed Markets ex-US Factor Tilt Index FundARCX:TLTD71.31USD467,869,9880.39Oct 02, 2012
iShares U.S. Tech Breakthrough Multisector ETFARCX:TECB55.29USD446,085,8310.30Jan 13, 2020
Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETFARCX:IGPT48.62USD425,145,0400.50Jun 23, 2005
iPath Select MLP ETNBATS:ATMP31.14USD421,845,1260.95Mar 13, 2013
FlexShares Credit-Scored US Corporate Bond Index FundXNAS:SKOR47.83USD413,727,9880.15Nov 13, 2014
Invesco Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETFXNYS:PHB18.13USD410,565,3000.50Nov 15, 2007
Invesco S&P SmallCap Quality ETFXNYS:XSHQ42.27USD403,448,8050.29Apr 06, 2017
Invesco FTSE RAFI Developed Markets ex-U.S. Small-Mid ETFARCX:PDN32.71USD401,758,2000.49Sep 27, 2007
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust Goldman Sachs Access U.S. Aggregate Bond ETFARCX:GCOR40.36USD395,010,0000.14Sep 17, 2020
Invesco S&P International Developed Quality ETFXNYS:IDHQ28.83USD374,027,6500.29Jun 13, 2007
iShares MSCI USA Size Factor ETFARCX:SIZE155.01USD334,728,5930.15Apr 18, 2013
Roundhill Ball Metaverse ETFARCX:METV15.05USD333,163,9020.59Jun 30, 2021
Invesco India ETFARCX:PIN24.90USD260,133,9600.78Mar 05, 2008
FlexShares Morningstar Emerging Markets Factor Tilt Index FundARCX:TLTE51.91USD259,841,0510.57Oct 02, 2012
Sprott Gold Miners ETFARCX:SGDM30.60USD250,422,7000.50Jul 15, 2014
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETFARCX:ISCB61.35USD244,288,4730.04Jul 13, 2004
WisdomTree U.S. High Yield Corporate Bond FundBATS:QHY45.77USD220,973,2800.38
American Century Quality Diversified International ETFARCX:QINT50.19USD203,360,3750.39Sep 18, 2018
iShares JPX-Nikkei 400 ETFARCX:JPXN72.29USD177,844,3200.48Oct 26, 2001
First Trust DJ Select MicroCap ETFARCX:FDM70.65USD176,873,8300.60Sep 30, 2005
Invesco Bloomberg Analyst Rating Improvers ETFARCX:UPGD72.16USD151,951,5940.40May 19, 2006
Goldman Sachs Access High Yield Corporate Bond ETFARCX:GHYB45.06USD148,941,0000.34Sep 25, 2017
LeaderShares AlphaFactor US Core Equity ETFARCX:LSAF42.90USD141,864,5000.75Oct 02, 2018
ALPS O'Shares Global Internet Giants ETFBATS:OGIG48.81USD139,441,9740.48Jun 05, 2018
Monarch ProCap Index ETFBATS:MPRO29.14USD138,960,0001.14Mar 29, 2021
Elevation Series Trust SRH U.S. Quality ETFARCX:SRHQ39.09USD137,513,7760.35Oct 05, 2022
Barron's 400 ETFARCX:BFOR76.31USD136,755,5000.65Jun 04, 2013
Global X Millennial Consumer ETFXNAS:MILN46.87USD133,300,0000.50May 04, 2016
U.S. Diversified Real Estate ETFARCX:PPTY32.19USD132,966,0000.53Mar 27, 2018
ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETFARCX:THNQ52.52USD128,707,4600.68May 18, 2020
ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETFARCX:SBIO32.32USD119,156,8090.50Dec 30, 2014
WisdomTree Cybersecurity FundXNAS:WCBR29.92USD117,181,4400.45Jan 28, 2021
Monarch Blue Chips Core Index ETFBATS:MBCC35.76USD107,415,0001.25Mar 29, 2021
Amplify ETF Trust Amplify AI Powered Equity ETFARCX:AIEQ41.76USD100,108,0000.75Oct 18, 2017
IQ 500 InternationalARCX:IQIN32.60USD99,224,6080.25Dec 13, 2018
Fidelity International High Dividend ETFARCX:FIDI20.26USD99,057,4170.18Jan 25, 2018
SPDR FactSet Innovative Technology ETFARCX:XITK185.82USD97,040,0000.45Jan 13, 2016
Invesco International BuyBack Achievers ETFXNAS:IPKW39.91USD95,436,2000.55Feb 27, 2014
US Global GO Gold and Precious Metal Miners ETFARCX:GOAU20.74USD91,956,0000.60Jun 29, 2017
American Customer Satisfaction ETFBATS:ACSI62.51USD84,227,0000.65Nov 07, 2016
EA Series Trust Strive U.S. Semiconductor ETFXNYS:SHOC49.24USD83,169,3600.40Oct 06, 2022
Monarch Ambassador Income Index ETFBATS:MAMB22.28USD81,540,0001.39Mar 29, 2021
Hoya Capital High Dividend Yield ETFARCX:RIET10.09USD77,353,6000.50Sep 22, 2021
Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETFARCX:BETZ19.80USD75,570,2150.75Jun 04, 2020
ETRACS IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETNARCX:IFED42.90USD71,051,2000.45Sep 16, 2021
Goldman Sachs ETF Trust Goldman Sachs Access Emerging Markets USD Bond ETFBATS:GEMD40.43USD67,248,0000.39Feb 18, 2022
Xtrackers Russell 1000 US Quality at a Reasonable Price ETF ETFARCX:QARP54.00USD65,850,3480.19Apr 05, 2018
WBI Power Factor High Dividend ETFARCX:WBIY30.65USD64,800,5000.99Dec 22, 2016
Innovator Deepwater Frontier Tech ETFARCX:LOUP60.11USD64,607,0560.70Aug 02, 2018
Global X Aging Population ETFXNAS:AGNG31.53USD61,700,0000.50May 09, 2016
Pacer US Export Leaders ETFARCX:PEXL51.21USD61,444,3700.60Oct 18, 2018
Siren Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETFXNAS:BLCN28.36USD61,086,0000.68Jan 17, 2018
Invesco Fundamental Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETFXNYS:PFIG23.43USD59,577,5000.22Sep 15, 2011
GraniteShares Nasdaq Select Disruptors ETFARCX:DRUP59.69USD55,849,1280.60Oct 07, 2019
ETF Series Solutions AAM Transformers ETFARCX:TRFM40.73USD54,270,0000.49Jul 12, 2022
Robo Global Healthcare Technology and Innovation ETFARCX:HTEC30.95USD54,107,1510.68Jun 25, 2019
PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETFARCX:RAFE37.67USD53,320,0000.29Dec 19, 2019
Direxion Daily NYSE FANG+ Bull 2X SharesARCX:FNGG199.29USD52,264,8570.98Sep 30, 2021
VanEck Durable High Dividend ETFBATS:DURA33.19USD50,376,8500.29Oct 31, 2018
Columbia Research Enhanced Emerging Economies ETFARCX:ECON21.27USD49,857,5000.49Sep 14, 2010
WisdomTree U.S. Short Term Corporate Bond FundBATS:QSIG48.28USD48,896,6000.18
Hoya Capital Housing ETFARCX:HOMZ46.61USD47,612,9550.30Mar 20, 2019
Invesco Investment Grade Defensive ETFARCX:IIGD24.19USD44,011,8240.13Jul 25, 2018
Donoghue Forlines Yield Enhanced Real Asset ETFBATS:ABLD29.35USD43,999,2970.69Dec 15, 2021
Global X Telemedicine & Digital Health ETFXNAS:EDOC10.82USD43,910,0000.68Jul 29, 2020
The RBB Fund, Inc. Motley Fool Capital Efficiency 100 Index ETFBATS:TMFE27.47USD43,720,4300.50Dec 31, 2021
TrimTabs ETF Trust Donoghue Forlines Risk Managed Innovation ETFBATS:ABOT37.34USD43,497,2700.69Dec 08, 2020
FlexShares Trust FlexShares Credit-Scored US Long Corporate Bond Index FundBATS:LKOR41.89USD43,151,7050.15Sep 24, 2015
ETRACS 2x Leveraged MSCI US Quality Factor TR ETNARCX:QULL51.49USD43,002,8000.95Feb 09, 2021
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II First Trust Emerging Markets Human Flourishing ETFARCX:FTHF22.31USD42,525,9950.75Oct 03, 2023
ETRACS 2x Leveraged IFED Invest with the Fed TR Index ETNARCX:FEDL55.71USD39,895,8000.95Sep 17, 2021
ETRACS 2x Leveraged US Dividend Factor TR ETNARCX:SCDL40.91USD37,162,0000.95Feb 09, 2021
Nuveen Enhanced Yield U.S. Aggregate Bond ETFARCX:NUAG20.65USD35,765,6560.21Sep 15, 2016
Invesco Next Gen Media and Gaming ETFARCX:GGME53.61USD35,327,1600.50Jun 23, 2005
Fidelity Metaverse ETFXNAS:FMET31.16USD33,039,8700.40Apr 21, 2022
Procure Space ETFXNYS:UFO25.39USD32,094,4500.75Apr 11, 2019
Global X S&P 500 Quality Dividend ETFARCX:QDIV35.45USD31,670,0000.20Jul 13, 2018
TrimTabs ETF Trust Donoghue Forlines Tactical High Yield ETFBATS:ABHY19.13USD30,214,7020.89Dec 08, 2020
First Trust Dividend Strength ETFXNAS:FTDS52.52USD22,116,6980.70Dec 23, 2014
WisdomTree New Economy Real Estate FundARCX:WTRE17.66USD20,334,8200.58Jun 05, 2007
WisdomTree U.S. Corporate Bond FundBATS:QIG43.96USD18,366,5200.18Nov 17, 2010
Virtus Real Asset Income ETFARCX:VRAI23.68USD16,640,4950.55Feb 08, 2019
Amplify Cash Flow Dividend Leaders ETFXNAS:COWS30.31USD15,730,1760.39Sep 13, 2023
Global X Thematic Growth ETFXNAS:GXTG24.27USD15,690,0000.50Oct 25, 2019
VanEck Morningstar Global Wide Moat ETFBATS:MOTG37.82USD14,782,2800.52Oct 31, 2018
Amplify ETF Trust Amplify Natural Resources Dividend Income ETFARCX:NDIV29.75USD14,113,3000.59Aug 24, 2022
DoubleLine ETF Trust DoubleLine Fortune 500 Equal Weight ETFARCX:DFVE29.70USD13,451,7000.20Feb 01, 2024
VanEck Moody's Analytics IG Corporate Bond ETFBATS:MIG21.10USD12,812,5800.20Dec 02, 2020
Invesco Nasdaq Free Cash Flow Achievers ETFXNAS:QOWZ35.15USD10,964,5140.39Dec 06, 2023
Golden Sachs ETF Trust Goldman Sachs Access Investment Grade Corporate 1-5 Year Bond ETFARCX:GSIG46.89USD9,406,0000.14Jul 13, 2020
VanEck Moody's Analytics BBB Corporate Bond ETFBATS:MBBB21.24USD8,575,8400.25Dec 02, 2020
ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETFARCX:CLIX49.34USD8,417,7280.65Nov 16, 2017
ProShares MSCI Emerging Markets Dividend Growers ETFBATS:EMDV42.74USD8,173,5220.60Jan 27, 2016
iShares Future Cloud 5G and Tech ETFARCX:IDAT35.52USD7,940,7600.47Jun 14, 2021
Harbor ETF Trust Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Earners ETFARCX:EBIT33.08USD7,886,2500.29Oct 22, 2008
NYLI U.S. Large Cap R&D Leaders ETFXNAS:LRND35.60USD7,883,1000.14Feb 08, 2022
NYLI Global Equity R&D Leaders ETFXNAS:WRND30.65USD6,273,4500.18Feb 08, 2022
iShares Emergent Food and AgTech Multisector ETFXNAS:IVEG21.22USD4,145,3800.47Apr 27, 2022
Tidal Trust II iREIT - MarketVector Quality REIT Index ETFARCX:IRET20.03USD3,725,7500.60Mar 06, 2024
Pacer BioThreat Strategy ETFBATS:VIRS40.03USD3,711,8200.70Jun 29, 2020
ETF Series Solutions Blue Horizon BNE ETFARCX:BNE22.49USD3,622,7450.87Dec 09, 2020
ProShares Trust ProShares S&P Global Core Battery Metals ETFARCX:ION26.48USD2,794,1100.58Dec 01, 2022
Invesco Exchange-Traded Fund Trust II Invesco S&P SmallCap 600 GARP ETFARCX:GRPZ26.76USD2,781,5700.35Mar 27, 2024
Amplify ETF Trust Amplify Thematic All-Stars ETFARCX:MVPS25.97USD2,490,4880.49Jul 21, 2021
First Trust Nasdaq Lux Digital Health Solutions ETFXNAS:EKG18.43USD2,379,9320.65Mar 23, 2022
Themes Natural Monopoly ETFXNAS:CZAR29.67USD1,366,3250.35Dec 13, 2023
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund First Trust S&P 500 Diversified Free Cash Flow ETFARCX:FCFY25.38USD1,268,7510.60Aug 28, 2023
Themes US R&D Champions ETFXNAS:USRD31.28USD1,165,9620.29
Themes US Small Cap Cash Flow Champions ETFXNAS:SMCF32.97USD870,5280.29Mar 13, 2024
Themes US Cash Flow Champions ETFXNAS:USCF31.39USD853,4460.29Mar 13, 2024
Spx Flow IncXNYS:FLOW86.24USDSep 17, 2015
ETF Series Solutions U.S. Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETFXNYS:SEAUSDJun 11, 2010
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV Monarch Volume Factor Global Unconstrained Index ETFBATS:MVFG27.07USD
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV Monarch Volume Factor Dividend Tree Index ETFBATS:MVFD26.88USD
Northern Lights Fund Trust IV Monarch Dividend Plus Index ETFBATS:MDPL25.79USD
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI First Trust Bloomberg R&D Leaders ETFARCX:RND26.01USD
Simplify Exchange Traded Funds Simplify Next Intangible Core Index ETFBATS:NXTI29.53USD
First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI First Trust S&P 500 Economic Moat ETFARCX:EMOT21.92USD