Best Performing ETFs of the Last 5 Years
The ETFs with the highest annualized return over the past five years, updated every trading day.
As of the Oct 30, 2026 close, SMH (VanEck Semiconductor ETF) has the highest 5-year return of the 719 ETFs ranked here, at +31.49% a year. Energy is the most common category in the top 50, with 13 funds. SPY, the S&P 500 ETF, returned +11.95% a year, and 155 of the 719 beat it.
| # | ETF | Category | 5Y Ann. | 1Y Return | Volatility | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMHVanEck Semiconductor ETF | Technology | +31.49% | +44.09% | 40.68% | -24.62% |
| 2 | SOXQInvesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF | Technology | +26.38% | +48.67% | 45.94% | -28.56% |
| 3 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | International Developed | +26.31% | +30.50% | 17.86% | -10.98% |
| 4 | BNOUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | Oil | +26.23% | +144.07% | 47.31% | -34.46% |
| 5 | FTXLFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | Technology | +25.39% | +67.34% | 48.95% | -32.64% |
| 6 | SOXXiShares Semiconductor ETF | Technology | +25.33% | +54.88% | 47.28% | -29.01% |
| 7 | PFIXSimplify Interest Rate Hedge ETF | Alternatives | +25.31% | +33.67% | 30.35% | -19.47% |
| 8 | USOUnited States Oil Fund | Oil | +24.16% | +135.43% | 49.47% | -32.49% |
| 9 | XLEEnergy Select Sector SPDR Fund | Energy | +23.75% | +64.63% | 22.16% | -14.98% |
| 10 | FENYFidelity MSCI Energy Index ETF | Energy | +23.31% | +62.33% | 22.01% | -14.96% |
| 11 | VDEVanguard Energy ETF | Energy | +23.27% | +62.10% | 22.05% | -15.04% |
| 12 | RINGiShares MSCI Global Gold Miners ETF | Materials | +22.81% | +8.88% | 50.52% | -38.61% |
| 13 | RSPGInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Energy ETF | Energy | +22.80% | +60.22% | 22.68% | -13.72% |
| 14 | IEOiShares U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF | Energy | +22.20% | +73.86% | 26.96% | -16.32% |
| 15 | IYEiShares U.S. Energy ETF | Energy | +22.08% | +62.53% | 21.63% | -14.54% |
| 16 | IXCiShares Global Energy ETF | Energy | +21.93% | +59.76% | 20.84% | -15.36% |
| 17 | PSIInvesco Semiconductors ETF | Technology | +21.54% | +53.26% | 54.39% | -37.56% |
| 18 | QTUMDefiance Quantum ETF | Technology | +21.48% | +19.02% | 33.10% | -21.51% |
| 19 | ARGTGlobal X MSCI Argentina ETF | Emerging Markets | +21.15% | -12.31% | 27.82% | -22.80% |
| 20 | GDXVanEck Gold Miners ETF | Materials | +21.08% | +6.52% | 50.33% | -38.93% |
| 21 | MLPXGlobal X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF | Energy | +20.92% | +37.10% | 17.03% | -9.11% |
| 22 | SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund | Commodities | +20.89% | +40.15% | 17.77% | -11.03% |
| 23 | FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF | Emerging Markets | +20.30% | +60.37% | 33.49% | -21.34% |
| 24 | CRAKVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | Energy | +19.65% | +58.98% | 21.38% | -13.59% |
| 25 | GDXJVanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF | Materials | +18.87% | +2.35% | 55.83% | -41.32% |
| 26 | IGEiShares North American Natural Resources ETF | Energy | +18.83% | +42.71% | 17.04% | -11.54% |
| 27 | EWTiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | Emerging Markets | +18.60% | +58.94% | 32.40% | -19.83% |
| 28 | XMEState Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF | Materials | +18.54% | +1.78% | 37.43% | -27.62% |
| 29 | EWPiShares MSCI Spain ETF | International Developed | +18.44% | +15.41% | 19.43% | -11.38% |
| 30 | XLKTechnology Select Sector SPDR Fund | Technology | +18.17% | +20.13% | 27.08% | -15.86% |
| 31 | IXNiShares Global Tech ETF | Technology | +18.11% | +23.02% | 28.99% | -16.09% |
| 32 | AMLPAlerian MLP ETF | Energy | +18.10% | +24.74% | 12.66% | -8.11% |
| 33 | EUFNiShares MSCI Europe Financials ETF | International Developed | +17.86% | +15.93% | 20.93% | -14.77% |
| 34 | AIRRFirst Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF | Industrials | +17.76% | -0.48% | 28.31% | -28.24% |
| 35 | FTECFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | Technology | +17.56% | +18.86% | 25.38% | -15.76% |
| 36 | PPAInvesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | Industrials | +17.45% | +1.37% | 21.56% | -17.31% |
| 37 | FXNFirst Trust Energy AlphaDEX Fund | Energy | +17.45% | +62.23% | 23.31% | -13.41% |
| 38 | IYWiShares U.S. Technology ETF | Technology | +17.39% | +16.89% | 24.77% | -16.83% |
| 39 | EPOLiShares MSCI Poland ETF | Emerging Markets | +17.38% | +32.07% | 22.95% | -11.04% |
| 40 | SLVPiShares MSCI Global Silver and Metals Miners ETF | Materials | +17.38% | +10.19% | 57.24% | -38.97% |
| 41 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | Dividend | +17.37% | +27.80% | 9.48% | -6.08% |
| 42 | VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF | Technology | +17.33% | +18.82% | 25.29% | -15.81% |
| 43 | SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | Momentum Factor | +17.33% | +12.83% | 25.45% | -15.64% |
| 44 | MLPAGlobal X MLP ETF | Energy | +17.08% | +24.84% | 12.39% | -7.78% |
| 45 | IAUMiShares Gold Trust Micro | Gold | +16.76% | -3.47% | 28.25% | -28.05% |
| 46 | GLDMSPDR Gold MiniShares | Gold | +16.70% | -3.52% | 28.37% | -28.04% |
| 47 | COPXGlobal X Copper Miners ETF | Materials | +16.70% | +18.98% | 47.57% | -27.82% |
| 48 | TDIVFirst Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | Dividend | +16.69% | +14.57% | 20.66% | -16.34% |
| 49 | IGMiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | Technology | +16.67% | +14.25% | 25.67% | -15.51% |
| 50 | BARGraniteShares Gold Shares | Gold | +16.64% | -3.61% | 28.32% | -28.10% |
How the Ranking Works
Each fund's 5-year return runs from its close five years before its latest one to that latest close, annualized: the yearly rate that compounds to the whole five years. Funds with less than five years of history aren't ranked, and neither are leveraged or inverse funds, whose daily reset can multiply a move.
Five years smooths out a single lucky year, but not a long run in one sector: many of the leaders hold the same kind of stocks. Check the maximum drawdown and volatility before treating a fund as a core holding, and the Sharpe ratio for the return it paid per unit of risk.
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See Any ETF's Returns and Risk
Redstone tracks the returns, drawdowns, volatility and risk-adjusted ratios of every ETF, stock and portfolio it covers.