Best 3 ETFs to Buy in a Recession 2023 (2024)

FAQs

Best 3 ETFs to Buy in a Recession 2023? ›

XLP, XLV, & XLU represent top recession ETFs in 2023 in my opinion. History suggests these sectors can outperform in bear markets. Healthy dividend yields and strong underlying businesses in the funds can mean ballast for a defensive portfolio.

An inverse ETF is set up so that its price rises (or falls) when the price of its target asset falls (or rises). This means the ETF performs inversely to the asset it's tracking. For example, an inverse ETF may be based on the S&P 500 index. The ETF is designed to rise as the index falls in value.

Investors looking to weather a recession can use exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as one way to reduce risk through diversification. ETFs that specialize in consumer staples and non-cyclicals outperformed the broader market during the Great Recession and are likely to persevere in future downturns.

The Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT, $245.85) is tops among all bear market ETFs period, and it's certainly one of the safest Vanguard funds to put to use in a bear market.

These are VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF SMH, Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF QQQM, Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund XLC, Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF MGK, and Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF VCR. These funds are likely to continue outperforming should the existing trends prevail.

What is the best ETF to buy now? ›

In short, the 3-day rule dictates that following a substantial drop in a stock's share price — typically high single digits or more in terms of percent change — investors should wait 3 days to buy.

Since the job of most ETFs is to track an index, we can assess an ETF's efficiency by weighing the fee rate the fund charges against how well it “tracks”—or replicates the performance of—its index. ETFs that charge low fees and track their indexes tightly are highly efficient and do their job well.

Most stocks and high-yield bonds tend to lose value in a recession, while lower-risk assets—such as gold and U.S. Treasuries—tend to appreciate.

During a recession, investing in cash and cash equivalents becomes a strategic choice for investors who are hoping to preserve their capital and maintain liquidity. Cash equivalents include short-term, highly liquid assets with minimal risk, such as Treasury bills, money market funds and certificates of deposit.

Types of ETFs that can perform relatively well during periods of high inflation include TIPS ETFs, commodity ETFs, U.S. dollar ETFs and precious metals ETFs.