What to look for when selecting an ETF fund?

What is the criteria when pulling a decent fund from ETF screener? What are the factors when choosing an ETF that can lower risk?
Are morningstar ratings solid reference?

Comments

  1. Katt_in_the_Hat says:

    Morningstar ratings are a good way to evaluate funds. Also look at holding percentages. Look at the top holdings of the fund.

    As far as risk reduction — avoid emerging market funds, industry specific funds, small cap and micro cap funds, etc.

  2. Doug M says:

    If you are going to buy ETF’s buy those with high trading volume and low price spreads between bid ask. You can take a real beating if you have to sell the shares of thinly traded ETF’s. Also the broader the holdings the lower the risk. Look for low expenses. I would avoid sector funds in ETF’s you would be better off in a closed end fund of a traditional open end mutual fund.
    The only two ETF’s I can recommend are SPY and IWM.
    I have a low opinion of morningstar. I bought a five star fund they recommended back in 2000 and it lost 95% of it’s value. AMCC was a 5 star stock with them when it was over $100 per share. Today it is selling less than $3.

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