3 Magnificent ETFs I'm Buying Hand Over Fist in 2026

Investing in ETFs is the best route for many investors because they take a lot of the hassle out of investing. They can provide instant diversification, reduce the risk that comes with investing in individual stocks, and you don't have to sacrifice returns.

I hold a handful of ETFs in my portfolio, but three in particular that I'm consistently investing in are the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO), the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD), and the Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF (NASDAQ: QQQM). Investing in all three gives you exposure to a foundational index, a blue chip dividend ETF, and a thriving growth ETF.

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1. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

VOO can be a foundation for most portfolios because it's essentially banking on the growth of the U.S. economy. It tracks around 500 of the largest U.S. companies, so although it doesn't represent the entire U.S. economy, those companies contribute a lot.

Over the past few years, VOO has become more concentrated in tech stocks than usual, but it still holds stocks from every major sector.

• Information Technology: 38%
  
• Financials: 11.8%
  
• Communication Services: 9.7%
  
• Consumer Discretionary: 9.3%
  
• Healthcare: 8.9%
  
• Industrials: 8.8%
  
• Consumer Staples: 4.6%
  
• Energy: 3%
  
• Utilities: 2.2%
  
• Materials: 1.8%
  
• Real Estate: 1.8%

After returning 24.3%, 23.4%, and 16.4% in 2023 through 2025, this year has been relatively modest for VOO, which is up 9.3% as of the start of August. Even so, those are respectable returns and position VOO for a fourth straight year of double-digit gains.

We can't predict how any stock or ETF will perform, but even if VOO hits a rough patch, it's an ETF I load up on for the long haul. The S&P 500 has stood the test of time and proven to be one of the best ways to build wealth over time.

2. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

SCHD is my go-to dividend ETF because of its focus on high-quality companies. To be included, a company must have 10 years of dividend payouts, five years of dividend increases, and solid financial standing. That reduces the chance of running into a yield trap.

SCHD is also a switch-up from the tech-leaning S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 ETFs, reducing some overlap with other popular funds. Its most represented sectors are healthcare (20.72%), consumer staples (20.38%), energy (14.07%), industrials (11.55%), and financials (10.05%).

These sectors are known for stable cash flows and shareholder-friendly practices, which have helped SCHD maintain an attractive dividend. Its current yield is around 3.1%, slightly below its 3.4% average over the past five years, but nearly triple that of an S&P 500 ETF like VOO.

SCHD Dividend Yield data by YCharts

This year, investors have been rotating into more value-leaning stocks, and SCHD is reaping the rewards. It's up 20.7% year-to-date, which is far from the norm but a much-appreciated two-for-one. It's a great income option this year and beyond.

3. Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF

QQQM mirrors the Nasdaq-100, which tracks the largest 100 non-financial companies on the Nasdaq stock exchange. It contains only large-cap growth stocks, so you get the potential for high growth mixed with the stability that often comes with large-cap stocks.

That doesn't make QQQM immune to high volatility or down periods, but holding market leaders helps cushion the blow and supports longevity.

QQQM only just began trading in October 2020, but has been a consistent market outperformer since. It has averaged 15.8% annual returns compared with the S&P 500's 14% average over that span. Over the past decade, the Nasdaq-100 has outperformed the S&P 500 495% to 245%.

Although it holds companies from all non-financial sectors, QQQM is also tech-heavy, with the sector making up 65.75% of the ETF. This means there's a decent amount of overlap with VOO, but QQQM's performance is much more reliant on large-cap tech stocks. The "Magnificent Seven" stocks account for just over 38% of the ETF.

VOO is meant to provide broad U.S. exposure, and SCHD is meant as an income source, so adding a growth-focused ETF like QQQM is a great complement to the two.

Stefon Walters has positions in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.