Best Performing ETFs Over the Last 10 Years

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Looking at the best-performing ETFs over the last decade can help investors understand which long-term market themes actually delivered results. While past performance never guarantees future returns, 10-year data filters out short-term noise and highlights durable trends like technology adoption, consumer growth and U.S. equity dominance.

That said, many of the ETFs that performed best over long periods also experienced significant volatility along the way.

Understanding what drove those returns — and the risks involved — matters just as much as the headline numbers.

At a Glance: Best Performing ETFs Over 10 Years

ETF	Ticker	Primary Exposure	Risk Profile/Use Case	Why It Stands Out
Invesco QQQ Trust	QQQ	Nasdaq-100 stocks	Medium to high	Long-term tech-driven growth
Vanguard Information Technology ETF	VGT	U.S. tech sector	High	Concentrated technology exposure
iShares Semiconductor ETF	SOXX	Semiconductor stocks	High	Benefited from chip demand cycles
Vanguard Growth ETF	VUG	U.S. growth stocks	Medium	Broad large-cap growth exposure
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust	SPY	S&P 500	Medium	Benchmark U.S. equity performance
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF	IWF	Large-cap growth	Medium	Tilt toward high-growth leaders

Performance characteristics are based on trailing 10-year total return data from fund sponsors and index providers.

Why 10-Year ETF Performance Matters

Long-term performance helps identify structural market trends, rather than one-off rallies. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices, long holding periods reduce the impact of short-term volatility and investor timing errors.

Ten-year data often captures multiple interest-rate cycles, economic expansions and market corrections.

What Counts as “Best Performing” Over 10 Years?

For this list, “best performing” refers to ETFs with strong total returns over the trailing 10-year period, including price appreciation and reinvested dividends. Rankings are influenced by sector concentration, growth exposure and market leadership.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reminds investors that historical performance must be considered alongside risk and volatility.

Best Performing ETFs To Know

Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)

QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, which is heavily weighted toward technology and innovation-driven companies. According to Invesco, long-term returns were fueled by sustained earnings growth from large-cap tech leaders. Concentration risk remains a key trade-off.

Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)

VGT offers concentrated exposure to the U.S. technology sector. Vanguard disclosures show that strong returns were driven by software, hardware and semiconductor companies. Sector concentration increases volatility during tech drawdowns.

iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)

SOXX focuses on semiconductor manufacturers and equipment providers. According to iShares, performance benefited from rising chip demand across data centers, consumer electronics and automotive technology. Cyclicality can lead to sharp performance swings.

Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)

VUG tracks U.S. large-cap growth stocks across multiple sectors. Vanguard notes that the fund benefits from diversification while still tilting toward faster-growing companies. It tends to outperform during growth-led market cycles.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)

SPY tracks the S&P 500 Index and represents broad U.S. equity performance. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices, the index benefited from strong corporate earnings growth and shareholder returns over the decade. Performance reflects the overall U.S. market rather than a specific theme.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF)

IWF tracks large-cap U.S. growth stocks within the Russell 1000 Index. BlackRock reports that returns were driven by technology, consumer discretionary and communication services sectors. Growth-style volatility remains a risk.

Common Themes Among Top-Performing ETFs

Several trends appear consistently across the best-performing ETFs over the past decade:

• Heavy exposure to U.S. equities
• Strong weighting toward technology and growth stocks
• Benefit from low interest rates for much of the period

According to the Federal Reserve, prolonged low-rate environments tend to support higher equity valuations, especially for growth stocks.

Risks of Chasing Past Performance

Top-performing ETFs often become popular after strong returns, which can increase downside risk. The SEC cautions that investors who chase performance may buy at elevated valuations.

Sector concentration, valuation risk and economic shifts can reverse long-term trends.

How These ETFs Fit Into a Portfolio

Many investors use high-performing ETFs as growth allocations, balancing them with diversified funds, bonds or income assets. Vanguard research shows that asset allocation and discipline matter more than selecting last decade’s winners.

Final Take to GO

The best-performing ETFs over the last 10 years benefited from sustained U.S. economic growth and technology-driven earnings expansion. Funds like QQQ and VGT delivered strong returns but also carried higher volatility.

For investors, these ETFs can provide valuable growth exposure — as long as they are used thoughtfully within a diversified, long-term strategy.

Data is accurate as of Jan. 27, 2026, and is subject to change.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.

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