Best Long-Term ETFs to Buy and Hold: 7 Core Funds Compared

"Buy and hold" works best with funds that are cheap, diversified, and simple enough to keep owning through good and bad markets. Below are seven widely held ETFs that fit that description — each doing a different job in a long-term portfolio. The figures (index, expense ratio, holdings, inception) were checked in September 2026 against public fund data; they change over time, so confirm current numbers on each provider's official page before investing. This is educational information, not personalized financial advice.

How these 7 ETFs were chosen

The list favors funds with low expense ratios, broad or clearly defined index exposure, a long track record, and large, liquid trading. It deliberately mixes roles — U.S. stocks, international stocks, a growth tilt, a dividend tilt, and bonds — because no single fund does every job. Being on this list is not a recommendation to buy; it's a starting point for research. New to ETFs? Read what an ETF is first.

The 7 ETFs at a glance

Sources: fund data compiled from StockAnalysis.com and the fund providers (Vanguard, Invesco, Charles Schwab), September 2026. Holdings counts are approximate and change daily.

1. VOO — S&P 500 core

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500, roughly 500 of the largest U.S. companies weighted by market value, at a 0.03% expense ratio. It's a common core holding because it's cheap and simple. The trade-off: it holds only large U.S. companies, and its biggest positions can dominate results. Compare siblings in our VOO vs VTI and VOO vs SPY pages.

2. VTI — total U.S. market

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (0.03%) holds thousands of U.S. stocks across large, mid and small companies. Because it's market-cap weighted, large companies still make up most of it — so it behaves a lot like VOO, with a small extra slice of smaller companies. It has been around since 2001.

3. VXUS — international stocks

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (0.05%) holds thousands of companies outside the U.S., across developed and emerging markets. Investors who own only U.S. funds add it to avoid depending on a single country. International returns can differ meaningfully from U.S. returns in any given decade — in either direction.

4. VT — one-fund global option

Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (0.06%) covers U.S. and international stocks in a single fund, holding around ten thousand companies. It's the simplest way to own the global stock market — effectively VTI and VXUS combined — at a slightly higher fee than either.

5. QQQ — Nasdaq-100 growth tilt

Invesco QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 — about 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq — with a 0.18% expense ratio, higher than the broadest index funds. It is heavily weighted toward technology, so it is more concentrated and has historically been more volatile than the S&P 500. Most investors use it as a tilt beside a core fund, not alone. Read how much VOO and QQQ overlap and our VOO vs QQQ comparison.

6. SCHD — dividend focus

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (0.06%) tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 index, about 100 U.S. companies screened for dividend track record and financial strength. It appeals to investors who want income and a value-leaning tilt. A dividend focus narrows the fund to fewer companies and sectors than a total-market fund. See VOO vs SCHD.

7. BND — bonds for stability

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (0.03%) tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Float Adjusted index — thousands of U.S. investment-grade government, corporate and mortgage-backed bonds. Bonds have historically swung less than stocks, which can cushion a portfolio, but bond prices fall when interest rates rise and returns have generally lagged stocks over long periods. Investors with decades ahead may hold little bond exposure; those closer to needing the money often hold more.

Putting them together

You don't need all seven. Many long-term investors build around one or two funds — for example VT alone, or VTI plus VXUS, with bonds added according to age and risk tolerance — and only add tilts like QQQ or SCHD if they understand the concentration they add. What matters more than the exact fund is low cost, a mix you can hold through downturns, and contributing consistently for years. Compare our take on the best Vanguard ETFs, then model your own plan with the compound interest calculator. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results, and all investing involves risk, including loss of principal.