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There’s much to like about exchange-traded funds.ETFs are easy to buy and sell.ETFs are generally low-cost.Depending on their investment set, ETFs are usually tax-efficient.ETFs are pretty transparent: What you see is what you get.Given these qualities, ETFs can make terrific portfolio building blocks. They allow you to get exposure to the parts of the market that you want—and to avoid the parts of the market you don’t want.A good place to start your screening process is with the Morningstar Medalist Rating. ETFs that earn our top rating of Gold are the ones we think are most likely to outperform over a full market cycle.Today, we’re taking a look at the best stock ETFs in three main asset-allocation Morningstar Categories: US large-cap stocks, US mid- and small-cap stocks, and international stocks.Read more: My Favorite Active ETFs68 Best Large-Cap Stock ETFs to Buy NowThese ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US large-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.Avantis U.S. Equity ETF AVUSAvantis U.S. Large Cap Value ETF AVLVBrandes U.S. Value ETF BUSA Capital Group Conservative Equity ETF CGCV Capital Group Dividend Value ETF CGDV Capital Group Growth ETF CGGRDimensional US Core Equity 1 ETF DCORDimensional US Core Equity 2 ETF DFACDimensional US Core Equity Market ETF DFAUDimensional US High Profitability ETF DUHPDimensional US Large Cap Value ETF DFLVFidelity High Dividend ETF FDVVHartford Multifactor US Equity ETF ROUSInvesco MSCI USA ETF PBUSiShares Core S&P 500 ETF IVV iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF ITOT iShares Core S&P US Growth ETF IUSGiShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF IUSViShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF ESGUiShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF SUSLiShares Russell 1000 ETF IWBiShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF IWFiShares Russell 1000 Value ETF IWDiShares Russell 3000 ETF IWViShares S&P 500 Growth ETF IVWiShares S&P 500 Value ETF IVEJPMorgan Active Growth ETF JGROJPMorgan Active Value ETF JAVAJPMorgan U.S. Research Enhanced Large Cap ETF JUSAMFS Active Growth ETF MFSGMFS Active Value ETF MFSV Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF LSGR Oakmark U.S. Large Cap ETF OAKM Polen Focus Growth ETF PCLG Principal Focused Blue Chip ETF BCHPSchwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF FNDXSchwab U.S. Broad Market ETF SCHB Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF SCHD Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF SCHX Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF SCHVState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF SPYGState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF SPYVState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF SPYM State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF SPY SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF SPTM T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth ETF TCHPT. Rowe Price Capital Appreciation Equity ETF TCAF T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF TDVG T. Rowe Price Growth Stock ETF TGRWVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF VIG Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF ESGVVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF VYM Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF VUG Vanguard Morningstar Large Cap ETF VV Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap ETF MGC Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Growth ETF MGK Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap Value ETF MGV Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF VTIVanguard Morningstar Value ETF VTVVanguard Mega Cap Value Vanguard Russell 1000 ETF VONE Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF VONG Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF VONV Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF VTHRVanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF VOOGVanguard S&P 500 Value ETF VOOVXtrackers MSCI USA Selection Equity ETF USSG The funds in this group provide exposure to the stocks of large companies, making them fine anchors for an equity portfolio. But there are strategic differences among them.Some ETFs in the group, including iShares Core S&P 500 and Vanguard S&P 500, track the S&P 500. As a result, they provide access to large-cap stocks representing about 80% of the US stock market.Others on the list, such as iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market, Schwab U.S. Broad Market, and Vanguard Total Stock Market, follow broader market indexes that include more stocks, some of which are smaller-cap names. While these funds also land in the large-blend category, they expose investors to a wider pool of stocks and market capitalizations.Still other ETFs on the list grant exposure to a subset of stocks. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, for instance, exclusively focuses on dividend-paying stocks. Moreover, some names on the list focus on growth stocks, while others explore value stocks.You can find more top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.44 Best Mid- and Small-Cap Stock ETFs These ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s US mid- or small-cap stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.Avantis U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF AVSCAvantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF AVUVDimensional US Micro Cap ETF DFMCDimensional US Small Cap ETF DFASDimensional US Small Cap Value ETF DFSVDimensional US Targeted Value ETF DFATiShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF IJHiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF IJRiShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF ESMLiShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF IWRiShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF IWPiShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF IWSiShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF IJKiShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF IJJiShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF IJTiShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF IJSNeuberger Small-Mid Cap ETF NBSMSchwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company ETF FNDASchwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF SCHMSchwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF SCHAState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF SPMDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF SPSMState Street SPDR Russell 1000 Yield Focus ETF ONEYState Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF MDYGState Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF MDYVState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF SLYGState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF SLYVState Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF MDYState Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF SDYVanguard Extended Market ETF VXFVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF VOVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF VOTVanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Value ETF VOEVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF VBVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF VBKVanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF VBRVanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 ETF IVOOVanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF IVOGVanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF IVOVVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF VIOOVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETF VIOGVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF VIOVVanguard U.S. Momentum Factor ETF VFMOVanguard U.S. Quality Factor ETF VFQYMid- and small-cap stocks certainly aren’t portfolio essentials, especially if you already own one of the broader-market index ETFs from the large-blend category. If you do, you already have some mid- and small-cap stock exposure.However, if you have a large-stock-focused portfolio or if you’d like to boost your weighting in small company stocks, you’ll find what you need among our Gold-rated ETFs in the mid- and small-cap categories.Some ETFs focus exclusively on mid-cap stocks, while others target smaller-company stocks; in addition, some skew toward growth stocks, while others favor value stocks. 49 Best International-Stock ETFs to Buy and HoldThese ETFs all land in one of Morningstar’s foreign or global stock categories and earn our top Medalist Rating of Gold with 100% analyst coverage in September 2026.Avantis International Equity ETF AVDEAvantis International Small Cap Value ETF AVDVBaillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth ETF BGGGBNY Mellon Concentrated International ETF BKCICapital Group International Core Equity ETF CGICDimensional International Core Equity 2 ETF DFICDimensional International Core Equity Market ETF DFAIDimensional International Small Cap Value ETF DISVDimensional International Small Cap ETF DFISDimensional International Value ETF DFIVDimensional World Equity ETF DFAWFPA Global Equity ETF FPAGFranklin FTSE Japan ETF FLJPFranklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF FLJHHarbor International Compounders ETF OSEAHartford Multifactor Developed Markets (ex-US) ETF RODMiShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF IEFAiShares Core MSCI Europe ETF IEURiShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF IXUSiShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF ESGDiShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF EFGiShares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Factor ETF EFAViShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF EFViShares MSCI Global Minimum Volatility Factor ETF ACWViShares MSCI Kokusai ETF TOKiShares MSCI World ETF URTHJohn Hancock Disciplined Value International Select ETF JDVIJPMorgan Dividend Leaders ETF JDIVJPMorgan Global Select Equity ETF JGLOJPMorgan International Growth ETF JIGJPMorgan International Research Enhanced Equity ETF JIREJPMorgan International Value ETF JIVEOakmark Global Large Cap ETF OAKGOakmark International Large Cap ETF OAKISchwab Fundamental International Equity ETF FNDFSchwab International Dividend Equity ETF SCHYSchwab International Equity ETF SCHFSchwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF SCHCState Street SPDR MSCI World Strategic Factors ETF QWLDState Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF SPDWVanguard ESG International Stock ETF VSGXVanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF VEUVanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small Cap ETF VSSVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF VEAVanguard FTSE Europe ETF VGKVanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF VIGIVanguard International High Dividend Yield Index ETF VYMIVanguard Total International Stock ETF VXUSVanguard Total World Stock ETF VTLike mid- and small-cap funds, international-stock ETFs certainly aren’t must-owns. After all, from a risk-reduction standpoint, international stocks aren’t great diversification tools for a portfolio heavy in US stocks. But remember that investment opportunities exist around the globe; many think it’s a mistake to limit your investments to US stocks.Read more: How Active ETFs Are Reshaping Fund FeesThe Gold-rated ETFs here target stocks of varying sizes and styles across international markets. If none of these ETFs fit the bill for you, you can find additional top-rated ETFs in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.How to Find the Best ETFs for the Long TermMany investors equate ETFs with low-cost indexing. But the ETF marketplace has grown increasingly complicated. Some ETFs track a very narrow part of the market or pursue specific themes. Some ETFs invest based on a particular factor or a combination of factors. And there are actively managed ETFs as well.Use these Morningstar resources to help find the best ETFs for the long term:Learn about the types of exchange-traded funds, their costs, and how to invest in them by reading Morningstar’s Guide to ETF Investing.Find the highest-rated ETFs across all investment categories in The Best ETFs and How They Fit in Your Portfolio.Review Morningstar Director of Personal Finance Christine Benz’s suggested ETF portfolios for those saving for or already in retirement, including Tax-Efficient Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Saver Portfolios for ETF Investors, Tax-Sheltered Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors, and Tax-Sheltered ESG Retirement-Bucket Portfolios for ETF Investors.Research ETFs based on your own selection criteria by using our Morningstar Investor Screener. The tool, which is available to Morningstar Investor members, allows investors to screen ETFs based on various criteria, including asset class, Morningstar Category, Medalist Rating, and fee level.Visit Morningstar’s ETF page for the latest articles and videos from our ETF specialists.