In this article, we discuss 12 best financial and fintech ETFs to buy. If you want to skip our discussion on the finance industry, head over to 5 Best Financial and Fintech ETFs To Buy.
In the past year, the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank caused major repercussions in the banking sector, particularly affecting regional banks. Even major US financial institutions faced challenges throughout 2023. In 2024, a global economic slowdown and macroeconomic weakness fuelled by high interest rates are expected to stir up problems for the banking industry. Although governments worldwide are implementing measures to control inflation, many factors still pose a risk to economic prosperity, including supply chain disruptions, changing trade relationships, geopolitical tensions, and extreme weather events. IMF’s latest forecasts indicate global economic growth of only 3% in 2024, with developed economies showing modest growth rates and emerging economies experiencing notable growth.
According to a Deloitte report, banks globally will face challenges that impact their revenue generation and cost management in 2024. High interest rates have increased net interest income, especially in the United States and Canada, while also driving up funding costs and reducing margins consequently. The global banking industry is now faced with an uphill battle to control deposit costs while customer expectations and market competition skyrocket. Loan growth is forecasted to be modest, given the high borrowing costs and overall macroeconomic dynamics, with banks likely to maintain restrictive credit lending policies. While consumer spending is strong, demand for credit card and auto loans is predicted to remain robust, while demand for corporate loans may temporarily weaken before likely recovering later this year. Additionally, climate change considerations are largely impacting credit availability and loan demand. The blend of higher deposit costs, lower policy rates, and limited loan potential may affect banks’ ability to maintain strong net interest margins in 2024. Looking ahead, the global banking landscape is expected to experience further transformation, with Chinese and American banks dominating global rankings and rising influence from Indian banks and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds anticipated over the coming decade.
In 2024, Fidelity believes there may be a reason for cautious optimism despite the unsettling closures in 2023, which were driven by specific circumstances not necessarily applicable to all banks and financial institutions. Macroeconomic factors such as growth, inflation, and Federal Reserve policy will likely remain pivotal for the financial sector and the broader market. Recent events at Silicon Valley Bank underscored the importance of deposit quality in the current environment. With interest rates rising, depositors now have higher-yielding options for their excess cash, making deposits more susceptible to potential flight. Hence, focusing on high-quality deposits has become imperative. Institutions like Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and M&T Bank illustrate the advantages of such stability.
In 2024, many financial services dealmakers are feeling more optimistic compared to last year, as recent improvements in financial markets and positive signals about interest rates from central banks are slowly restoring investor confidence. Present market conditions, paired with ongoing initiatives like digitalization, sustainability, and addressing workforce challenges, are pushing financial services players to quicken their transformation efforts to remain competitive and profitable. M&A remains a significant part of this transformation journey, especially as organic growth faces challenges in the current macroeconomic environment. Dealmakers are likely to prefer smaller transactions over mega-deals to facilitate transformational steps. Deal processes may also become more complex and protracted. According to PwC, some sectors within the financial services industry are especially attractive for M&A activity in 2024. These include asset and wealth management, insurance, private equity, payments, and fintech. Asset and wealth managers are expected to boost M&A to achieve scale and acquire new capabilities, while insurance companies may divest complex legacy portfolios to reduce costs and enhance capital efficiency. Private equity investors are largely focusing on financial services-related sectors, such as insurance brokerage and fintech, for M&A opportunities. Regulatory pressure and stakeholder expectations on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are also increasing, influencing business decisions and investment strategies.
Some of the best financial stocks to buy include Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B). However, we discuss the best financial ETFs in this article.
Our Methodology
We curated our list of the best financial and fintech ETFs by choosing consensus picks from multiple credible websites. We have mentioned the 5-year share price performance of each ETF as of March 22, 2024, ranking the list in ascending order of the share performance. We have also discussed the top holdings of the ETFs to offer better insight to potential investors.
A city skyline with multiple regional banks in the foreground.
Best Financial and Fintech ETFs To Buy
12. Amplify Mobile Payments ETF (NYSE:IPAY)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 20.02%
Amplify Mobile Payments ETF (NYSE:IPAY) aims to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Global Digital Payments Index, before accounting for fees and expenses. It offers exposure to global companies engaged in different aspects of payment-related products and services such as card networks, infrastructure, software, processors, and solutions. Amplify Mobile Payments ETF (NYSE:IPAY) was launched in July 2015. As of March 22, 2024, the fund’s net assets total $361.4 million, along with a portfolio of 36 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.75%. Amplify Mobile Payments ETF (NYSE:IPAY) is one of the best financial ETFs to buy.
PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is the largest holding of Amplify Mobile Payments ETF (NYSE:IPAY). On February 7, PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.48 and a revenue of $8 billion, outperforming Wall Street estimates by $0.12 and $130 million, respectively.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 87 hedge funds were long PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL), up from 78 funds in the prior quarter.
Like Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B), PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) is one of the best financial stocks to watch.
Wedgewood Partners stated the following regarding PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL) also contributed less to portfolio performance than most holdings during the fourth quarter. The total payment volume handled by PayPal during its most recent quarter grew +15%, which helped drive healthy revenue growth and +20% earnings per share growth. Critically, the Company’s new management team has significant opportunity to drive more revenue and earnings growth across the massive, multi-trillion-dollar payments addressable market. PayPal’s rapidly growing payment processing brand, Braintree, represents one of those revenue growth opportunities, either by raising prices, as the Company had previously used a low-price strategy to establish a beachhead in this market, or by adding value-added services. PayPal’s branded checkout remains the largest volume and profit driver for the business, and we expect this to continue to track in-line with e-commerce growth in the near term, and eventually take share as the Company rolls out new features to its over +400 million users and +30 million merchants. We added to our position with the stock trading at just 10X forward earnings estimates during the quarter because there are many more long-term growth opportunities relative to most financial companies that trade for similar multiples and compared to technology companies that trade for much higher multiples.”
11. Capital Link Global Fintech Leaders ETF (NYSE:KOIN)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 26.56%
Capital Link Global Fintech Leaders ETF (NYSE:KOIN) aims to mirror the performance of the AF Global Fintech Leaders Index, excluding fees and expenses. This index is designed to represent a diversified selection of companies engaged in fintech innovations. It focuses on two main segments – companies utilizing technology to improve operations, customer experience, data security, and digital assets; and companies aiding financial services firms in adopting and integrating new technologies and applications. Capital Link Global Fintech Leaders ETF (NYSE:KOIN) was introduced on January 30, 2018. As of March 21, 2024, the fund holds a portfolio of 35 stocks, along with a net expense ratio of 0.75% and net assets of $13.25 million.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the top holdings of Capital Link Global Fintech Leaders ETF (NYSE:KOIN). On March14, Argus upgraded Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)’s earnings estimates for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 following its fiscal third-quarter results. Oracle reported strong performance, particularly in cloud services and support revenue, and highlighted significant cloud contract signings driven by artificial intelligence demand. Analysts maintain a bullish outlook on the company.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) was part of 100 stock portfolios, compared to 88 in the prior quarter. Jean-Marie Eveillard’s First Eagle Investment Management is the largest stakeholder of the company, with 18.5 million shares worth $1.95 billion.
Madison Sustainable Equity Fund stated the following regarding Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) reported a disappointing second quarter due to supply constraints. Cloud revenue was below expectations as Oracle made planning decisions to accommodate some large-scale Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) clients that take longer to bring online. We continue to believe that Oracle has a unique position in Generative AI workloads and continue to like its position and strategy.”
10. ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKF)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 39.29%
ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKF) is an actively managed ETF that primarily invests in domestic and foreign equity securities of companies engaged in financial technology innovation, with at least 80% of its assets allocated to such investments. Companies are considered part of the Fintech theme if they derive significant revenue from or are primarily focused on transaction innovations, blockchain technology, risk transformation, frictionless funding platforms, customer-facing platforms, and new intermediaries. As of February 29, 2024, ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKF)’s net assets amounted to $1,131 million, and its expense ratio came in at 0.75%. It is one of the best financial ETFs to buy.
Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) is the largest holding of ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (NYSE:ARKF). On March 12, Raymond James upgraded Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) from Underperform to Market Perform due to the ongoing rally in Bitcoin fueled by robust inflows into exchange-traded products. Although Raymond James maintains a negative long-term bias on the cryptocurrency exchange, it no longer deems Underperform as suitable for the near term.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 41 hedge funds were bullish on Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN), compared to 27 funds in the prior quarter.
Patient Capital Management stated the following regarding Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) climbed an incredible 131.7% in the quarter outpacing the 57% gain in bitcoin over the same period as investors became excited about the potential approval of a Bitcoin ETF in the new year. Coinbase continues to stand out as the lead survivor in an industry of fading and failing leaders. Cost savings initiatives taken earlier in the year have resulted in three quarters of positive EBITDA leading to expectations for “meaningful positive adjusted EBITDA” for the full year 2023. We continue to believe COIN has the potential to be the platform for crypto with $5B in liquidity providing the ability to invest and weather any crypto winters.”
9. First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE:FXO)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 53.11%
First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE:FXO) aims to match the performance, before fees and expenses, of the StrataQuant Financials Index. The fund was launched on May 8, 2007. The ETF features an expense ratio of 0.62%, along with net assets of $847.6 million and a portfolio comprising 102 stocks. First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE:FXO) is one of the best financial ETFs to buy, ranking 9th on our list.
The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is the largest holding of First Trust Financials AlphaDEX Fund (NYSE:FXO). The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is an insurance holding company based in the United States, which operates in three segments – Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. On March 4, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on April 12, to shareholders on record as of April 4.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 79 hedge funds were bullish on The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR), up from 63 funds in the last quarter. Andreas Halvorsen’s Viking Global is the largest stakeholder of the company, with 5.8 million shares worth $934 million.
ClearBridge Sustainability Leaders Strategy made the following comment about The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) in its Q3 2023 investor letter:
“Other positioning moves involved the sale of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) and the addition of Travelers. Progressive has had a challenging time pricing in line with elevated loss trends, although we believe it will be able to improve its combined ratio over time.”
8. Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF (NYSE:FNCL)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 55.33%
Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF (NYSE:FNCL) aims to match the performance of the MSCI USA IMI Financials 25/50 Index before fees and expenses. This index covers different segments of the US financial market, including large, mid, and small-cap companies. Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF (NYSE:FNCL) utilizes a representative sampling indexing strategy to manage the fund. The ETF was established on October 21, 2013. As of December 31, 2023, the fund owns net assets worth $1,504.6 million, along with a portfolio of 411 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.084%. Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF (NYSE:FNCL) is one of the best financial ETFs to buy.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is the largest holding of Fidelity MSCI Financials Index ETF (NYSE:FNCL). On March 19, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) declared a $1.15 per share quarterly dividend, a 9.5% increase from its prior dividend of $1.05. The dividend is payable on April 30, to shareholders on record as of April 5.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 103 hedge funds were bullish on JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), compared to 109 funds in the prior quarter.
Carillon Eagle Growth & Income Fund stated the following regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“PNC Financial and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) performed well due to more benign inflation data, which the market likely interpreted as a sign that a recession is now less likely to occur. Recall that historically speaking, banks are hyper-cyclical stocks and typically will trade lower if investors foresee a recession, because recessions tend to trigger loan losses.”
7. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (NYSE:RSPF)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 55.38%
Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (NYSE:RSPF) tracks the S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials Index, which evenly distributes the weight of stocks within the financial sector of the S&P 500 Index. As of March 22, 2024, the fund’s portfolio consists of 72 stocks, along with an expense ratio of 0.40%. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (NYSE:RSPF) ranks 7th on our list of the best financial ETFs.
The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is one of the top holdings of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Financials ETF (NYSE:RSPF). On March 22, TD Cowen upgraded The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) from Market Perform to Outperform. The upgrade is based on the belief that the peak in cash-sorting has been reached, anticipation of higher net interest margin until 2025, and the expectation that investors will start valuing the stock based on earnings in 2026 or 2027.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 81 hedge funds were bullish on The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW), up from 77 funds in the last quarter. Harris Associates is the leading stakeholder of the company, with 19 million shares worth $1.3 billion.
Sequoia Fund stated the following regarding The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“By way of example, consider the following holdings: Rolls Royce, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW), Elevance Health, Credit Acceptance, Capital One Financial, Liberty Broadband, and Ashtead. Each of these companies trades for a low double-digit, or lower, multiple of our estimate of normalized earnings per share, yet each of them is capable of compounding earnings per share at a double-digit rate. At year-end 2023, these holdings accounted for almost a third of the Fund’s capital. Additions in 2023 included Liberty Broadband, Charles Schwab, Elevance, and Capital One Financial.
Charles Schwab is notable because the business and the stock both had a challenging year. The regional banking panic in the spring of 2023 created an opportunity for us to add to our position below $50 per share. Rising interest rates have impacted the business in ways both predictable and unpredictable, but the net result has been a crimping of earnings that will likely persist for another year or two. Critically, we do not believe any of these transitory dynamics pose, or ever posed, any existential risk to the business. Further, Schwab’s enviable, high-return franchise remains, in our view, entirely intact. If we are right on both these counts, we should generate an attractive return from the current stock price across a range of long-term interest rate scenarios.
Shares in Charles Schwab returned -16% last year, making it the Fund’s worst-performing stock. By holding steady in the down market of 2022, it was one of the Fund’s best-performing stocks that year. This reversal in stock performance reflects a realization that rising interest rates are not an unalloyed good for Schwab in the short run…” (Click here to read the full text)
6. Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VFH)
5-Year Share Price Performance as of March 22: 55.70%
Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VFH) is a passively managed fund that aims to replicate the performance of Spliced U.S. Investable Market Financials 25/50 Index, which is a benchmark index representing the financial sector’s investment return. The fund’s portfolio comprises 394 stocks, and it features an expense ratio of 0.10%. As of February 29, 2024, Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VFH)’s total assets amounted to $9.9 billion. It ranks 6th on our list of the best financial ETFs.
Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the top holdings of Vanguard Financials Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSE:VFH). On February 6, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.66 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on May 9, to shareholders on record as of April 9.
According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 141 hedge funds were bullish on Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), compared to 140 funds in the prior quarter. Charles Akre’s Akre Capital Management is the largest stakeholder of the company, with 5 million shares worth $2.15 million.
In addition to Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is one of the top financial stocks to buy.
Ensemble Capital Management stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:
“Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) (7.21% weight in the Fund): Payment companies are data companies. As we discussed last quarter in our write up of Mastercard, merchants can generate significant value from analyzing payment data to better understand their customers. Mastercard has long built AI-based products to enhance payment security and provide merchants with rich data analytics. In December, they rolled out Muse, a new online shopping companion that merchants who utilize certain Mastercard services can install on their own websites.
Muse seeks to replicate the in store experience of working with a salesclerk by allowing the customer to use natural language to browse products. Online shopping already works well if you know exactly what you are looking for, but Muse is striving to help customers find things to buy even when they aren’t sure what they are looking for.
Mastercard (7.21% weight in the Fund): In late October, Mastercard reported earnings that investors interpreted as pointing to a near term slowdown in payment growth. The stock fell 5.6% on the day. By the end of the next week, the stock had recovered its losses and went on to reach a new all time high on the last day of the year. But the 7.9% gain on the quarter slightly trailed the S&P 500.”
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Disclosure: None. 12 Best Financial and Fintech ETFs To Buy is originally published on Insider Monkey.