Progress shares proceed to guide the market greater.
For those who’re seeking to begin out investing, placing your cash into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) targeted on progress shares may be a good way to begin. Progress shares are the shares of firms which might be rising their income and earnings extra shortly than the general market. Whereas progress shares can come from any sector, they are usually bunched up within the expertise and shopper discretionary sectors.
Progress shares have helped lead the market greater for a lot of the final decade. The truth is, they’ve outperformed worth shares in eight of the final 10 years, typically by a large margin. With synthetic intelligence (AI) wanting like it’s nonetheless in its early days, there’s a good likelihood that progress and expertise shares will proceed to guide the market over the following decade, as effectively.
Picture supply: Getty Pictures.
Progress ETFs are a easy means for traders to personal a portfolio of high progress shares. They’re additionally a straightforward strategy to implement a dollar-cost averaging technique. That is merely investing a set quantity every month, no matter whether or not the market is doing effectively or poorly. Whereas investing $1,000 is a good begin, investing $1,000 every month over the lengthy haul may also help you construct long-term wealth.
Let us take a look at three progress ETFs to contemplate investing in right this moment.
The Vanguard Progress ETF
The Vanguard Progress ETF (VUG +0.36%) basically tracks the expansion facet of the S&P 500 index. The fund is closely weighted towards tech shares, with greater than 60% of its holdings within the sector. In the meantime, its high three holdings of Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft comprise a few third of its portfolio.

Vanguard Index Funds – Vanguard Progress ETF
Right now’s Change
(0.36%) $1.78
Present Worth
$490.23
Key Information Factors
Day’s Vary
$487.40 – $490.56
52wk Vary
$316.14 – $505.38
Quantity
1.9M
The ETF has been a robust performer over time. It is produced a median annual return of 17.5% over the previous decade, and it has been even higher extra just lately, with a yearly common return of 32.5% over the previous three years. The fund as soon as once more outperformed in 2025 with a 19.4% achieve.
The Invesco QQQ Belief
One of many high index-ETF performers in 2025 was as soon as once more the Invesco QQQ Belief (QQQ +0.88%), which gained 20.8% for the 12 months. The ETF, which tracks the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index, has constantly overwhelmed the S&P 500 over time. The truth is, over a 12-month rolling interval, it is bested the benchmark index practically 88% of the time over the past decade.

Right now’s Change
(0.88%) $5.43
Present Worth
$623.42
Key Information Factors
Day’s Vary
$618.54 – $624.02
52wk Vary
$402.39 – $637.01
Quantity
43M
Whereas it has comparable high 10 holdings because the Vanguard Progress ETF, it isn’t fairly as top-heavy. In the meantime, you are getting a who’s who of high AI names with its high 10 holdings.
As of the tip of November, the ETF has a 19.3% common annual return over the past 10 years and is up 29.3% on common over the previous three years.
World X Synthetic Intelligence & Expertise ETF
For those who’re seeking to focus simply on AI shares, the World X Synthetic Intelligence & Expertise ETF (AIQ +1.15%) is a good choice. The fund additionally provides traders a special look, because the ETF may even spend money on shares exterior the U.S. Whereas U.S. shares make up practically 70% of its portfolio, it has a number of worldwide shares in its high 10 holdings, together with Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Alibaba, and SK Hynix.

World X Funds – World X Synthetic Intelligence & Expertise ETF
Right now’s Change
(1.15%) $0.60
Present Worth
$52.65
Key Information Factors
Day’s Vary
$52.05 – $52.65
52wk Vary
$30.60 – $53.75
Quantity
2.1M
The ETF has carried out effectively in recent times, with a 36.4% common annual return over the previous three years. In the meantime, it was up 32% in 2025.
The Ark Innovation ETF
For traders in search of a progress ETF that’s actively managed, the Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK +0.64%) is a strong choice, though it does have a tendency to hold extra volatility. The fund is managed by Cathie Wooden, who’s in search of firms with potential disruptive expertise. Wooden likes to make huge bets and holds fewer than 50 shares within the portfolio.
The ETF crushed the market in 2025, with a 35.5% return. In the meantime, it has had yearly returns of fifty% or extra thrice up to now 10 years, though it did see a foul stretch in 2021 and 2022, earlier than the fund rebounded. That stated, the ETF shouldn’t be for the faint of coronary heart.
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