YTD Top Performing Exchange Trade Funds in 2014

Find the YTD top performing exchange traded funds in 2014 for investing. Best ETFs are Global X Gold Explorers ETF, SPDR S&P Biotech ETF, and Guggenheim Solar.

Best ETF Funds

Investing in 2014 is just starting. Looking at the top performing funds may provide inside where investors have placed their bet for big gain in 2014. Exchange traded funds are traded like stocks, they are very liquid to trade through your brokerage. You can also invest for free through certain brokerages for your investment account or retirement account (IRA).

Looking briefly from the top list, you will find some laggards in 2013 and some leader ETFs in 2013. Most of the top performing funds in 2014 are sector fund. The top sectors include gold sector or precious metals, health or biotech, emerging markets, solar or alternative energy. Find the fund review below including expense fee, fund returns, yield, etc.

The year-to-date top performing exchange traded funds in 2014 are:

1. PureFunds ISE Junior Silver ETF
2. Global X Gold Explorers ETF
3. SPDR S&P Biotech ETF
4. Guggenheim Solar
5. Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF
6. Market Vectors Vietnam ETF
7. Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF
8. PowerShares Dynamic Biotech & Genome
9. First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech Index
10. Global X Silver Miners ETF
11. iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners
12. Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF

Updated on 1/19/2014

PureFunds ISE Junior Silver ETF (SILJ)

PureFunds ISE Junior Silver ETF utilizes its assets to purchase stocks of small cap companies that are involve in silver exploration and mining. In 2014, it has a year to date return of 22.07%. This index ETF funds is tracking ISE Junior Silver (Small Cap Miners/Explorers) Index. The total assets are only $1.69 million. Its expense fee is 0.69%. This ETF has an average volume of 6k shares. The current shares price is $11.38.
The top 5 stocks in its holdings are Fortuna Silver Mines Inc, Endeavour Silver Corporation, Silvercorp Metals Inc, MAG Silver Corporation, and SilverCrest Mines Inc. The top sector is basic materials.

Global X Gold Explorers ETF (GLDX)

Ranked with 1 star by Morningstar, Global X Gold Explorers ETF has no yield. This top performing exchange trade funds in 2014 invests mainly in companies that are part of Solactive Global Gold Explorers Index. Its expense fee is only 0.65%. The 52 week price range is between $12.82 and $13.51.

The past 3 years performance is as follows:

• Year 2013: -62.44%
• Year 2012: -28.38%
• Year 2011: -42.01%

The top 3 stocks in its portfolio are B2Gold Corp, Novagold Resources Inc, and Gryphon Minerals Limited. There is also zero yield for this best ETF.

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI)

SPDR S&P Biotech ETF is an index ETF fund. This best performing ETF in 2014 is tracking the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index. The current dividend yield is 0.17%. Popular among investors or traders, it has $1.2 billion of total assets. The annual expense ratio is only 0.35%.

More: Top 6 Health Sector Mutual Funds

Morningstar has ranked this top performing ETF in 2014 with 2 stars rating. In 2014, its YTD return is 20.32%. This health sector ETF has returned 34.68% over the past 3 years, and 24.26% over the past 5 years. The top 3 equities are Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc, Neucrine Biosciences Inc, and Ariad Pharmaceuticals.

Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN)

Guggenheim Solar fund has a share price of $41.77. This top performing exchange traded fund in 2014 uses its assets to purchase companies in the MAC Global Solar Energy Index. This index ETF has a 12-month yield of 1.28%. The total assets are $392 million. Its expense fee is 0.70%.

More: Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP)

This alternative energy ETF has an average return of 129.26% for the past year. The top 4 stocks in its portfolio are Solarcity Corp, GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Ltd, Canadian Solar Inc, and Yingli Green Energy Holding ADR. The top 3 countries are China, United States, and Hong Kong.

Fund Returns

No	ETF Name	Symbol	Category	Expense Ratio (%)	YTD Return %	1-Year Return %
1	PureFunds ISE Jnr Slvr(Sm Cp Mnr/Exp)ETF	SILJ	Equity Precious Metals	0.69	22.07	-45.69
2	Global X Gold Explorers ETF	GLDX	Equity Precious Metals	0.65	21.45	-54.43
3	SPDR S&P Biotech ETF	XBI	Health	0.35	20.32	64.05
4	Guggenheim Solar	TAN	Miscellaneous Sector	0.7	18.73	129.26
5	Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF	GDXJ	Equity Precious Metals	0.55	17.81	-55.63
6	Market Vectors Vietnam ETF	VNM	Miscellaneous Region	0.74	14.42	8.64
7	Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF	KWT	Miscellaneous Sector	0.65	14.29	99.32
8	PowerShares Dynamic Biotech & Genome	PBE	Health	0.63	13.17	71.99
9	First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech Index	FBT	Health	0.6	10.12	54.62
10	Global X Silver Miners ETF	SIL	Equity Precious Metals	0.65	9.73	-44.17
11	iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners	RING	Equity Precious Metals	0.39	9.55	-46.9
12	Market Vectors Egypt Index ETF	EGPT	Miscellaneous Region	0.94	8.97	15.42
13	iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology	IBB	Health	0.48	8.97	71.28
14	Global X Junior Miners ETF	JUNR	Natural Resources	0.69	8.85	-42.63
15	Global X Pure Gold Miners ETF	GGGG	Equity Precious Metals	0.59	8.53	-47.85
16	iPath DJ-UBS Platinum TR Sub-Idx ETN	PGM	Commodities Precious Metals	0.75	8.48	-15.28
17	Market Vectors Biotech ETF	BBH	Health	0.35	8.3	69.84
18	PowerShares Lux Nanotech	PXN	Miscellaneous Sector	0.7	7.61	28.16
19	PowerShares Global Gold & Prec Metals	PSAU	Equity Precious Metals	0.76	7.5	-44.79
20	First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy	FAN	Miscellaneous Sector	0.6	7.31	64.27
21	PowerShares Global Clean Energy	PBD	Miscellaneous Sector	0.82	7.13	54.41
22	PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy	PBW	Miscellaneous Sector	0.7	6.73	61.39
23	iPath DJ-UBS Coffee TR Sub-Idx ETN	JO	Commodities Agriculture	0.75	6.68	-33.84
24	First Trust NASDAQ Cln Edg Green En Idx	QCLN	Miscellaneous Sector	0.6	6.53	93.65
25	SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF	XPH	Health	0.35	6.3	59.64
26	UBS E-TRACS Long Platinum TR ETN	PTM	Commodities Precious Metals	0.65	6.28	-16.46
27	Market Vectors Glb Alternatve Energy ETF	GEX	Miscellaneous Sector	0.62	6.13	73.59
28	Market Vectors Gulf States Index ETF	MES	Miscellaneous Region	0.98	6.12	36.82
29	PIMCO 25+ Yr Zero Cpn U.S. Trsy Idx ETF	ZROZ	Long Government	0.15	6.11	-13.9
30	PowerShares DB Base Metals Long ETN	BDG	Commodities Industrial Metals	0.75	5.89	-21.3
31	ETFS Physical Platinum Shares	PPLT	Commodities Precious Metals	0.6	5.82	-14.84
32	Vanguard Extended Dur Trs Idx ETF	EDV	Long Government	0.12	5.51	-13.21