Steady Compounders
Equity ETFs that produced return per unit of risk rather than raw return, favors shallow drawdowns, low volatility, and low cost.
| Rank | Fund | 3M | 1Y | Vol | Max DD | vs 200d | ER | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | ||||||||
| #2 | ||||||||
| #3 | VYM Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | -1.7% | 14.2% | 10.3% | -6.7% | 1.9% | 0.06% | 0.733 |
| #4 | VOO Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 3.9% | 17.1% | 12.9% | -8.9% | 8.0% | 0.03% | 0.552 |
| #5 | IVV iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 3.9% | 17.1% | 13.0% | -8.9% | 8.0% | 0.03% | 0.546 |
| #6 | VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | 3.2% | 16.7% | 13.2% | -8.9% | 7.6% | 0.03% | 0.516 |
| #7 | VIG Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | -0.8% | 10.6% | 10.2% | -7.9% | 3.2% | 0.05% | 0.509 |
| #8 | SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | 3.9% | 17.0% | 13.0% | -8.9% | 8.0% | 0.0945% | 0.504 |
| #9 ▲1 | XLE Energy Select Sector SPDR | 16.8% | 47.6% | 21.9% | -15.0% | 13.3% | 0.09% | 0.485 |
| #10 ▼1 | QUAL iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF | 4.0% | 16.1% | 12.2% | -9.0% | 7.8% | 0.15% | 0.480 |
What the screen did this week
The Steady Compounders screen ranked 41 eligible funds as of 2026-10-05. Equity ETFs that produced return per unit of risk rather than raw return, favors shallow drawdowns, low volatility, and low cost.
The composite is a weighted blend of cross-sectional z-scores: return-to-risk (1y return ÷ 1y vol) (35%, higher better); 1-year max drawdown (25%, higher better); 1-year volatility (20%, lower better); 1-year return (10%, higher better); expense ratio (10%, lower better). Every fund is scored against the others in its universe on the same date, so a score is a statement about relative standing that week, not a forecast.
The visible ranking
#3 VYM, Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF. 3-month -1.7%, 1-year 14.2%, volatility 10.3%, worst drawdown -6.7%, expense ratio 0.06%. Composite 0.733.
#4 VOO, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. 3-month 3.9%, 1-year 17.1%, volatility 12.9%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.552.
#5 IVV, iShares Core S&P 500 ETF. 3-month 3.9%, 1-year 17.1%, volatility 13.0%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.546.
#6 VTI, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. 3-month 3.2%, 1-year 16.7%, volatility 13.2%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.03%. Composite 0.516.
#7 VIG, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF. 3-month -0.8%, 1-year 10.6%, volatility 10.2%, worst drawdown -7.9%, expense ratio 0.05%. Composite 0.509.
#8 SPY, SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust. 3-month 3.9%, 1-year 17.0%, volatility 13.0%, worst drawdown -8.9%, expense ratio 0.0945%. Composite 0.504.
#9 XLE, Energy Select Sector SPDR. 3-month 16.8%, 1-year 47.6%, volatility 21.9%, worst drawdown -15.0%, expense ratio 0.09%. Composite 0.485.
#10 QUAL, iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF. 3-month 4.0%, 1-year 16.1%, volatility 12.2%, worst drawdown -9.0%, expense ratio 0.15%. Composite 0.480.
What changed since 2026-10-02
No fund in the top 15 moved more than one place, the ranking was essentially unchanged. The screen re-ranks from scratch every week, so a move reflects a change in relative standing, not a decision by anyone.
What moved the numbers
At rank 3, VYM scored 0.733. Its largest single contribution came from 1-year max drawdown, and its biggest drag from 1-year return. At the other end, FXI finished last of 41 with a composite of -1.958.
Every fund in the universe cleared the gates this week.
How to read this
This is a rules-based screen published on a fixed schedule. It is the same for every reader, it is not tailored to anyone’s circumstances, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell. Rankings are computed from price history alone. Past performance does not predict future results.
Pro unlocks the top two on every screen, the full factor breakdown behind each score, and the Goal Seek screener.