Vanguard, which in most cases offers the cheapest U.S. sector ETFs, claimed awards for popular ETFs such as the Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSEArca: VNQ), Vanguard Utilities ETF (NSYE: VPU) and the Vanguard Energy ETF (NYSE: VDE), among other sector funds. Most of Vanguard ETF that track the GICS sectors charge just 0.14% per year, making them the cheapest sector ETFs on the market.
The PowerShares Golden Dragon China Portfolio (NYSEArca: PGJ) took home the Morningstar award for top China ETF. That is not surprising as the tech-heavy PGJ has surged almost 56% this year even as larger China ETFs have struggled. [http://www.etftrends.com/2013/09/this-china-etf-keeps-outperforming-bigger-rivals/]
The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (NYSEArca: DXJ) took home the Morningstar award for top Japan ETF. DXJ, which has raked in over $8.8 billion in assets this year, is 2013’s top asset-gathering ETF.
ETF Trends editorial team contributed to this post. Tom Lydon’s clients own shares of DXJ and VNQ.