The Best ETFs to Invest in Right Now

Core Insights - Investing in ETFs provides instant diversification and simplifies the investment process, especially during uncertain market conditions [1][2] Group 1: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) - SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on companies with consistent cash flow and a strong balance sheet, requiring at least 10 years of dividend payouts [4][5] - The ETF offers a dividend yield of over 3.7%, which is above its decade average and nearly three times that of the S&P 500 [5] - SCHD has increased its dividend payout by over 160% in the past decade, enhancing the compounding effect through reinvested dividends [7] - Consistent dividends provide dual benefits: they boost returns during upward trends and cushion losses during downturns [8] Group 2: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) - VXUS offers geographic diversification by providing exposure to companies from both developed and emerging markets, covering thousands of companies globally [9][10] - The ETF's regional allocation includes 39% in Europe, 27.2% in emerging markets, 25.4% in the Pacific, 7.7% in North America, and 0.7% in the Middle East [11] - Although VXUS has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past decade, it has nearly doubled the S&P 500's returns this year [12] - With the S&P 500 at historically high levels, VXUS serves as a hedge against potential market pullbacks, suggesting a target allocation of around 10% in international stocks for many investors [14]