Top 10 Large-Cap ETFs

DIA (SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF) follows the popular Dow Jones Industrial Average Index of 30 stocks which is a "price-weighted" Index meaning the highest priced stocks carry more weight which you can see in the top holdings below. The fund was launched in January 1998. The expense ratio is .16%. AUM equal $9.6 billion and average daily trading volume is 10M shares. As of mid-September 2011 the annual dividend yield is currently 3.40% and YTD return -1.3%. .

Data as of September 2011

DIA Top Ten Holdings & Weightings

1. International Business Machines Corp (IBM): 11.18%
2. Chevron Corp (CVX): 6.43%
3. Caterpillar Inc (CAT): 5.92%
4. McDonald's Corporation (MCD): 5.88%
5. 3M Co (MMM): 5.40%
6. United Technologies Corp (UTX): 4.83%
7. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): 4.82%
8. The Coca-Cola Co (KO): 4.58%
9. The Boeing Co (BA): 4.35%
10. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 4.28%

IVE (iShares S&P 500 Value ETF) follows the S&P 500/Citigroup Value Index which carves out those securities with value characteristics from the S&P 500 index. The fund was launched in May 2000. The expense ratio is .19%. AUM equals $3.7 billion and average daily trading volume exceeds 486K shares. As of mid-September 2011 the annual dividend yield is 2.33% and YTD return -8.06%.

 

Alternative choices could include VTV (Vanguard Value ETF), MGV (Vanguard Mega-Cap Value ETF), JKF (iShares Morningstar Large Value ETF), IWX (iShares Russell Top 200 Value), FTA (First Trust Large Cap Value), SCHV (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF), SPYV (SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF) and RPV (Rydex S&P 500 Pure Value ETF). Note: Long MGV.

Data as of September 2011

IVE Top Ten Holdings & Weightings

1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): 6.91%
2. Chevron Corp (CVX): 3.76%
3. General Electric Co (GE): 3.28%
4. Pfizer Inc (PFE): 2.84%
5. JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM): 2.83%
6. Berkshire Hathaway Inc B (BRK.B): 2.39%
7. Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT): 1.92%
8. AT&T Inc (T): 1.85%
9. ConocoPhillips (COP): 1.82%
10. The Procter & Gamble Co (PG): 1.75%

 

We move now to include what would be "total"� or "broad" market ETFs which include Large, Mid and Small Cap issues linked to well-known indexes. Taken as a whole they cover a segment that can be included within this theme's analysis.

 

VTI (Vanguard Total Market ETF) tracks the MSCI U.S. Broad Market Index. The index represents 99.5% of the total market capitalization of the U.S. common stocks traded on the major markets. The fund was launched in May 2001. The expense ratio is only.07%. AUM equal $18.5 billion and average daily trading volume exceeds 3.2M shares. As of mid-September 2011 the annual dividend yield is 2.55% and YTD return -4.45%.

 

Data as of September 2011

VTI Top Ten Holdings & Weightings

1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): 2.69%
2. Apple, Inc. (AAPL): 2.06%
3. International Business Machines Corp (IBM): 1.39%
4. Chevron Corp (CVX): 1.37%
5. General Electric Co (GE): 1.33%
6. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): 1.31%
7. AT&T Inc (T): 1.24%
8. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 1.21%
9. The Procter & Gamble Co (PG): 1.19%
10. Pfizer Inc (PFE): 1.10%

IWV (iShares Russell 3000 Index ETF) follows this index which is capitalization-weighted consisting of the largest 3000 companies in the U.S. The fund was launched in May 2000. The expense ratio is .21%. AUM equal $2.9 billion and average daily trading volume is over 400K shares. As of mid-September 2011 the annual dividend yield 1.90% and YTD return is -4.54%.

Data as of September 2011

IWV Top Ten Holdings & Weightings

1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): 2.65%
2. Apple, Inc. (AAPL): 2.59%
3. International Business Machines Corp (IBM): 1.51%
4. Chevron Corp (CVX): 1.45%
5. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): 1.44%
6. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 1.31%
7. The Procter & Gamble Co (PG): 1.29%
8. General Electric Co (GE): 1.26%
9. AT&T Inc (T): 1.23%
10. Pfizer Inc (PFE): 1.09%

IYY (iShares Dow Jones Total Market ETF) follows the Dow Jones U.S. Index which measures the total U.S. market. The fund was launched in June 2000. The expense ratio is .21%. AUM is equal $528 million with average daily trading volume of roughly 83K shares. As of mid-September the annual dividend yield is 1.79% and YTD return -4.13%.

Data as of September 2011

IYY Top Ten Holdings & Weightings

1. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): 2.80%
2. Apple, Inc. (AAPL): 2.71%
3. International Business Machines Corp (IBM): 1.61%
4. Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): 1.53%
5. Chevron Corp (CVX): 1.52%
6. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): 1.38%
7. The Procter & Gamble Co (PG): 1.37%
8. General Electric Co (GE): 1.34%
9. AT&T Inc (T): 1.30%
10. Pfizer Inc (PFE): 1.18%

These are the index related ETFs that make headlines overall. With these issues growth opportunities, overall asset appreciation and perhaps increases in dividends are possible.

We're not ranking these ETFs although we use a few of them in portfolios. Nevertheless, most of these feature similar trends and this is heavily affected by Fed monetary policies in effect since 2009. These policies have resulted in high sector to sector correlations making choices for now inconsequential.

As stated with other sectors, remember ETF sponsors must issue and their interests aren't aligned with yours. They have a business interest and wish to have a competitive presence in any popular sector.

For further information about portfolio structures using technical indicators like DeMark and other indicators see www.etfdigest.com. You may follow us on Facebook as well and join our group conversations.

You may address any feedback to: [e-mail]  

The ETF Digest has no current position in the featured securities.

(Source for data is from ETF sponsors and various ETF data providers.)

This commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet guest contributor program. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of TheStreet or its management.

Dave Fry is founder and publisher of ETF Digest, Dave's Daily blog and the best-selling book author of Create Your Own ETF Hedge Fund, A DIY Strategy for Private Wealth Management, published by Wiley Finance in 2008. A detailed bio is here: Dave Fry.

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