BlackRock iShares Aladdin Our company Investors Canada EN FR Sign In About us Products Investment themes Insights & education Resources ETFs EXPLAINED Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are an easy-to-use, low cost way to invest your money. An ETF can provide you with access to a diversified portfolio of stocks or bonds in a single investment that trades just like a stock. Comparing ETFs and mutual funds Many investors are familiar with mutual funds. How are ETFs similar? And what makes them different? Diversification You get a diversified collection of stocks and/or bonds, which can potentially help reduce risk compared to individual securities. Risk and reward The risk profile of an ETF is derived from its underlying holdings, as with mutual funds. Professional management The funds are overseen by professional managers. Fund performance Most ETFs seek to closely match the performance of an established stock or bond index, such as the S&P 500 or the TSX. Actively managed mutual funds try to beat the index, which can be hard to do, especially after fees and taxes. Buying and selling As with stocks, you can buy and sell ETFs at the market price whenever the market is open. Mutual fund shares are purchased directly from the fund at Net Asset Value and priced once a day after the market closes. Knowing what you own Because ETFs usually aim to track an index, their holdings change relatively little over time – without the “style drift” that may surprise mutual fund investors. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF iSHARES ETFs? Transparent ETFs are traded on stock exchanges, which allows for price transparency throughout the day, so you always know what your investment is worth. Low Cost iShares ETFs are low cost, averaging 0.25% in annual management fee1. The savings an investor can achieve from lower fess can be significant over time. Diversify iShares ETFs make it easy to invest in a wide array of markets, from broad equity and bond markets, to niche sectors. The underlying holdings are disclosed daily, so that you always know what you own. DISCOVER OUR PRODUCTS Explore our 140+ offerings to find ETFs that fit your investment strategy. GET STARTED Explore more About us WHO WE ARE About BlackRock Corporate Sustainability Investment stewardship Our team OUR SOLUTIONS About iShares About Aladdin Financial Markets Advisory Products BY TYPE iShares ETFs Mutual Funds BY ASSET CLASS Equity Fixed Income Commodity Investment themes INVESTING APPROACHES Sustainable Investing The China opportunity Alternative investments Insights & education MARKET INSIGHTS Featured Insights BlackRock Investment Institute EDUCATION How ETFs trade What is an ETF How to buy ETFs Frequently asked questions (FAQs) Resources RESOURCES Resource Library Tax Information Center Customer service As a global investment manager and fiduciary to our clients, our purpose at BlackRock is to help everyone experience financial well-being. Since 1999, we've been a leading provider of financial technology, and our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. CORPORATE Careers Newsroom Investor relations FAQs Contact us Accessibility LEGAL Terms & conditions Privacy policy Business continuity © 2021 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. 1Based on asset weighted fee as of September 2020. iShares® ETFs are managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investing in iShares ETFs. Please read the relevant prospectus before investing. The funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries in the United States and elsewhere. Used with permission. ICRMH1220C-1383288