The Best Low Volatility ETFs

The table below compares the performance and other essential indicators like dividend yield and expense ratio of Low Volatility ETFs.

Low Volatility ETFs and funds select or weight securities to reduce expected portfolio volatility relative to a broad market. They often emphasize historically stable companies and defensive sectors but can still lose value and may lag during strong, risk-seeking markets.

Number of ETFs: 43
Avg. Expense Ratio: 0.37%
Avg. Dividend Yield: 2.52%
Avg. 1 Year Return: 13.43%
Median Risk/Return Score: 45 / 100

23 results

Symbol	Full Name	Category	Inception	Expense Ratio	YTD Return	10Y Return (Annualized)	Dividend Yield	Risk / Return Rank
ZLH.TO	BMO Low Volatility US Equity Hedged to CAD ETF	Low Volatility	Feb 4, 2016	0.30%	10.18%	7.42%	1.72%	31
ZLI.TO	BMO Low Volatility International Equity ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities, Low Volatility	Sep 2, 2015	0.40%	6.13%	5.77%	2.13%	23
ZLU.TO	BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD)	Low Volatility	Mar 19, 2013	0.33%	14.56%	9.15%	1.68%	48

Best Low Volatility ETFs by Risk/Return Score

The top Low Volatility ETFs by PortfoliosLab Risk/Return Score are LVHI (96) and FLLV (94). The score measures risk-adjusted performance over the past year, accounting for volatility, drawdown, and return consistency.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
LVHI	Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen...	96	5.21B	Jul 2016
FLLV	Franklin Liberty U.S. Low Volatility ETF	94	112.15M	Sep 2016
VSMV	VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility E...	92	156.72M	Jun 2017
CDL	VictoryShares US Large Cap High Dividend Volatilit...	87	404.80M	Jul 2015
CDC	VictoryShares US EQ Income Enhanced Volatility Wtd...	87	745.45M	Jul 2014

Best-Performing Low Volatility ETFs Over 5 Years

The top Low Volatility ETFs is LVHI (16.64%). Across the lineup, Low Volatility ETFs show an average 1-year return of 13.43% and an average 5-year return of 7.63%, providing a clearer view of performance across different investment horizons.

Symbol	Name	Return 5Y	AUM	Inception
LVHI	Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen...	16.64%	5.21B	Jul 2016
HDLB	ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged US High Dividend Lo...	14.72%	5.52M	Oct 2019
CDL	VictoryShares US Large Cap High Dividend Volatilit...	10.78%	404.80M	Jul 2015
VSMV	VictoryShares US Multi-Factor Minimum Volatility E...	10.71%	156.72M	Jun 2017
FLLV	Franklin Liberty U.S. Low Volatility ETF	10.38%	112.15M	Sep 2016

Lowest-Cost Low Volatility ETFs

The top Low Volatility ETFs is SPMV (0.10%). With an average expense ratio of 0.37%, Low Volatility ETFs remain a low-cost option for investors seeking broad market exposure, sector allocations, and diversified portfolio building blocks.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
SPMV	Invesco S&P 500 Minimum Variance ETF	0.10%	3.55M	Jul 2017
LGLV	SPDR SSGA US Large Cap Low Volatility Index ETF	0.12%	1.19B	Feb 2013
SMLV	SPDR SSGA US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF	0.12%	261.02M	Feb 2013
VFMV	Vanguard U.S. Minimum Volatility ETF	0.13%	418.00M	Feb 2018
FDLO	Fidelity Low Volatility Factor ETF	0.15%	1.37B	Sep 2016

Highest-Yield Low Volatility ETFs

The top Low Volatility ETFs is HDLB (10.08%). Across the lineup, Low Volatility ETFs show an average dividend yield of 2.52%, offering investors a steady stream of income through regular dividend payments, making them attractive for income-seeking portfolios.

Symbol	Name	Dividend Yield	AUM	Inception
HDLB	ETRACS Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged US High Dividend Lo...	10.08%	5.52M	Oct 2019
IDLV	Invesco S&P International Developed Low Volatility...	4.91%	340.83M	Jan 2012
XSHD	Invesco S&P SmallCap High Dividend Low Volatility ...	4.90%	74.37M	Dec 2016
FLLV	Franklin Liberty U.S. Low Volatility ETF	4.72%	112.15M	Sep 2016
LVHI	Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividen...	4.54%	5.21B	Jul 2016

Top ETFs Categories

Global Equities · 597 ETFs Europe Equities · 587 ETFs Leveraged Equities · 558 ETFs Derivative Income · 515 ETFs Large Cap Blend Equities · 471 ETFs Asia Pacific Equities · 449 ETFs Technology Equities · 419 ETFs Defined Outcome · 345 ETFs Emerging Markets Equities · 337 ETFs Dividend · 307 ETFs S&P 500 · 303 ETFs Corporate Bonds · 300 ETFs Government Bonds · 267 ETFs Foreign Large Cap Equities · 257 ETFs Large Cap Growth Equities · 251 ETFs Energy Equities · 210 ETFs High Yield Bonds · 204 ETFs Large Cap Value Equities · 204 ETFs Cryptocurrency · 200 ETFs ESG · 197 ETFs Options Trading · 195 ETFs Quality Factor · 179 ETFs Actively Managed · 178 ETFs Precious Metals · 164 ETFs Health & Biotech Equities · 154 ETFs Municipal Bonds · 150 ETFs REIT · 148 ETFs Japan Equities · 143 ETFs Financials Equities · 137 ETFs Emerging Markets Bonds · 136 ETFs

Top ETFs Comparisons

Compare the top ETFs symbols based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol name

ZLB.TO vs. VDY.TO ZLB.TO vs. XIU.TO ZLB.TO vs. XDIV.TO ZLB.TO vs. XBAL.TO ZLB.TO vs. XUT.TO ZLU.TO vs. ZSP.TO ZLU.TO vs. ZDY.TO ZLU.TO vs. XEQT.TO ZLU.TO vs. ZID.TO ZLU.TO vs. XBAL.TO XMV.TO vs. XIC.TO XMV.TO vs. VEQT.TO XMV.TO vs. XEQT.TO XMV.TO vs. VCE.TO XMV.TO vs. ZSP.TO XMU.TO vs. XMS.TO XMU.TO vs. VFV.TO XMU.TO vs. XIT.TO XMU.TO vs. SMMV XMU.TO vs. XST.TO XMW.TO vs. ACWV XMW.TO vs. XEF.TO XMW.TO vs. XEQT.TO XMW.TO vs. VXC.TO XMW.TO vs. XDIV.TO XMI.TO vs. EFAV XMI.TO vs. XEF.TO XMI.TO vs. XUU.TO XMI.TO vs. XML.TO XMI.TO vs. VOO FLVI.NEO vs. VIDY.TO FLVI.NEO vs. FCID.TO FLVI.NEO vs. KNGX.TO FLVI.NEO vs. VEE.TO FLVI.NEO vs. ZLI.TO VVO.TO vs. CAGE.TO VVO.TO vs. XEQT.TO VVO.TO vs. FGEP.TO VVO.TO vs. VMO.TO VVO.TO vs. VVL.TO TCLV.TO vs. TULV.TO TCLV.TO vs. TEQT.TO TCLV.TO vs. TQCD.TO TCLV.TO vs. XCV.TO TCLV.TO vs. XDIV.TO TILV.TO vs. FCIL.NEO TILV.TO vs. RIDH.TO TILV.TO vs. QDX.TO TILV.TO vs. ZLI.TO TILV.TO vs. TINF.TO

Risk vs. Return Scatterplot

The Risk vs. Return Scatterplot allows you to quickly compare funds, stocks, and ETFs in one view. It displays the yearly return of an instrument on one axis and the risk (volatility) on the other.

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