Jul
27
2023
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ETFs vs Mutual Funds: Learning the Difference

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | No Comments

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds are both SEC-registered investment vehicles that offer investors a convenient way to build a diversified portfolio. Both are professionally managed and offer investors slices of the portfolio. Both can hold hundreds or thousands of securities. Both are not FDIC insured, which means an individual can lose their money.

For decades, ETFs and mutual funds have provided retail and institutional investors an efficient way to invest in stocks, bonds and other asset classes. Yet there are key differences.

Differences Between ETFs and Mutual Funds

While there are plenty of similarities between ETFs and mutual funds, let’s start with some key differences.

How to Buy Mutual Funds and ETFs

The biggest difference between mutual funds and ETFs is how they’re purchased and sold. Mutual funds transact once per day, with all investors selling or buying shares at the same closing price. ETFs trade throughout the day on public exchanges, with many shares exchanging hands at various prices as buyers and sellers react to changes in the market.

Data on Holdings

Mutual funds are required to report the total value of their portfolio once per day after the stock markets close. The fund then figures out how many shares they have and what each share is worth based on the total value. This is what is referred to in the industry as the Net Asset Value, or NAV. When investors buy or sell a share of the mutual fund, they transact at that NAV at the end of the day.

Meanwhile, ETFs have to report their holdings on a daily basis. The price of the ETF fluctuates throughout the day based on market conditions and the value of the ETF’s underlying holdings.

Passive vs Active

ETFs tend to be considered “passive investments.” That’s because investors are not necessarily making active trades but rather tracking an underlying index. However, actively managed ETFs have also cropped up, since the first ETF was launched in 1993.

Meanwhile, with mutual funds, it’s common to find an active fund manager who makes decisions on which holdings to buy and sell.

Fee Differences Between ETFs vs Mutual Funds

Mutual funds tend to charge different types of fees to cover their business costs. ETFs generally charge lower fees. Compared to active investing, passive investing usually incurs lower fees since they track a particular index, like the S&P 500 Index.

Tax Implications of ETFs vs Mutual Funds

You may get better tax efficiency with ETFs, because you are not buying or selling as much with them. There are fewer transactions to tax and ETFs are generally tax efficient given their unique creation and redemption mechanism that they employ.

You’ll have to pay capital gains taxes and dividend income taxes, but ETFs have a lower tax requirement than mutual funds. Due to the unique structure of ETFs, they’re often able to reduce the amount of capital gains they distribute each year relative to a comparable mutual fund.

Lower Initial Investment

As a general rule, mutual funds tend to require a higher initial investment. ETFs, on the other hand, allow investors to invest in as little as a single share. In some cases, brokerage firms allow investors to even buy ETF fractional shares, slices of a whole stock in an ETF.

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Types of Mutual Funds

The first mutual fund was launched in the 1970s by the late Jack Bogle of Vanguard. Since then the investment type has steadily increased in popularity. They account for tens of trillions of dollars.

Here are some of the different types of mutual funds:

Load Mutual Funds

Load mutual funds charge a sales commission that’s paid to a financial professional or broker who helped the investor decide on which mutual fund to purchase.

There are typically two types of load mutual funds: Front-end load funds, which means the fee is paid when the mutual fund is purchased, and back-end load funds, which means the fee is paid when the mutual fund purchase is redeemed. Generally, back-end load funds charge higher fees.

No-Load Mutual Funds

Investors could look for a “no-load” mutual fund, which means the shares are bought and sold without charging commissions.

This plan may be best for investors who plan to do a lot of trading. If investors have to pay a commission charge every time they buy or sell a security, frequent trading will reduce returns. However, the expense ratios for no-load mutual funds are often higher.

Active vs Passive Mutual Funds

Most mutual funds are actively navigated by experienced money managers who steer the fund and invest in companies they believe will lead to outperformance. However, there are also passive mutual funds that track indices, similar to the way ETFs do.

Open-Ended Funds

Purchases and sales of fund shares typically happen directly between an investor and the fund company. As more investors buy into the fund, more shares are added, which means that the number of eventual fund shares can be nearly unlimited.

However, the fund must undergo a daily valuation by law, which is called marking to market (see a deeper dive on this below). The result of this process is a new per-share price, which has been adjusted to sync with any changes in the value of the fund’s holdings. An investor’s share value is not affected by the quantity of outstanding shares.

Closed-End Funds

Unlike open-ended funds, closed-ended funds (CEFs) are finite and limited. Only a specific number of shares are issued and no further shares are expected to be added.

The prices of close-ended funds are influenced by the NAV of the fund, but are ultimately determined by the demand investors have for the fund. Since the amount of shares is fixed, the shares often trade above or below the NAV. If the fund is trading above the NAV (what it’s really worth), it’s said to be trading at a premium; if trading below the NAV, it’s said to be trading at a discount.

💡 Quick Tip: Before opening an investment account, know your investment objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. These fundamentals will help keep your strategy on track and with the aim of meeting your goals.

Different Types of ETFs

ETFs are just one class of funds within the broader exchange-traded product (ETP) universe. Here’s a closer look at the different types of ETPs and ETFs.

Exchange-traded notes (ETNs)

Exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are usually debt instruments issued by banks that seek to track an index.

Leveraged ETFs

Leveraged ETFs use derivatives to amplify returns from a fund. For instance, if an underlying index moves 1% on a trading day, a regular ETF tracking the index would also move 1%. However, a leveraged ETF could move 2% or 3% depending on whether it’s double levered or triple levered.

Inverse ETFs

Inverse ETFs are similar to shorting a stock. Investors can use inverse ETFs to bet that the price of a market or stock sector will go down. So if the underlying goes down 1% on a given day, the inverse ETF will go up 1%.

Thematic ETFs

Thematic ETFs tend to focus on a slice of the stock market and follow a specific trend. Thematic ETFs that have cropped in recent years include those that cover renewable energy, the gig economy, or even pet care.

The major pros and cons of thematic ETFs include capturing a specific trend that appeals to an investor, as well as being too narrowly focused.

The Takeaway

Both ETFs and mutual funds allow investors to pool funds with other investors’ funds to ultimately buy and sell baskets of securities in the market. The aim is portfolio diversification and reducing risk compared to investing in a single company. If a person were to put all of their money into one company instead, their investment isn’t diversified because their fortunes are tied to that single company.

Investing in both ETFs and mutual funds, or a combination of both (or either) will depend on an individual investor’s preferences. Not all investments are right for each portfolio, and some research is necessary to see what’s right for you.

Ready to expand your portfolio's growth potential? Alternative investments, traditionally available to high-net-worth individuals, are accessible to everyday investors on SoFi's easy-to-use platform. Investments in commodities, real estate, venture capital, and more are now within reach. Alternative investments can be high risk, so it's important to consider your portfolio goals and risk tolerance to determine if they're right for you.


Invest in alts to take your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.


An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. This and other important information are contained in the Fund’s prospectus. For a current prospectus, please click the Prospectus link on the Fund’s respective page. The prospectus should be read carefully prior to investing.
Alternative investments, including funds that invest in alternative investments, are risky and may not be suitable for all investors. Alternative investments often employ leveraging and other speculative practices that increase an investor's risk of loss to include complete loss of investment, often charge high fees, and can be highly illiquid and volatile. Alternative investments may lack diversification, involve complex tax structures and have delays in reporting important tax information. Registered and unregistered alternative investments are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds.
Please note that Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, hence the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Investors should review the fee schedule for Interval Funds via the prospectus.
SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at https://sofi.app.link/investchat. Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing.
Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.
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27
2023
Why is the U.S. Dollar the World's Reserve Currency?

How the dollar Became the World’s Reserve Currency

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on How the dollar Became the World’s Reserve Currency

The U.S. dollar bears a lot of responsibility when it comes to global finance: It’s the currency kept on hand by central banks and other major financial institutions around the world to make transactions and investments, and to repay debts overseas.

The U.S. dollar is also the currency in which the world prices and trades vital commodities like gold and oil. And buyers and sellers in every country have to keep large amounts of U.S. dollars on hand to pay for them.

Historians disagree on exactly when the dollar became the reserve currency of the world. Some say the change took place right after the First World War, others say it happened closer to 1929, at the outset of the Great Depression.

But all are in agreement that as the Second World War drew toward a conclusion in 1944, the U.S. dollar had unseated the British Pound as the world’s undisputed reserve currency.

The Pound vs the dollar

The U.S. dollar as we know it didn’t actually exist until 1913, under the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, which created the Federal Reserve System.

The new central bank was created to set monetary policy and stabilize the U.S. currency, which had been issued based on bank notes issued by a number of individual banks.

At that point, the British pound was the world’s reserve currency. Though the U.S. economy was the largest in the world as World War I started in 1914, Britain remained at the center of the world’s trade, and most international transactions took place in British pounds. Like most countries’ currencies at the time, the British Pound was backed by gold.

Recommended: What Is Monetary Policy?

World War I changed all of that. The fighting was so ferocious, so widespread, and so costly that many countries had to deviate from that gold standard just to pay their armies.

Great Britain took the Pound off the gold standard in 1919, and the pound plummeted — which was catastrophic for international merchants and banks that traded primarily in pounds. Some scholars maintain that that was when the dollar became the world’s reserve currency.

Other historians maintain that global trade, especially international debt offerings, were denominated equally in dollars and Pounds until 1929. They even point to data that shows the British Pound was regaining ground on the dollar as the currency of choice for international trade up until 1939. Then World War II began.


💡 Quick Tip: If you’re opening a brokerage account for the first time, consider starting with an amount of money you’re prepared to lose. Investing always includes the risk of loss, and until you’ve gained some experience, it’s probably wise to start small.

World War II and Bretton Woods

Although Germany didn’t surrender to the Allied nations until 1945, the outcome of World War ll was clear by the middle of 1944. In July of 1944, more than 700 delegates from 44 countries met in Bretton Woods, N.H., to negotiate and come to an agreement on the kind of economy that would emerge from the ashes.

The Bretton Woods conference lasted three weeks, and established the U.S. dollar as the currency par excellence for the world. Attendees agreed upon the Bretton Woods system, which established a number of key global economic points:

•   The U.S. agreed that the dollar would be backed by gold, which was priced at $35 an ounce when the agreement took effect.

•   The countries who signed the agreement promised that their central banks would establish fixed exchange rates between their own currencies and the U.S. dollar. If their currency weakened, their central bank would buy up the currency until its value stabilized relative to the dollar.

On the other hand, if the country’s currency grew too strong compared with the dollar, their central bank would issue more currency until the price fell and the relationship with the dollar returned to normal.

•   Those countries also promised not to lower their currencies to goose trade. But it allowed them to take steps to increase or decrease the value of their currencies for other reasons, like stabilizing their economy, or to help with post-war rebuilding.



💡 Quick Tip: Newbie investors may be tempted to buy into the market based on recent news headlines or other types of hype. That’s rarely a good idea. Making good choices shouldn’t stem from strong emotions, but a solid investment strategy.

The dollar Since Bretton Woods

By 1971, the gold owned by the U.S. government had reached a limit at which it could no longer cover the number of dollars in circulation. That’s when President Richard M. Nixon took the step of reducing the U.S. dollar’s comparative value to gold. This led to the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1973.

After the system fell, the countries took a wide range of approaches to how they valued their currency, and what policies their central banks would pursue. But the end of the system led to the creation of the foreign exchange or forex market, now the biggest and most active financial market in the world, with a daily trading volume of $6.6 trillion.

While the U.S. dollar — now considered a fiat currency — goes up and down in relation to other currencies every day, it is still the world’s reserve currency, with 59% of all non-U.S. bank reserves denominated in dollars, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The dollar retains its prominence not because of an international agreement, but because of a broad consensus about the size, strength and stability of the U.S. economy relative to other options. Globally, investors still see U.S. Treasury securities as an extremely safe bet, as is evidenced by their low yields.

The Takeaway

Most of the world’s trade happens in U.S. dollars. But it hasn’t always been that way. And while it’s been preeminent for about a century, the dollar’s status has changed over time.

For investors interested in understanding the world’s currencies, the dollar’s rise to prominence has implications for the U.S. economy, as well as many other world economies.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).


For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

Photo credit: iStock/fizkes

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.

Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

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Jul
27
2023
Understanding the Gold Silver Ratio

Understanding the Gold/Silver Ratio

By | Financial Independence, Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on Understanding the Gold/Silver Ratio

The gold-to-silver Ratio, also known as the silver-to-gold Ratio or “Mint Ratio,” is a metric that indicates the amount of silver required to buy an ounce of gold. For example, if the silver-gold ratio is 40:1, then it would take 40 ounces of silver to buy one ounce of gold.

This ratio fluctuates daily as the spot price of an ounce of gold and silver changes. This ratio is used by investors determining whether and how they want to invest in precious metals.

It’s a measurement that’s been around for thousands of years. Understanding how the two assets’ price relationship allows investors, governments, and manufacturers to compare and trade gold and silver in real-time.

Recommended: How to Invest in Precious Metals

How Is the Gold-Silver Ratio Calculated?

Investors calculate the gold-silver ratio by dividing the price of one ounce of gold by the price of one ounce of silver: e.g. how many ounces of silver equal one ounce of gold. For example, if one ounce of silver is $20 and one ounce of gold is $1,600, then the silver-gold ratio would be 80:1.

Unlike other physical items, precious metals are weighed by the Troy Ounce, an historic unit of measurement dating back to the Middle Ages equaling roughly 31.1 grams.

By comparison, the standard ounce equals about 28.35 grams. The price of one Troy Ounce of gold and silver fluctuates daily based on the spot price or current price at which the metal is trading.

Whereas most precious metals and commodities have futures contracts traded on the market, the spot price uses real-time price data. Premiums, or additional seller fees added to the price by metal retailers and merchants do not factor into the spot price or the gold-silver ratio.


💡 Quick Tip: When people talk about investment risk, they mean the risk of losing money. Some investments are higher risk, some are lower. Be sure to bear this in mind when investing online.

What Is the Historical Gold-Silver Ratio?

In modern times, the gold-silver ratio fluctuates daily. Before the 20th century, however, governments set the ratio between the two metals as part of their monetary policy, with many relying on a bi-metallic standard. The U.S. government set a gold-silver ratio of 15:1 with the Coinage Act of 1792, and adjusted the standard to 16:1 in 1834.

During the 20th century, nations started to migrate away from the bi-metallic currency standard and for some off the gold standard entirely to fiat currencies. This created more volatility in the metal prices.

Since then, gold and silver prices have traded independently of one another as alternative assets in the free market, resulting in a fluctuating gold/silver ratio.

When the United States abandoned the gold standard in 1971, the gold/silver ratio was 20.54:1. In 1985, it reached 51.68:1 and hasn’t fallen below that level since. It has climbed steadily upward since 2011, reaching an average 82.73 in mid-2023.

Within each year, however, there is significant day-to-day volatility. The ratio hit a record high of 124:1 in March 2020.

Recommended: 7 Investment Opportunities in 2023

Why Does the Gold-to-Silver Ratio Matter?

The gold/silver ratio can be useful to both traders and consumers of precious metals.

Traders

Investors focused on commodities or hard assets keep a close eye on the gold/silver ratio. When the gold/silver ratio is higher than expected, this signals to analysts and traders that silver’s price may be undervalued relative to gold. Conversely, an extremely low number could indicate that gold is undervalued.

Movement in the ratio may also shed light on the current demand or market sentiment toward either metal. A tightening of the ratio may indicate higher silver demand or lower gold demand. Investors in precious metals may compare this ratio to the current supply and demand of each asset to determine whether the fundamentals warrant the price change or if the ratio reflects heightened price speculation.

Consumers

For manufacturers purchasing precious metals such as gold and silver en masse to produce electronics and various consumer goods, the gold-silver ratio may help determine whether or not it’s a good time to buy more metal quantities or buy a futures contract that could offer a more favorable price.

This is a common strategy among various industries that rely heavily on imported materials to produce goods. Companies often hire in-house traders, analysts, or outside consultants to determine price forecasts of required commodities and will buy when the market is favorable and hedge when the outlook is less optimistic.


💡 Quick Tip: Distributing your money across a range of assets — also known as diversification — can be beneficial for long-term investors. When you put your eggs in many baskets, it may be beneficial if a single asset class goes down.

Can You Trade the Gold/Silver Ratio?

The gold-silver ratio is used in investing and trading to determine when one metal is undervalued or overvalued and thus a good value investment. However, like any other security, commodities carry some risks for investors.

Sometimes precious metals are extremely volatile and experience wild price swings, and sometimes gold and silver experience long periods of minimal price movement and volatility compared to other types of investments such as equities, commodities, and cryptocurrency. In fact many investors consider precious metals a store of wealth and allocate to it as part of their investors’ long-term investment portfolios.

The Takeaway

Measuring one asset against another is one way to determine an asset’s value, and Understanding the ratio, and the direction it’s moving, can help you make decisions about any precious metals allocations within your portfolio.

The SoFi Invest investment app can help you gain exposure to precious metals like gold and silver. You can use the platform to purchase exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in specific commodities, or buy mining companies that produce such metals.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).


For a limited time, opening and funding an Active Invest account gives you the opportunity to get up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

Photo credit: iStock/fizkes

SoFi Invest®

INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

SoFi Invest encompasses two distinct companies, with various products and services offered to investors as described below: Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of these platforms.
1) Automated Investing and advisory services are provided by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser (“SoFi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC.
2) Active Investing and brokerage services are provided by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org). Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.
For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above please visit SoFi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform.


Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $25 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

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Jul
27
2023
What Types of Stocks Do Well During Volatility?

What Types of Stocks Do Well During Volatility?

By | Growing Wealth, invest, Investing | Comments Off on What Types of Stocks Do Well During Volatility?

Volatility is a measure of how much and how often a security’s price or a market index moves up or down over time. Higher volatility can mean higher risk, but it also has the potential to generate bigger rewards for investors. Meanwhile, lower volatility is typically correlated with lower risk and lower returns.

Developing a volatility investing strategy can make it easier to maximize returns while managing risk as the market moves from bullish to bearish and back again. Understanding the various stock market sectors and how they react to volatility is a good place to start. This can help with building a portfolio that’s designed to withstand occasional market dips or in the worst-case scenario, a recession.

What Causes Volatility in the Stock Market?

To implement a volatility investing plan it helps to first understand what causes fluctuations in stock prices to begin with. Stock market volatility can ebb and flow over time, and how high or low it is can depend on a number of factors. Some of the things that can push volatility levels higher include:

• Political events, such as elections

• Release of quarterly earnings reports

• Natural disasters

• The bursting of a stock market bubble

• Crises that in foreign countries

• Federal Reserve adjustments to interest rate policy

• News of a merger or acquisition

• Changes to fiscal policy

• Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) hitting the market

• Excitement over meme stocks

A global pandemic can also spark volatility, as evidenced in the mini market crash that occurred early in 2020. Coronavirus fears prompted the end of the longest bull market in history, sending stocks into a bear market.

The downturn was significant enough that the National Bureau of Economic Research Business Cycle Dating Committee dubbed it a recession. It was, however, the shortest on record, lasting just two months. (By comparison, it took 18 months for the stock market to go from peak to trough during the Great Recession).

Predicting volatility can be difficult, though there is a tool that attempts it. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) is a market index designed to measure expected volatility in the stock market. The VIX uses real-time stock quotes to calculate projected volatility over the coming 30 days. The VIX is one factor that goes into the Fear and Greed Index, which measures the emotions driving the stock market.

💡 Quick Tip: Before opening an investment account, know your investment objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. These fundamentals will help keep your strategy on track and with the aim of meeting your goals.

Market Sectors and Volatility

The stock market is effectively a pie with 11 different slices called sectors. These sectors represent the various segments of the market, based on the industries and companies they represent. The 11 sectors identified by the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) are:

• Information technology

• Health care

• Financials

• Consumer discretionary

• Consumer staples

• Communication services

• Industrials

• Materials

• Energy

• Utilities

• Real estate

Some of these sectors include more volatile industries than others, and the share of stocks in those industries within a given portfolio can impact how the portfolio reacts during times of volatility.

Stocks that tend to bear up under the pressure of a downturn or recession are generally categorized as defensive. You may also hear the terms “cyclical” and “non cyclical” used in reference to different market sectors. A cyclical sector or stock is one that’s volatile and tends to follow economic trends at any given time. Non Cyclical sectors or stocks, on the other hand, may outperform when the market experiences a downturn.

What Stock Sectors Do Best During Market Volatility?

Defensive stock market sectors tend to do better when the market is in decline for one reason: they represent things that consumers still need to spend money on, even when the economy is weakening. That means they may be of interest if you’re investing during a recession.

The following sectors tend to do the best during times of volatility:

• Utilities

• Consumer staples

• Health care

Here’s a closer look at how each sector works.

Utilities

The utilities sector represents companies and industries that provide utility services. That includes gas, electric, and water utilities. It can also include power producers, energy traders, and companies related to renewable energy production or distribution.

Since people still need running water, electricity and heat during a recession, utilities stocks tend to be a safe defensive bet.

Consumer Staples

The consumer staples sector covers companies and industries that are less sensitive to a changing economic or business cycle. That includes things like food and beverage manufacturers and distributors, food and drug retailing companies, tobacco producers, companies that produce household or personal care items and consumer super centers.

In simpler terms, the consumer staples sector means things like grocery stores, drugstores, and the manufacturers of everyday products. Since people still need to buy food and basic household or personal care items in a recession, stocks from these sectors can do well when volatility is high.

Health care

The health care sector includes health care service providers, companies that manufacture health care equipment, distributors of that equipment, health care technology companies, research and development companies and pharmaceutical companies.

Health care is a defensive sector since a recession usually doesn’t disrupt the need for medical care or medications.

💡 Quick Tip: It’s smart to invest in a range of assets so that you’re not overly reliant on any one company or market to do well. For example, by investing in different sectors you can add diversification to your portfolio, which may help mitigate some risk factors over time.

What Sectors and Stocks Are More Volatile?

When a recession sets in, defensive sector stocks can be a good buy. The period before a recession begins is often marked by increased volatility and declining stock prices. The impacts of that volatility may be more deeply felt in these sectors:

• Consumer discretionary

• Financials

• Communication services

• Energy

• Information technology

• Commodities

• Industrials

• Materials

These sectors represent more volatile industries that are more likely to be affected by large-scale market trends. For example, the financial sector suffered a serious blow leading up to the Great Recession. A decline in home prices paired with faulty lending practices prompted widespread defaults on mortgage-backed securities, leading a number of financial institutions to seek government bailout funding.

On the other hand, some of these same sectors do well when the economy is coming out of a recession and entering the early stage of the business cycle. For example, the consumer discretionary sector, which includes things like travel and entertainment, typically rebounds as consumers ease their purse strings and start spending on “fun” again. The industrials and materials sectors may also pick up if there’s an increase in manufacturing and production activity.

Understanding the relationships between individual sectors and the business cycle can make it easier to implement a sector investing approach. With sector investing, you’re adjusting your asset allocation over time to try and stay ahead of the economic cycle.

If you suspect a recession might be coming, for example, a sector investing strategy would dictate shifting some of your assets to defensive stocks. On the other hand, if you believe a recession is about to end and stocks are set to bounce back, you may shift your allocation to include more volatile industries that tend to do better in the early stages of the business cycle.

Recommended: Why You Need to Invest When the Market Is Down

Volatility and Business Cycles

Identifying volatile industries generally means considering which sectors or stocks are most sensitive to changes in the economic cycle. Aside from recessionary periods, the business cycle has three other stages:

Early Stage

The early stage of the business cycle typically represents the initial recovery period following a recession. Consumers may begin spending more money on non essentials as the economy begins to strengthen. This is also called the expansion phase, and it may coincide with periods of inflation.

Mid Stage

During the mid stage, the economy begins to hit a peak or plateau with growth leveling off. People are still spending money but the pace may begin slowing down.

Late Stage

The late stage is also called the contraction stage, as economic growth lags. The late stage of the business cycle is usually a precursor to the trough or recession stage.

The Takeaway

Volatility is unavoidable but there are things investors can do to minimize the impact to their portfolio. Diversifying with stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or IPOs could help create volatility hedges.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).


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