How to invest in low-volatility ETFs

How do I invest in the low volatility factor?

Stocks with low volatility tend to yield an excess return compared to the risk taken. This research-based observation is referred to as the low-volatility factor.

There are various possible explanations for this: For example, shares with low volatility may be perceived as less rewarding by investors as they are associated with less risk. Another theory suggests that investors generally overestimate their ability to forecast. For particularly volatile stocks, there is a greater disagreement between investors, which should lead to higher volatility and lower returns. Investors who want to implement these scientific findings in practice – for example, through ETFs – will quickly encounter two terms that pursue the same goal but differ fundamentally in their methodology: Low Volatility and Minimum Volatility.

• Low Volatility (single-stock approach): This approach looks at stocks in isolation. It simply selects the equities that have shown the lowest historical price fluctuations (standard deviation) in the past. These naturally defensive stocks – often from sectors such as utilities or consumer staples – are then given the highest weighting in the portfolio.
• Minimum Volatility / Minimum Variance (portfolio approach): Here, the focus is not on the fluctuation of individual stocks, but on the risk of the entire portfolio. Using mathematical models, a combination of stocks is selected that exhibits the lowest volatility as a collective. The decisive lever here is the correlation between the stocks. This leads to an interesting effect: a minimum volatility portfolio can certainly contain highly volatile individual stocks, provided they move in the opposite direction to the rest of the portfolio, thereby reducing overall risk through diversification.

Good to know: Globally available ETFs generally track Minimum Volatility strategies.
 
This factor strategy can also be implemented by means of an index. In this investment guide, you will find all available worldwide low volatility ETFs. Currently, there are 8 ETFs available.
 

A la hora de elegir el a low-volatility ETF hay que tener en cuenta otros factores además de la metodología del índice subyacente y el rendimiento de un ETF. Para una mejor comparación, encontrarás una lista de todos los low-volatility ETFs con detalles sobre el patrimonio, el coste, la edad, los ingresos, el domicilio y el método de replicación clasificados por patrimonio del fondo.

Compara todos los low-volatility ETFs en detalle
Compara todos los low-volatility ETFs en un gráfico

Fuente: justETF.com; A partir de 8/7/26

Comparación del rendimiento de todos los low-volatility ETFs

La tabla muestra los rendimientos de todos los low-volatility ETFs en comparación. Todas las cifras de rentabilidad incluyen los dividendos a final de mes. Además de la rentabilidad es importante la fecha de referencia en la que se realiza la comparación. Para encontrar el mejor ETF, también puedes realizar una comparación gráfica.

• Acumulado
• Año natural

Fuente: justETF.com; A partir de 30/6/26; Cálculos en EUR, incluidos los dividendos