GDX - The 4 Best ETFs to Buy During a Stock Market Crash
This has been a year that the investment community will remember for a long time. Aside from dealing with the unprecedented coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Wall Street and investors have contended with the steepest bear market plunge of all time and the quickest rally to new highs from a bear market low in history. In fact, the CBOE Volatility Index, which measures expected volatility in S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) options over the next 30 days, hit its highest level ever in March.
Volatility can be exceptionally scary in the short term, but it historically opens the door for long-term investors to buy great companies at substantial discounts.
Of course, not every investor has the stomach to buy individual stocks, or the time necessary for research. That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come in. An ETF is a security that usually holds a basket of stocks with a certain focus. For instance, if you want to invest in large-cap stocks, consumer staples, or the Brazilian economy, there are ETFs that cater to those desires.