These are the top ETFs listed in the United States and Europe that have produced the highest returns over the last six months. Additionally, they have low management fees and follow stable, well-established indexes.
Top US ETFs February 2026 — Best 6-Month Performance With Low Fees
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)
Yield: 0.57%
2026 Performance to Date: +16.68%
Investment Focus: Semiconductors (US-listed)
Risk Level: High
Small info about this ETF: SOXX has been the standout mover over the last six months, helped by ongoing AI/data-centre capex momentum across the chip supply chain. Based on monthly prices, it rose roughly +47.66% from Aug 2025 → Jan 2026, while still staying in “plain vanilla” (non-leveraged) ETF territory.
Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM)
Yield: 30-day SEC yield 0.51%
2026 Performance to Date: +2.74%
Investment Focus: NASDAQ-100 (large-cap US growth / tech-heavy)
Risk Level: Medium–High
Small info about this ETF: QQQM is a long-term favourite for US mega-cap growth exposure at a lower fee than QQQ. Over the last six months (Aug 2025 → Jan 2026, monthly prices), it gained roughly +11.24%, while keeping a low 0.15% total expense ratio.
Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)
Yield: 0.41%
2026 Performance to Date: +0.42%
Investment Focus: US large-cap growth (broad growth basket, tech-heavy tilt)
Risk Level: Medium
Small info about this ETF: VUG is the “cheap core growth” option—very broad exposure, very low fee. Over the last six months (Aug 2025 → Jan 2026, monthly prices), it gained roughly +6.24%, while charging an ultra-low 0.04% expense ratio.
Top Europe (UCITS) ETFs February 2026 — Best 6-Month Performance With Low Fees
Amundi Core STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF Acc (LYX0Q0)
Yield: Accumulating (dividends reinvested)
2026 Performance to Date: +3.13%
Investment Focus: STOXX Europe 600 (broad Europe, 600 companies)
Risk Level: Medium
Small info about this ETF: One of the cheapest and largest “core Europe” building blocks, with a very low 0.07% TER and large fund size (about €16.2bn AUM shown by justETF).
Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe UCITS ETF Distributing (VEUR)
Yield: 2.72%
2026 Performance to Date: +3.09%
Investment Focus: FTSE Developed Europe (large + mid caps, developed Europe)
Risk Level: Medium
Small info about this ETF: A clean, diversified developed-Europe ETF with a low 0.10% TER and a solid dividend profile (distributing). Six-month total return on justETF is +12.07%.
iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Dist) (IMEU)
Yield: 2.48%
2026 Performance to Date: +2.47%
Investment Focus: MSCI Europe (leading stocks across developed Europe)
Risk Level: Medium
Small info about this ETF: Another “core Europe” staple, typically used as a long-term Europe sleeve. Six-month total return on justETF is +11.52%, with 0.12% TER.
US ETFs February 2026 – Summary
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)
SOXX offers concentrated exposure to the semiconductor value chain, and has been extremely strong recently (YTD +16.68% as of late Jan 2026). It’s higher-volatility by nature, but still a simple, transparent index ETF with published net assets around $21.8bn and an expense ratio of 0.34%.
Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQM)
QQQM remains a straightforward way to own the NASDAQ-100 with a low 0.15% fee, and Invesco reports a 30-day SEC yield of 0.51% (as of late Jan 2026). It’s typically a “core growth” holding for investors who accept higher concentration in mega-cap tech.
Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)
VUG is the ultra-low-cost growth workhorse (0.04% expense ratio) with a modest dividend yield (~0.41%). It’s often used as a long-term growth core, where keeping fees minimal is a big part of the edge.
Top Europe (UCITS) ETFs February 2026 – Summary
Amundi Core STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF Acc (LYX0Q0)
LYX0Q0 is a very broad Europe ETF (600 constituents) with a very low 0.07% TER and accumulating structure (good for compounding inside many European accounts). Recent six-month total return on justETF is +11.99%.
Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe UCITS ETF Distributing (VEUR)
VEUR gives diversified developed-Europe exposure with a low 0.10% TER and distributing dividends (current yield shown as 2.72% on justETF). Recent six-month total return on justETF is +12.07%.
iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF EUR (Dist) (IMEU)
IMEU is a classic MSCI Europe “core” ETF with 0.12% TER, distributing dividends (current yield shown as 2.48%). Recent six-month total return on justETF is +11.52%.
Article Topics
- top US and European ETFs to invest in now February 2026
- top ETFs February 2026
- best US ETFs 2026 (low cost)
- best European UCITS ETFs 2026
- best UCITS ETFs to buy in 2026
- best ETFs for long-term investing Europe and US
- QQQM vs VUG (which is better?)
- SOXX semiconductor ETF overview
- STOXX Europe 600 UCITS ETF (best options)
- MSCI Europe UCITS ETF (acc vs dist)
- FTSE Developed Europe UCITS ETF (dividend ETF Europe)