ETF heat map
A free ETF heat map for side-by-side fund research
Register for 12 months of free access to Buydy's ETF heat map. Rank funds within label peer groups, compare fees, yield, liquidity, and return windows with percentile context, then verify finalists before reading the prospectus.
Live for members: ETF heat map percentile ranks plus the ETF screener. This is a research grid, not a Finviz-style performance tile map. Nothing on this page is a fund recommendation.
A mandate-first ETF comparison workflow
Start with your ETF mandate
Decide the role first: global equity core, dividend income, investment-grade bonds, sector tilt, factor exposure, or a thematic sleeve. "Best" only makes sense relative to that job.
Screen to a shortlist with the live ETF screener
Use Buydy's ETF screener to filter US-listed funds by expense ratio, AUM, yield, holdings, and other available fields, then save the universe you want to revisit each week.
Rank finalists in the ETF heat map
Open the ETF heat map, expand a label row, and compare sibling funds on fees, yield, return windows, and other metrics with percentile ranks within that peer group. Read raw values next to ranks for verification.
Verify before you allocate
Read the prospectus, tracking difference, tax treatment, and overlap with existing holdings. Lower single-stock risk does not mean low risk or guaranteed returns.
ETF metrics that change the decision
Cost and scale
Expense ratio
Ongoing fund cost compounds over years. Compare like share classes and index methodologies, not headline labels alone.
Assets and liquidity
AUM and trading volume affect spreads and durability. Thin funds can be fine for long holds but painful to adjust quickly.
Income and composition
Distribution yield and policy
Yield depends on underlying holdings and payout rules. Compare yield alongside growth vs income mandate, not as a standalone score.
Holdings count and concentration
Broad index funds and concentrated sector ETFs behave differently. Check top holdings overlap with what you already own.
Exposure and risk
Sector and country weights
Two "global" ETFs can have very different regional and sector bets. Exposure maps matter more than the category name.
Duration and credit quality (bond ETFs)
Rate sensitivity and credit tier drive bond ETF behavior. Match duration to your rate view and liquidity needs.
Return windows
Recent performance helps you notice regime shifts; it does not prove future value. Pair returns with fees, exposure, and drawdown context.
How ETF percentile comparison works in Buydy
Funds group by label peer sets. Each label row summarizes averages; expand the row to rank sibling ETFs together. Cells show display percentiles with raw values available for verification. Complete rows only hides funds missing a rank in any visible column. The goal is repeatable side-by-side comparison, not a single winner column.
ETF heatmap vs Finviz-style performance maps
Finviz-style ETF maps emphasize snapshot performance tiles and visual market maps. Buydy's ETF heat map focuses on repeatable comparison across fund characteristics: fees, liquidity, yield, holdings context, and performance windows together within label peers. Neither format is a recommendation engine.
ETF heat map vs ETF screener
The screener answers who passes your filters right now. The heat map answers how shortlisted funds rank across several metrics within the same label group. Most members use both in sequence every week.
ETF risks and limits
ETFs still carry market, concentration, duration, currency, and issuer risks. Diversification reduces single-company risk; it does not eliminate loss. Past distribution yield and returns are not guarantees. Coverage varies by metric and fund type.
ETF heat map vs ETF screener
Use the screener to filter, then the heat map to rank finalists within label peer groups.
| Aspect | ETF heat map | ETF screener |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Live today for US-listed ETF percentile comparison | Live today for US-listed ETF tables |
| Primary question | How do these shortlisted funds compare across several dimensions within a label? | Which funds match my filters right now? |
| Cell emphasis | Display percentiles within label peers plus raw values | Sortable raw fund fields and saved filters |
| Best next step | Expand label rows and read ranks next to raw values | Build a watchlist, then open the ETF heat map on finalists |
Questions this ETF heat map workflow is built to answer
- How do I find the best ETF for my goal?
- Define the mandate first (core equity, income, bonds, sector, factor, thematic), screen to a shortlist, then compare fees, liquidity, exposure, and performance context in the heat map. "Best" means best fit, not a universal pick.
- How do I compare ETFs beyond headline returns?
- Layer expense ratio, AUM, yield or distribution policy, holdings concentration, sector and country weights, and bond duration where relevant. Returns alone hide structural differences.
- Are ETFs lower risk than individual stocks?
- ETFs diversify single-company risk but still expose you to market, sector, rate, credit, and concentration risks depending on the fund. They are tools for mandate expression, not risk-free substitutes.
FAQ
- What is an ETF heatmap?
- An ETF heat map is a comparison grid that uses color or rank to show how funds stand on selected metrics relative to label peers. Buydy's version focuses on fund characteristics and research context, not a single performance tile.
- How do I compare ETFs in Buydy today?
- Filter with the live ETF screener, then rank finalists in the ETF heat map within label peer groups. Pair with the stock heat map when you want underlying holdings research.
- How do I choose an ETF?
- Start with mandate and time horizon, compare fees and liquidity, check holdings overlap, read the prospectus, and treat recent returns as context rather than proof of future fit.
- Are ETF percentile metrics live in Buydy?
- Yes for the ETF heat map within label peer groups and available metrics. Blank cells mean missing or inapplicable data. The ETF screener shows sortable raw fund fields.
- Is Buydy a Finviz ETF heat map?
- No. Buydy does not ship Finviz-style performance tile maps. The ETF heat map is a percentile comparison grid for fund research, paired with the ETF screener and stock heat map.
- What data should I check before buying an ETF?
- Expense ratio, AUM and spreads, index methodology, top holdings, sector and country weights, distribution history, tracking difference, tax treatment, and fit with your existing portfolio.
- Is this page investment advice?
- No. Buydy provides research infrastructure. Illustrative tickers on this page are not recommendations to buy or sell any fund.
- Is Buydy's ETF heat map free?
- Every new registered user gets 12 months of full access at no charge, including the ETF heat map, ETF screener, stock heat map, global indexes, and research digests. No credit card is required.