About Us

Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

A Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Social Media

Bluesky • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedIn • YouTube

Meet the Laser Focus World Team

Editorial

Sales

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology
My Watchlist
Indicators
Industrial Laser Index
Markets
Stocks
ETFs
Tools
Markets:
Overview
News
Currencies
International
Treasuries

Set It and Forget It: Top ETFs to Buy and Hold Like Buffett

By: MarketBeat

ETFs to buy

In times of market volatility and turbulence, like we've seen in the past few weeks, the "set it and forget it" investment approach becomes especially appealing and relevant. Various factors, including jobless claims, geopolitical uncertainties, shifts in central bank policies, and the infamous carry trade, have influenced recent market pullbacks. 

For investors seeking stability and long-term growth without the need for active portfolio management, investing in high-quality ETFs is a straightforward and solid strategy. It eliminates the need to constantly monitor macro-driven headlines, making it a hands-off investment option.

If picking individual stocks isn't your forte, you're in good company. Even Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, has long advocated for investing in the S&P 500 index fund as the best bet for most people. As he said at Berkshire's 2020 annual meeting, "In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund." Taking a page from the playbook of one of the greatest investors of all time, let's dive into three popular ETFs ideal for everyday investors.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) is a globally recognized and widely traded ETF that provides investors with broad exposure to the U.S. equity market by tracking the S&P 500 index. The ETF is dominated by the 'Magnificent 7,' with Apple as its top holding at 6.87%, followed closely by Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and Berkshire Hathaway.

While tech giants lead the portfolio, SPY also offers substantial diversification beyond the technology sector, with 13% exposure to financials, 9.7% to consumer discretionary, and 12.1% to healthcare. Investors also benefit from a 1.28% dividend yield, making SPY a well-rounded choice for those seeking a mix of growth and income.

The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

Similarly, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: VOO) offers exposure to the same top holdings and sector distribution as SPY, including substantial investments in Apple, Microsoft, and other leading companies. However, VOO stands out with a slightly lower dividend yield of 1.21%, which may be less attractive to income-focused investors. The natural appeal of VOO lies in its ultra-low expense ratio of just 0.03%, making it one of the most cost-effective ways to invest in the S&P 500.

It's important to note that VOO has significantly lower liquidity than SPY, with an average daily trading volume of just 5.19 million shares compared to SPY's 64 million. This lower liquidity might be a consideration for more active traders but is typically not a concern for long-term, buy-and-hold investors.

The Invesco QQQ Trust 

The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ) is an excellent choice for those looking for more concentrated exposure to the technology sector. QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, heavily weighted towards technology, comprising 51.4% of the ETF's sector exposure. Within this, the ETF focuses on semiconductors and semiconductor equipment (22.3%), software (15.9%), media (11.7%), and communications equipment (10.5%). This makes QQQ particularly appealing to investors who believe in the continued dominance of tech in the modern economy.

Moreover, holdings in QQQ have an aggregate rating of Moderate Buy, based on 1,165 analyst ratings issued over the past year, covering 50 companies that account for 86.4% of the portfolio. This combination of sector focus and analyst confidence makes QQQ a compelling option for growth-oriented investors.

The Bottom Line

For conservative investors who prefer a "set it and forget it" approach, these three ETFs, SPY, VOO, and QQQ, offer reliable options for long-term growth. Each provides exposure to different slices of the market, with varying degrees of cost, liquidity, and risk. By choosing one or a combination of these ETFs, investors might opt to build a diversified portfolio that can weather market volatility and capitalize on long-term trends.

More News

View More
3 Heavily Shorted Stocks That Could Pop on Rate Cuts
Via MarketBeat
Topics Artificial Intelligence Economy
Tickers ETSY SMR SOUN
Broadcom Gets Second $420 Target as CPO Win Boosts Outlook
Via MarketBeat
Tickers AVGO META
PepsiCo’s Deep Discount Will Soon Evaporate: Buy It While You Can
Via MarketBeat
Tickers PEP
Bargain Alert: DraftKings Is the Most Oversold It’s Ever Been
Via MarketBeat
Tickers DKNG
Constellation Brands: Buffett’s $2.2B Bet May Have Hit Bottom
Via MarketBeat
Tickers BUD STZ
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.