The oldest ETFs still trading today: A complete list
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) represent the pioneering foundation of modern index investing, with the longest-running funds serving as enduring pillars of financial markets. These securities are primarily traded on major global exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ, offering persistent access to market-tracking strategies despite decades of market evolution. The legacy ETF market, anchored by funds launched in the 1990s, provides investors with time-tested exposure to core equity indexes through instruments that have maintained continuous operation through multiple economic cycles.
These historic ETFs transcend ordinary investment products; they are milestones in financial innovation. Key attributes include:
- Pioneering structures: First-generation ETFs established foundational frameworks for passive indexing still used globally today.
- Persistent liquidity: Decades of uninterrupted trading have cultivated unmatched market depth and stability.
- Cost efficiency: Originated the low-expense-ratio model that transformed retail investing.
The prototype SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and its contemporary iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) share a common origin: both emerged from groundbreaking financial engineering innovations of the early 1990s. SPY alone now commands over $400 billion in assets after more than three decades of continuous trading—evidence of sustained investor confidence in the ETF structure! Investing in these legacy funds connects shareholders to the very architecture of modern portfolio management.
Several foundational ETFs demonstrate extraordinary longevity. SPY has maintained uninterrupted operations since January 29, 1993—a record 31+ years as America’s first ETF survivor. Similar endurance characterizes the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) launched in August 2001, tracking international markets for over two decades. The resilience of these instruments explains why U.S.-listed ETFs now hold over $7 trillion in assets globally. Though target-date funds evolved later, equity index trackers remain 4 of the 5 oldest surviving ETFs: SPY (1993), MidCap SPDRs (MDY, 1995), iShares S&P 500 (IVV, 2000), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA, 1998).
Regulated brokerThe curated selection showcases the oldest continuously traded ETFs worldwide ranked by inception date, focusing on funds maintaining active listings since launch (regardless of current issuer). Only securities still available to investors are included, with institutional details verified against exchange records to ensure historical accuracy.
| Stock | Price | Change % | 52 Week Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| $464.22 | 0.10% | ||
| $53.80 | 0.75% | ||
| $94.15 | 0.83% | ||
| $668.50 | 0.35% | ||
| $597.99 | 0.33% | ||
| $27.14 | 0.50% | ||
| $50.58 | 0.06% | ||
| $80.20 | 0.01% | ||
| $42.49 | 1.24% | ||
| $42.13 | 1.25% | ||
| $44.46 | 1.21% | ||
| $81.89 | 2.23% | ||
| $66.78 | 2.10% | ||
| $671.75 | 0.37% | ||
| $603.25 | 0.48% | ||
| $329.30 | 0.34% | ||
| $614.59 | 0.36% | ||
| $242.49 | 0.22% | ||
| $54.52 | 0.63% | ||
| $72.88 | 0.15% |
