Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are often low-cost instruments for investors to track popular indexes or leverage experienced manager choices to beat the market. The best ones serve as low-cost building blocks in a portfolio, and unlike open-end mutual funds, all ETFs are traded throughout the day on an exchange.
In the third quarter of 2026, the top-performing stock ETFs included equity biotechnology fund ARK Genomic Revolution UCITS ETF ARKG and equity technology fund WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF WCLD. Data in this article is sourced from Morningstar Direct.
Screening for the Best-Performing ETFs
When evaluating ETFs, investors should focus on long-term returns across multiple years and market cycles. However, short-term returns can provide valuable information about biases within strategies.
To find the quarter’s best-performing ETFs, we screened those in Morningstar’s equity, allocation, or fixed-income categories that are available in Finland. We excluded ETFs with less than USD 25 million (€22.2 million) in total assets. We also excluded funds that fall into Morningstar’s “trading” categories, as these funds are designed for active traders and are not suitable for long-term investors.
Within our list, two funds fell into the equity precious metals category, where the average name rose 15.72% in the third quarter.
The 10 Best-Performing ETFs for Q3 2026
- ARK Genomic Revolution UCITS ETF ARKG
- WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF WCLD
- WisdomTree Cybersecurity UCITS ETF WCBR
- Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF GNOM
- First Trust Cloud Computing UCITS ETF SKYU
- Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF BUG
- UBS Solactive Global Pure Gold Miners UCITS ETF GGMUSY
- iShares MSCI Europe Energy Sector UCITS ETF ESIE
- State Street SPDR MSCI Europe Energy UCITS ETF STN
- L&G Gold Mining UCITS ETF AUCO
Metrics for the Best-Performing ETFs
ARK Genomic Revolution UCITS ETF
- : N/AMorningstar Rating
- : 0.75%Expense Ratio
- : Equity BiotechnologyMorningstar Category
The €109 million ARK Genomic Revolution UCITS ETF ranked first for the quarter, returning 27.74%. The ARK ETF, which is actively managed, beat the 3.37% gain on the average equity biotechnology fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 100.67%, outperforming the 36.28% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the first percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated ARK Genomic Revolution UCITS ETF was launched in April 2024.
WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF
- : ★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.4%Expense Ratio
- : Equity TechnologyMorningstar Category
The €366.5 million WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF was the second best-performing ETF in the third quarter, with a 27.50% gain. The passively managed WisdomTree ETF beat the 0.37% loss on the average fund in Morningstar’s equity technology category for the quarter. Over the last year, the fund has gained 19.48%, underperforming the 36.93% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 70th percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated WisdomTree Cloud Computing UCITS ETF was launched in September 2019.
WisdomTree Cybersecurity UCITS ETF
- : ★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.45%Expense Ratio
- : Equity TechnologyMorningstar Category
The €611.4 million WisdomTree Cybersecurity UCITS ETF ranked third for the quarter, returning 27.30%. The WisdomTree ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 0.37% loss on the average equity technology fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 50.05%, outperforming the 36.93% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 25th percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated WisdomTree Cybersecurity UCITS ETF was launched in January 2021.
Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF
- : ★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.5%Expense Ratio
- : Equity BiotechnologyMorningstar Category
The fourth best-performing ETF in the third quarter was the €126.5 million Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF. The passively managed Global X ETF returned 24.72%, outperforming the average equity biotechnology fund, which gained 3.37%. Over the last year, the fund has climbed 88.96%, outperforming the 36.28% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the second percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated Global X Genomics & Biotechnology UCITS ETF was launched in November 2021.
First Trust Cloud Computing UCITS ETF
- : ★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.6%Expense Ratio
- : Equity TechnologyMorningstar Category
The €397.1 million First Trust Cloud Computing UCITS ETF ranked fifth for the quarter, returning 22.53%. The First Trust ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 0.37% loss on the average equity technology fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 26.06%, underperforming the 36.93% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 58th percentile for the period.
The First Trust Cloud Computing UCITS ETF has not yet been awarded a Morningstar Medalist Rating.
Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF
- : ★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.5%Expense Ratio
- : Equity TechnologyMorningstar Category
The €99.2 million Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF was the sixth best-performing ETF in the third quarter, with a 21.67% gain. The passively managed Global X ETF beat the 0.37% loss on the average fund in Morningstar’s equity technology category for the quarter. Over the last year, the fund has gained 35.35%, performing roughly in line with the 36.93% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 41st percentile for the period.
The Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF has not yet been awarded a Morningstar Medalist Rating.
UBS Solactive Global Pure Gold Miners UCITS ETF
- : ★★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.43%Expense Ratio
- : Equity Precious MetalsMorningstar Category
The €468.8 million UBS Solactive Global Pure Gold Miners UCITS ETF ranked seventh for the quarter, returning 21.36%. The UBS ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 15.72% gain on the average equity precious metals fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 21.71%, underperforming the 27.91% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 77th percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated UBS Solactive Global Pure Gold Miners UCITS ETF was launched in November 2012.
iShares MSCI Europe Energy Sector UCITS ETF
- : ★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.18%Expense Ratio
- : Equity EnergyMorningstar Category
The €318.3 million iShares MSCI Europe Energy Sector UCITS ETF was the eighth best-performing ETF in the third quarter, with a 21.01% gain. The passively managed iShares ETF beat the 11.36% gain on the average fund in Morningstar’s equity energy category for the quarter. Over the last year, the fund has gained 55.46%, outperforming the 37.44% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the first percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated iShares MSCI Europe Energy Sector UCITS ETF was launched in November 2020.
State Street SPDR MSCI Europe Energy UCITS ETF
- : ★★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.18%Expense Ratio
- : Equity EnergyMorningstar Category
The €572.8 million State Street SPDR MSCI Europe Energy UCITS ETF ranked ninth for the quarter, returning 20.84%. The State Street ETF, which is passively managed, beat the 11.36% gain on the average equity energy fund. Over the past year, the fund has risen 53.94%, outperforming the 37.44% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 10th percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated State Street SPDR MSCI Europe Energy UCITS ETF was launched in December 2014.
L&G Gold Mining UCITS ETF
- : ★★★★Morningstar Rating
- : 0.6%Expense Ratio
- : Equity Precious MetalsMorningstar Category
The tenth best-performing ETF in the third quarter was the €745.5 million L&G Gold Mining UCITS ETF. The passively managed Legal & General ETF returned 20.45%, outperforming the average equity precious metals fund, which gained 15.72%. Over the last year, the fund has climbed 24.21%, underperforming the 27.91% gain on funds in its category, placing it in the 67th percentile for the period.
The Neutral-rated L&G Gold Mining UCITS ETF was launched in September 2008.
What Are ETFs?
Exchange-traded funds are investments that trade throughout the day on stock exchanges, much like individual stocks. They differ from traditional mutual funds—known as open-end funds—which can only be bought or sold at a single price each day. Historically, ETFs have tracked indexes, but in recent years, more ETFs have been actively managed. ETFs cover a range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, commodities, and most recently cryptocurrency.
The Best ETFs: More Ideas to Consider
- Read the latest articles on ETFs.
- Use the ETF screener to find the best ETFs according to your specific criteria. You can search for funds based on their fees, Morningstar Medalist Ratings, manager tenures, and more.
