While the internet keeps celebrating the S&P 500’s ~8.5% gain and QQQ’s modest rise, something far more interesting is happening under the radar.
Three less-talked-about ETFs have been absolutely crushing the market.
One of them is up nearly 50% in a single year.
And no — this isn’t hype, screenshots, or “trust me bro” investing.
The data is verified, cross-checked from official fund providers and real-time financial platforms.
If you’re still playing it “safe” with only SPY and QQQ, here’s the uncomfortable truth:
👉 You may be leaving serious money on the table.
Let’s break down the 3 ETFs beating traditional benchmarks, why they’re winning, and how smart investors are using them strategically — without gambling their future.
The Big Myth: “Broad Market = Best Returns”
Most investors believe the only safe way to build wealth is broad-market ETFs.
That mindset feels comfortable… but it comes with a huge opportunity cost.
What if instead of 8–9% returns, you had access to:
2× the performance
3× the performance
Or even 5× the performance
All through regulated ETFs, not risky stock picking.
That’s exactly what these funds are doing.
ETF #1: PPLT — The Platinum ETF That Shocked the Market
Forget tech. Forget AI.
PPLT (abrdn Physical Platinum ETF) is up ~48% this year.
Let that sink in.
While the S&P 500 delivered single-digit returns, PPLT investors saw almost six times more growth.
Why is this ETF different?
PPLT doesn’t invest in mining stocks.
It holds real, physical platinum bars, stored securely in JPMorgan vaults in London. When you buy PPLT, you’re buying actual precious metal — not paper promises.
Why platinum is exploding:
Hydrogen fuel cell boom – Platinum is critical in clean energy tech
Automotive recovery – High demand for catalytic converters
Supply shortages – South African mining disruptions tightening supply
💡 $10,000 in SPY ≈ ~$850 gain
💡 $10,000 in PPLT ≈ ~$4,800 gain
That’s the power of being in the right asset at the right time.
ETF #2: SPMO — Momentum Investing, Done Properly
There’s a reason winning stocks tend to keep winning.
It’s called momentum, and it’s one of the most well-documented factors in finance.
SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) is up ~22% this year, nearly 3× the S&P 500.
What makes SPMO powerful:
It doesn’t buy all 500 S&P stocks
It selects only the top 100 strongest performers
Fully rules-based, emotion-free, and rebalanced regularly
Top holdings include:
Nvidia
Meta
Amazon
Broadcom
JPMorgan
This ETF automatically avoids weak stocks and focuses on what’s actually working.
📈 5-year annualized return: ~21%
💸 Expense ratio: Just 0.13%
💰 Dividend yield: ~0.95%
Momentum isn’t gambling — it’s mathematics applied consistently.
ETF #3: DAP — Crypto Exposure Without Crypto Chaos
Want exposure to crypto… without wallet stress, hacks, or extreme volatility?
Meet DAP (Digital Assets & Blockchain ETF) — up ~22% this year.
Instead of buying Bitcoin directly, DAP invests in companies that profit from the crypto ecosystem, no matter which direction prices move.
Think of it like:
🪙 Selling shovels during a gold rush
What DAP holds:
Coinbase
Marathon Digital
MicroStrategy
Blockchain infrastructure firms
Every company in the ETF earns at least 50% of revenue from digital assets or blockchain tech.
And here’s the kicker:
👉 DAP pays dividends (~3% yield)
Bitcoin doesn’t.
So you get income while waiting for the digital transformation to unfold.
Reality Check: These ETFs Are Powerful — Not Risk-Free
Let’s be clear.
These are not magic money machines.
PPLT depends heavily on platinum prices
SPMO can drop fast if momentum reverses
DAP is sensitive to crypto regulation and sentiment
Smart investors don’t YOLO into these.
They use a core-satellite strategy:
70–80% in broad ETFs (SPY, QQQ, VTI)
5–8% each in specialized ETFs like PPLT, SPMO, and DAP
This way:
✅ Upside is captured
❌ Risk is controlled
Discipline beats hype — every time.
Why This Matters Long Term (The Compounding Effect)
A small performance edge makes a massive difference over time.
$10,000 at 10% → ~$18,000 in 8 years
$10,000 at 21% → ~$25,000 in 8 years
That’s $7,000 extra from the same starting money.
Scale that up:
$100,000 → +$70,000
$500,000 → +$350,000
This is how wealth is actually built.
Want to Invest in These ETFs Easily?
If you’re serious about ETFs and global investing, moomoo is one of the easiest platforms to get started.
✅ Access to US ETFs
✅ Real-time market data
✅ Beginner-friendly tools
✅ Low fees, powerful charts
👉 Open a moomoo account here and start buying ETFs smarter:
🔗 https://j.moomoo.com/0xFRE4
(Always do your own research. This is for educational purposes, not financial advice.)
Final thought:
Successful investing isn’t about chasing hype.
It’s about understanding strategies that consistently outperform — and sticking with them through market cycles.
Learn smart. Invest smarter.
Your future self will thank you. 🚀📈
