Most of us would like to become millionaires, and the stock market is arguably the best way of achieving that status over the long haul. But it can be hard to know which stocks to pick that will serve us best.
Many people focus on growth stocks, reasonably, but those can sometimes be overvalued -- and some, like just about any stock, can implode. A solid strategy, then, for most of us, is to invest in a fund of growth stocks, which will spread our money across lots of them. A great one to consider is the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF(NYSEMKT: XLK).
Image source: Getty Images.
Meet the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Launched in late 1998, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) -- a security that's a lot like a mutual fund, but it trades like a stock. It's focused, obviously, on the technology sector and recently held 69 different stocks. Those 69 stocks, together, make up close to a third of the value of the entire S&P 500 -- because many technology stocks carry fat valuations these days. (Hello, Apple and Nvidia, with recent market values, respectively, of $3.5 trillion and 3.4 trillion.)
Here are the recent top holdings of the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF:
Stock
Weight in ETF
Apple
14.68%
Nvidia
14.01%
Microsoft
12.88%
Broadcom
4.63%
Salesforce
3.06%
Oracle
3.04%
Advanced Micro Devices
2.74%
Accenture
2.55%
Cisco Systems
2.46%
Adobe
2.39%
Source: SSGA.com, as of Oct. 17, 2024.
It's worth noting that while there are 69 different stocks in the ETF, more than 41% of its value is in just the top three stocks above. Still, if you're confident in those stocks' futures, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And you will have exposure to 66 other tech stocks, some of which may well turn out to be the behemoths of tomorrow.
Is the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF a Millionaire Maker?
The stock market offers no guaranteed returns, and much depends on how much you can sock away in the ETF and for how long, but this ETF (like plenty of others) is definitely capable of making many investors millionaires. In fact, it has probably already produced some millionaires.
A key to many investors' success with the ETF is its very impressive performance in the past. Check out some average annual returns -- compared to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF(NYSEMKT: SPY) S&P 500 index fund, which is no slouch, itself.
ETF
Expense Ratio
5-Year Avg. Annual Return
10-Year Avg. Annual Return
15-Year Avg. Annual Return
Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
0.09%
24.17%
21.39%
18.92%
SPDR S&P 500 ETF
0.095%
16.03%
13.94%
13.92%
Source: Morningstar.com, as of Oct. 18, 2024.
It's good to remember that the long-term annual average return of the S&P 500 is around 10% and that over your own investing period, it might average a higher or lower return. And the average returns from about 14% to 16%, above, are not to be expected regularly.
Similarly, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF may very well not deliver average annual gains of 19% to 24% over your investing period. No one can know just how it -- or the market -- will do.
But just to give you a sense of how you might become a millionaire in either ETF, check out the table below, which models growth at 10% and 15%:
$10,000 invested annually and growing for
Growing at 10%
Growing at 15%
10 years
$175,312
$233,493
15 years
$349,497
$547,174
20 years
$630,025
$1,178,101
25 years
$1,081,818
$2,447,120
30 years
$1,809,434
$4,999,569
35 years
$2,981,268
$10,133,457
40 years
$4,868,518
$20,459,539
Source: Calculations by author.
Clearly, the Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF can make someone a millionaire -- and so can a simple S&P 500 index fund. Note that:
It can take 20 years or less if you're investing $10,000 annually in the technology ETF.
It will take less time if you can invest more than $10,000 annually -- and vice versa.
Depending on your ETF's actual growth over your investing period, it can also take more or less time to achieve millionaire status.
With enough money invested and enough time, you might become a multimillionaire.
So consider this ETF -- or other terrific ETFs -- for your portfolio if you're aiming to grow its value robustly. Remember, too, to not put too many eggs in one basket. This ETF probably shouldn't be your only stock investment. The good old S&P 500 index fund is another solid choice. It will grow more slowly, but it can make you a millionaire, too.
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Selena Maranjian has positions in Adobe, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Broadcom, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Accenture Plc, Adobe, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and Salesforce. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2025 $290 calls on Accenture Plc, long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2025 $310 calls on Accenture Plc, and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
