Our 2026 ETF Selection: Building Systematic Wealth After a Volatile 2025

At Quantlake, we believe that data should drive your decisions and discipline should drive your journey. As we step into 2026, looking back at the previous year reveals a powerful lesson: diversification is not just a safety net. Often, it is where the biggest surprises happen.

2025 was a year where the "old guard" of assets, Gold and International Stocks, stole the spotlight from the high-flying tech sector. While the Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) turned in a respectable 20.8%, it was outperformed by Developed Markets (EFA) at 31.5% and eclipsed by Gold (GLD) at a staggering 63.7%.

Here is our updated 2026 breakdown of the 20 ETFs that form the core of our systematic model portfolios.

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2025 Performance Review

The following table summarizes the performance of our core selections over the past year. Use these figures to inform your rebalancing strategy for the year ahead.

Ticker	ETF Name	Category	2025 Perf.
SPY	S&P 500 ETF	Equity	+17.7%
QQQ	Nasdaq-100 ETF	Equity	+20.8%
SPYG	S&P 500 Growth	Equity	+22.1%
SPYV	S&P 500 Value	Equity	+13.2%
VTI	Total Stock Market	Equity	+17.1%
VWO	Emerging Markets	Equity	+25.6%
EFA	Developed Markets	Equity	+31.5%
VIG	Dividend Appreciation	Equity	+14.2%
VYM	High Dividend Yield	Equity	+15.4%
VGLT	Long-Term Treasury	Fixed Income	+5.4%
SHY	Short-Term Treasury	Fixed Income	+5.0%
AGG	Aggregate Bond	Fixed Income	+7.2%
LQD	Investment Grade Corp	Fixed Income	+7.9%
JNK	High-Yield Bond	Fixed Income	+8.8%
TIP	Inflation-Protected	Fixed Income	+6.8%
BND	Total Bond Market	Fixed Income	+7.1%
BNDX	International Bond	Fixed Income	+2.9%
GLD	Gold ETF	Alternatives	+63.7%
IBIT	Bitcoin ETF	Alternatives	-6.4%
VNQ	Real Estate ETF	Alternatives	+3.2%

‍Where These ETFs Fit in the Quantlake Ecosystem

You can find these 20 ETFs into two distinct categories, designed to keep you disciplined and aligned with your goals.

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Classic Portfolios: The Bedrock

For investors who value stability and time-tested logic.

US 60/40: Combines SPY and AGG with quarterly rebalancing. Simple.

All Weather-Inspired: A resilient strategy utilizing GLD, VGLT, and SPY to stay balanced across all market cycles.

Swensen-Inspired: An endowment-style approach using VNQ and EFA for broad diversification.

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Smart Portfolios: Data-Driven Rotation

Adaptive, rules-based ETF models that respond to changing markets without emotional decision-making.

Core Trio: Rotates between QQQ, SPY, and Fixed Income based on a monthly review.

All Weather Crypto: Integrates IBIT (Bitcoin) alongside traditional assets for a modern take on diversification.

Innovation Ventures: Focuses on QQQ and high-growth equity sectors.

Bogle+: Enhances the legacy of Jack Bogle using data-driven tilts.

US Leverage Growth: Amplifies market moves for higher growth potential.

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Moving Forward: The 2026 Strategy

We do not guess which ETF will win this year. Instead, we focus on systematic, data-driven models. We fight emotions and opinions. The most successful investors are those who can ignore the chatter. Financial news is often designed to trigger action and anxiety, but we prioritize structural rebalancing over reacting to the headline of the hour.

The key for 2026, just as it was in 2025, is discipline and patience, not chasing headlines.

Ready to tune out the noise and start your 2026 ETF journey? Create a free Quantlake account today and build wealth systematically.

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Happy Long-Term Investing!

Romain Gandon, CEO & Founder of Quantlake
🔗 LinkedIn

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