7 Best-Performing Commodity ETFs for 2023

Commodity exchange-traded funds can help hedge against inflation and global conflict. Here are the top-performing commodity ETFs.
Alana Benson
By Alana Benson 
Updated
Edited by Pamela de la Fuente

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What is a commodity ETF?

A commodity ETF is an exchange-traded fund that invests in physical commodities such as agricultural products, energy sources and metals. Commodity ETFs often grow in popularity when there is global conflict or high inflation, as commodities are always needed by consumers. Other purchases — for example, luxury goods or discretionary items — may be put off during difficult times.

If you invest in a broad commodity ETF, it may include some of the following types of commodities:

  • Oil.

  • Wheat.

  • Gold.

  • Silver.

  • Corn.

  • Soybeans.

If you invest in a more focused commodity ETF, it will likely invest in just one type.

Best-performing commodity ETFs

Ticker

Name

5-year return

DBC

Invesco DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund

43.63%

PDBC

Invesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF

41.80%

FTGC

First Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund

35.33%

DJP

iPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return ETN

28.93%

COMT

iShares U.S. ETF Trust iShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF

28.55%

BCI

abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF

25.14%

GSG

iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust

19.02%

Data is current as of March 30, 2023. Data is intended for informational purposes only.

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Pros and cons of commodity ETFs

Commodity ETF pros

  • Commodities can help hedge against inflation.

  • Commodity ETFs may help diversify your portfolio, depending on what you’ve already invested in.

Commodity ETF cons

  • Commodities are often at the whim of geopolitical and climate events. If you invest in a wheat ETF and there's widespread drought, for instance, your ETF may not perform well.

  • If you invest too much in any one particular commodity, that may cancel out its diversification benefits.

» Looking for more diversification? Check out the best ETFs

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