ETF Liquidity - Fidelity

Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address Important legal information about the email you will be sending. By using this service, you agree to input your real email address and only send it to people you know. It is a violation of law in some jurisdictions to falsely identify yourself in an email. All information you provide will be used by Fidelity solely for the purpose of sending the email on your behalf. The subject line of the email you send will be "Fidelity.com: " Your email has been sent.

Mutual Funds and Mutual Fund Investing - Fidelity Investments

Clicking a link will open a new window. For individual stocks, liquidity is about trading volume. For ETFs, there’s more to consider. ETFs have 2 layers of liquidity: liquidity of the underlying securities, i.e., the primary market, and the available liquidity in the secondary market. While the factors that determine liquidity are not the same in the primary and secondary markets, both help ensure the orderly trading of ETFs. On a high level, liquidity in the primary market is tied to the value of the ETFs' underlying securities, whereas in secondary market it's related to the value of the ETF shares traded.

Primary market liquidity

One of the key features of ETFs is that the supply of shares is flexible. In other words, shares can be “created” or “redeemed” to offset changes in demand. ETF creation and redemption is aided by tapping into the liquidity of an ETF’s underlying portfolio of securities. In the primary market, a specific type of entity known as an “authorized participant” (AP) can change the supply of ETF shares available. The AP can offload a large basket of shares (i.e., redeem) or acquire a large basket of shares (i.e., create) directly from the ETF issuer. Typically, the AP is doing business in the primary market to meet supply and demand imbalances from the trading that happens in the secondary market. Ultimately the primary market helps provide for additional liquidity in the secondary market.

Secondary market liquidity

Most ETF orders are entered electronically and executed in the secondary market where the bid/ask prices that market participants are willing to buy or sell ETF shares at are posted. Secondary market liquidity is determined primarily by the volume of ETF shares traded. To assess secondary market liquidity, follow an ETF at different times of day, over various time periods, and note how it’s affected by market environments. Some of the statistics you might want to focus on include average bid-ask spreads, average trading volume, and premiums or discounts (i.e., does the ETF trade close to its net asset value?).

Evaluating ETF liquidity

Most investors simply look at secondary market liquidity. But the key point is that both primary market and secondary market liquidity play a role in providing a full picture of ETF liquidity. Although non-institutional investors tend to trade in the secondary market, retail and advisor investors may benefit from both primary and secondary market liquidity. Here’s an example: If a high-powered investor is placing a trade for tens of thousands of shares, they’re likely to source liquidity through the primary market as an AP fulfills that liquidity demand. Knowing more about liquidity in the primary and secondary markets may help you evaluate ETFs more strategically.

Next steps to consider

Find ETFs and ETPs that match your investment objectives. Access unique data and search capabilities. Learn how ETFs shares are created and redeemed.

Please enter a valid e-mail address Please enter a valid e-mail address Important legal information about the e-mail you will be sending. By using this service, you agree to input your real e-mail address and only send it to people you know. It is a violation of law in some jurisdictions to falsely identify yourself in an e-mail. All information you provide will be used by Fidelity solely for the purpose of sending the e-mail on your behalf.The subject line of the e-mail you send will be "Fidelity.com: "

Your e-mail has been sent.

Your e-mail has been sent. ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Exchange-traded products (ETPs) are subject to market volatility and the risks of their underlying securities, which may include the risks associated with investing in smaller companies, foreign securities, commodities, and fixed income investments. Foreign securities are subject to interest rate, currency exchange rate, economic, and political risks, all of which are magnified in emerging markets. ETPs that target a small universe of securities, such as a specific region or market sector, are generally subject to greater market volatility, as well as to the specific risks associated with that sector, region, or other focus. ETPs that use derivatives, leverage, or complex investment strategies are subject to additional risks. The return of an index ETP is usually different from that of the index it tracks because of fees, expenses, and tracking error. An ETP may trade at a premium or discount to its net asset value (NAV) (or indicative value in the case of exchange-traded notes). The degree of liquidity can vary significantly from one ETP to another and losses may be magnified if no liquid market exists for the ETP's shares when attempting to sell them. Each ETP has a unique risk profile, detailed in its prospectus, offering circular, or similar material, which should be considered carefully when making investment decisions. 701098.4.0

Footer

Stay Connected