Is the stock market going to crash in 2026? No one can know for sure, but there’s ample reason to think it’s far from unlikely. For example, the S&P 500 index of America’s 500 biggest companies was recently sporting a Shiller Cyclically Adjusted Price-to-Earnings (CAPE) ratio of 41.6. That ratio has been rising, approaching its all-time high of 44.2, which was set at the peak of the dot-com internet bubble in 2000. Yikes.
If the market doesn’t correct or crash in 2026, it may well do so in 2027, which is coming up soon. So what should you do if the market does crash? Right now, there are some growth-stock-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) sporting amazing performances. I’m a bit shy about investing in them now, as a market correction may have them dropping sharply. But after a crash or correction? That can be a perfect opportunity to buy!
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Here are three ETFs that I’d consider investing in, myself. I’ll start with their recent performances.
Data source: Morningstar.com, as of Sept. 22, 2026.
1. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF
Why this ETF? It’s focused on the 140 or so fastest-growing companies in the S&P 500. Many of those will likely be stocks that have fallen particularly hard in a market pullback, so they’ll have exceptionally better valuations. Here are the ETF’s recent top holdings:
Data source: Morningstar.com, as of Sept. 22, 2026.
The fund is concentrated, with around 60% of its assets in its top 10 holdings. That may be unattractive to you, but remember that these huge holdings are huge because they have grown so briskly.
2. iShares Semiconductor ETF
Why this semiconductor ETF? Semiconductors are everywhere these days — in your car, your refrigerator, and all over your life. They’re increasingly in demand, too, in large part due to the proliferation of data centers. This ETF holds about 30 promising semiconductor stocks, with recent top holdings including Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, and Micron Technology.
It’s also a rather concentrated fund, with about 62% of its assets in the top third of its holdings.
3. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
You might wonder why I have a dividend-focused ETF on my list instead of another growth ETF. It’s because I’m thinking long-term. If the market crashes, that’s a great time to set up a promising set of holdings, and I deeply respect the power of dividend-paying stocks. Plus, they’ll diversify my overall portfolio, and they, too, will likely have fallen in value to more attractive levels after a market pullback.
I actually already own shares of this ETF, but I’d be happy to buy more. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, which encompasses about 100 carefully selected stocks with track records of paying dividends for at least 10 years — and which also seem to be financially strong companies. It offers a nice mix of growth and meaningful dividend income, with a recent dividend yield of 3%.
4. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF
This ETF is focused on the world. A market meltdown in the U.S. will often also mean stocks falling in value elsewhere in the world. In general, it’s good to have your portfolio diversified beyond the U.S. borders. This ETF encompasses more than 10,000 stocks from around the world. Its top holdings will seem familiar, including Nvidia and Apple, but there’s also Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.
I also included Vanguard’s S&P 500 index fund in the table. It’s mainly there for comparison purposes, but it’s also worth considering for your long-term portfolio. Just be careful — you don’t want to own too many funds that have mostly the same top holdings.
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