Want to Protect Your Capital? 3 Low-Volatility ETFs to Buy Now

If you’re a risk-averse investor that’s worried about the recent volatility, here are three of the lowest-volatility and best ETFs to buy now.

| More on:

Lately, there has been a tonne of volatility. Many stocks have been selling off, and trading days have been wild, as investors rebalance their portfolios. So, if you’re a risk-averse investor, it’s crucial to find the best ETFs to buy now.

Some of the most impacted stocks have been higher-risk growth stocks. In contrast, high-quality large caps with established businesses have fared much better.

Low-volatility stocks are excellent investments for several reasons. First off, these companies are some of the highest quality and most established businesses. That means you can have confidence owning them for years and won’t have to worry about selling them.

They should earn strong cash flow for years, and most will pay excellent dividends. Because of all these qualities, few investors want to sell them, especially when markets are correcting. And because few investors are selling these stocks, they don’t fall in price with the rest of the market, which, consequently, makes more investors want to own these stocks.

So, if you’re looking to add low-volatility investments to your portfolio, here are three of the best ETFs to buy.

One of the best ETFs to buy now

If you’re concerned about the recent volatility in markets and want to protect your capital, one of the best ETFs to buy now is BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF (TSX:ZLB).

The ZLB is low cost, offers a distribution yield of 2.5% and has $3 billion in assets, making it a highly liquid investment. The fund offers exposure to well-known Canadian stocks in the financial services, utilities, and consumer staples sectors, specifically.

This allows it to offer an exceptionally safe distribution and keeps the fund from seeing much volatility, even when the market is selling off. So, if you’re a risk-averse investor that’s concerned with the volatility lately, the ZLB is one of the best ETFs to buy now.

Similarly, if you’re an investor that likes to have exposure to the American markets, a very similar ETF but one that holds American companies is BMO Low Volatility US Equity ETF (CAD) (TSX:ZLU). As you can imagine, the ZLU is quite similar to the ZLB. However, one noticeable difference is that its current yield is just 1.8%.

However, much like the ZLB, it’s still an excellent way to invest in the stock market while buying the highest-quality companies that can protect your capital.

A top Canadian Dividend Aristocrats ETF

Another option investors could consider is an ETF that offers exposure to the highest-quality companies in Canada, such as iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Index ETF (TSX:CDZ).

Canadian Dividend Aristocrats are high-quality companies with established operations that are not just consistently paying out their dividends, but they are consistently increasing them each year, too.

So, on top of the fact that these are excellent stocks to own for years, you know they are highly reliable and safe businesses if they can continue to pay out more cash to investors each year.

Plus, like the ZLB, in addition to being a low-volatility investment, it also offers an attractive yield of more than 3.1%. So, if you’re looking to protect your capital, the CDZ is certainly one of the best ETFs to buy now.

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Stocks for Beginners

trading chart of brent crude oil prices
Energy Stocks

If Oil Hits $100, These 3 Canadian Stocks Could Surge

If oil really spikes to $100, these three Canadian energy names offer different kinds of torque: a major project ramp,…

Read more »

A close up color image of a small green plant sprouting out of a pile of Canadian dollar coins "loonies."
Stocks for Beginners

3 Canadian Stocks That Could Do Well if the Loonie Slides

A falling loonie can quietly boost Canadian stocks that earn lots of U.S. dollars or sell globally.

Read more »

Safety helmets and gloves hang from a rack on a mining site.
Stocks for Beginners

Miners Sold Off: 3 TSX Materials Stocks Worth a Second Look

Materials stocks have sold off together, but these three miners have company-specific progress that could surprise investors in 2026.

Read more »

a sign flashes global stock data
Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Through Market Volatility

TMX and A&W offer an unusual volatility-proof combo: one can benefit from market turmoil, and the other leans on everyday…

Read more »

Warning sign with the text "Trade war" in front of container ship
Dividend Stocks

Tariff Headlines Are Back: 2 TSX Stocks Built for the Noise

As the TSX Index swings between inflation fears and defensive buying, these steadier businesses with local demand and essential goods…

Read more »

man crosses arms and hands to make stop sign
Dividend Stocks

3 TSX Stocks to Buy for a Set-It-and-Forget-It TFSA

A truly hands-off TFSA works best with boring, essential businesses that can grow and pay you through almost any market.

Read more »

A small flower grows out of a concrete crack.
Stocks for Beginners

3 Canadian Stocks to Buy This Spring

Spring’s best stock picks aren’t cheap stories; they’re companies delivering real growth, strong demand, and improving execution.

Read more »

Hourglass and stock price chart
Stocks for Beginners

4 Canadian Stocks to Buy and Hold Through 2026

These four Canadian stocks mix recovery, long-term growth, and steady cash flow, giving buy-and-hold investors more balance for 2026.

Read more »