2 Ray Dalio ETFs to buy now and hold forever

Bridgewater Associates, founded by billionaire investor Ray Dalio, has, over the years, maintained a well-curated portfolio of assets across diverse sectors.

For investors seeking to follow Bridgewater’s lead, there are several exchange-traded fund (ETF) picks from its portfolio that could be worth considering for long-term investment. 

In this regard, Finbold has identified two ETFs from the firm’s holdings that stand out.

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)

One of Bridgewater’s top positions is the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY), which makes up 8.67% of its portfolio, its single largest holding. SPY tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, giving investors instant exposure to the overall U.S. economy. It’s long been a cornerstone of diversified portfolios.

Despite recently trimming its stake in SPY by nearly 60%, Bridgewater still holds about $1.87 billion in the fund. Its average buy price of $547.39 reflects a 14.2% gain, suggesting strong long-term conviction. 

For individual investors, SPY provides a highly liquid and low-cost means to build wealth over time through broad market exposure steadily. 

At the close of the last market session, SPY was trading at $625.34, having rallied more than 12% year to date. 

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)

Another significant holding is the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), which accounts for 5.67% of Bridgewater’s portfolio, with $1.22 billion invested.

Like SPY, IVV also tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing exposure to the same group of large-cap U.S. companies. 

However, IVV typically has a slightly lower expense ratio, making it especially attractive for long-term, cost-conscious investors. As of the latest data, IVV was trading at $628.17, up more than 6% year-to-date.

Notably, Bridgewater increased its IVV holdings by 6.66% in the most recent quarter, adding over 135,000 shares. 

With an average buy price of $415.39, the position is already up more than 50%, a signal of the firm’s confidence in the fund’s continued performance.

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