Tutorial: Research Workflow

This tutorial walks through a typical ETF research session.

Scenario

You want to evaluate VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) before adding it to your portfolio.

Steps

1. Search for the ETF

Launch etfray and navigate to Research → Search. Type VTI and press Enter.

2. Review the overview

The Overview shows fund basics: issuer (Vanguard), total assets, number of holdings (~3,700), and the most recent filing date.

3. Examine holdings

Switch to the Holdings view to see the full position list. The top holdings (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, etc.) show their weight in the fund.

4. Check exposure

The Exposure view breaks down sector allocation (Technology, Healthcare, Financials, etc.) and shows how diversified the fund is.

5. Analyze concentration

The Concentration view shows that VTI's top 10 holdings represent ~30% of the fund — useful for understanding single-stock risk even in a "total market" fund.

6. Compare with alternatives

Use the Compare view to put VTI side-by-side with QQQM or AVUV to see differences in concentration, sector tilt, and fees.

Next steps

• Connect IBKR to see how VTI fits with your existing positions (see Portfolio Setup)