The S&P 500 index tracks 500 of the largest US public companies. It's the benchmark for American equity performance and the foundation of many portfolios. Use our stock screener to examine individual holdings within the index and identify sector weightings. For long-term wealth building, combine an S&P 500 fund with a compound interest calculator to project growth, and explore broader stock market coverage for additional context.
International index funds provide exposure to developed and emerging markets outside the US. Global diversification reduces single-country risk and captures growth worldwide. Pair international holdings with domestic equity to build a balanced allocation — our <a href="/tools/portfolio-trackers" class="text-primary hover:underline">portfolio trackers</a> make monitoring easy. Learn how global diversification fits into broader <a href="/strategies" class="text-primary hover:underline">investment strategies</a> and review key terms in the <a href="/glossary" class="text-primary hover:underline">glossary</a>.
Index funds passively track a market benchmark, offering broad diversification, ultra-low fees, and historically superior performance versus most active managers. Pair them with a <a href="/guides/dollar-cost-average-effectively" class="text-primary hover:underline">dollar-cost averaging strategy</a> to smooth out volatility over time. Whether you're building a retirement portfolio or just getting started, index funds belong at the core — explore how they stack up in our <a href="/compare/etfs-vs-index-funds" class="text-primary hover:underline">ETFs vs index funds</a> comparison. Visit the <a href="/market/mutual-funds" class="text-primary hover:underline">mutual funds hub</a> to browse every fund category we cover.