With hopes that the war with Iran is ending, markets are responding decisively. Oil prices are dropping, volatility is trending lower, and risk appetite is returning. If this trend holds, it creates a very different investing backdrop than what we’ve seen for much of the past year.

And, according to President Trump, the conflict could be nearing its end within weeks, which only reinforces the case for a continued decline in market volatility.

“We have had regime change. Now, regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal: they will have no nuclear weapon, and that goal has been attained. They will not have nuclear weapons. But we’re finishing the job, and I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer, to do the job. But we want to knock out every single they have,” Trump said from the Oval Office, as quoted by CNN.

If that happens, investors may want to shift from defensive positioning toward strategies that benefit from cooling volatility and steadier equity trends.

Inverse VIX ETFs Offer Direct Exposure to Falling Volatility

One of the most direct ways to trade cooling volatility is through inverse VIX ETFs. These are tactical tools, not long-term holds, but they can be highly effective in the right environment.

ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (SVXY)

The ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (BATS: SVXY) seeks to deliver -0.5x the daily performance of the S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures Index. In simple terms, it rises as volatility falls.

Opportunity:
If volatility continues to normalize from elevated levels, SVXY can benefit from both declining fear and the natural contango in VIX futures. However, this is best used for short-term trades due to compounding effects and volatility spikes.

-1x Short VIX Futures ETF (SVIX)

The -1x Short VIX Futures ETF (BATS: SVIX) provides full inverse exposure to short-term VIX futures. That makes it more aggressive than SVXY.

Opportunity:
For traders with a strong conviction that volatility will continue to fall, SVIX offers greater upside potential—but also higher risk. Even a short-term volatility spike can lead to sharp drawdowns, so timing and risk management are critical.

Broad Market ETFs Benefit From Stability

In times of cooling volatility, capital typically rotates back into broad equities. That makes low-cost index ETFs particularly attractive. That means investors may also do well with Warren Buffett-mentioned or related ETFs, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO).

Warren Buffett has long advocated for low-cost index funds, specifically pointing to the S&P 500 as a core long-term investment.

Opportunity:
A falling volatility environment often supports higher equity valuations. With mega-cap tech still driving earnings growth and broader participation improving, VOO offers exposure to both stability and upside. Its ultra-low 0.03% expense ratio makes it an efficient core holding.

“Wide Moat” Stocks Add Defensive Growth

Even in calmer markets, quality still matters. Companies with durable competitive advantages tend to outperform over time, especially when uncertainty fades but doesn’t disappear entirely. That can lead you to the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (BATS: MOAT)

This ETF focuses on companies with sustainable competitive advantages—businesses that can protect margins and compound earnings.

Opportunity:
MOAT can outperform in a “normalized” market where investors reward consistent earnings and pricing power. With holdings like Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI), it also provides a balanced mix of growth and value.

Income + Stability With Buffett-Inspired Exposure

For investors looking to balance income and stability, Berkshire Hathaway-inspired strategies can be compelling. That brings us to the VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select income ETF (NYSEARCA: OMAH).

OMAH mirrors many of Berkshire Hathaway’s top holdings while adding an income component through a structured strategy.

Opportunity:
This ETF is particularly attractive in a cooling volatility environment because it combines blue-chip stability with monthly income. That can be appealing if markets grind higher rather than surge.

Positioning for a Lower Volatility Market

A cooling volatility environment doesn’t mean opportunity disappears—it simply shifts. Instead of chasing defensive trades, investors can look toward strategies that benefit from stability, including inverse VIX ETFs for tactical exposure and broad-market or quality-focused ETFs for longer-term positioning.

The key is balance. Inverse volatility ETFs like SVXY and SVIX can capture short-term moves, while funds like VOO, MOAT, and OMAH provide more durable exposure to a steadily improving market. If volatility continues to decline alongside easing geopolitical risk, this combination can help investors participate in upside while managing risk effectively.

Typically, when Buffett or Berkshire Hathaway buys a stock, it can lead to increased investor confidence and potentially higher stock prices due to the reputation of the firm, and the longstanding belief Buffett buys quality stocks at a quality price. 

And even though Buffett is stepping away from the day-to-day operations at Berkshire-Hathaway, the firm will still be using the principles that earned Buffett the nickname “the Oracle of Omaha.” 

However, if you don’t have the time to track what Buffett is buying, you can always pick up exchange traded funds (ETFs) that are loaded with Warren Buffett stocks, such as these three names. 

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO): Buffett’s Go-To Index Fund 

“Over the years, I’ve often been asked for investment advice,” Buffett wrote in a 2016 shareholder letter. “My regular recommendation has been a low-cost S&P 500 index fund.” 

With that, Buffett has named the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA: VOO) as one way to invest. 

What makes this ETF most attractive is that it measures the performance of the S&P 500 and includes value stocks and growth stocks from multiple market sectors. In fact, it holds Nvidia Corp. INASDAQ: NVDA), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL), and the king of Warren Buffett stocks, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). 

With an expense ratio of 0.03%, the ETF pays a quarterly yield. On October 1, it paid a dividend of $1.74. Before that, it paid a dividend of just over $1.74 on July 2. 

VanEck MOAT ETF: Invest in Wide-Moat Buffett Stocks 

If you follow Warren Buffett, you know he likes companies with a wide economic moat. 

In fact, if you want to invest in Warren Buffett stocks, make sure they are simple companies that are easy to understand, companies with predictable and proven earnings, companies that can be bought at a reasonable price, and companies with “economic moat,” or a unique advantage over its competition. 

With an expense ratio of 0.47%, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (BATS: MOAT) tracks the performance of companies with sustainable competitive advantages. At the moment, that includes Estee Lauder, Teradyne, Boring, Alphabet, Nike, and NXP Semiconductors, to name a few. 

The MOAT ETF also yields 1.33% and pays a yearly dividend. On December 24, it paid out a dividend of $1.2675. On December 22, 2023, it paid out a dividend of $0.7285. 

Also, since bottoming out at around $76 in April, the MOAT ETF ran to a recent high of $99.81. From here, we’d like to see it initially test $120 a share. 

VistaShares OMAH ETF: Mirror Berkshire Hathaway’s Top Holdings 

With an expense ratio of 0.95%, the VistaShares Target 15 Berkshire Select income ETF (NYSEARCA: OMAH) “offers investors a core equity portfolio that generally mirrors the 20 largest holdings of Berkshire Hathaway as well as providing exposure to BRK.B directly, while generating monthly income. 

Some of its top holdings include Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, American Express, Bank of America, and Chevron, to name just a few. It also yields 0.72% and pays its dividends monthly. It paid a dividend of just over 24 cents on October 28. Before that, it paid a dividend of just over 24 cents on September 30.