ETFs Add $18.7B In Return To Form

U.S.-listed ETFs added more than $18.65 billion in new assets from March 7 to March 11, mounting a recovery in confidence after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought flows the week prior to a standstill relative to last year’s flows. 

The U.S. ETF industry has gained nearly $132.8 in new assets year-to-date, according to ETF.com data provider FactSet, and has approximately $6.71 trillion in assets under management total. 

Bullish Across Asset Classes 

U.S. equities added a net $7.2 billion in assets last week to regain its position as the leading asset class for ETFs, led in part bwith the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) taking the top spots in the overall inflows list, with $2.3 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) added approximately $1.2 billion from long-term investors on the week when the benchmark index entered correction territory for the year. 

Bond ETFs also gained, as investors sought some cover from the volatility. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) added $858 million to lead all fixed income ETFs, while the PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF (PULS) and the Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) added $611 million and $563 million, respectively. 

The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) was the lone commodity fund in the top 10 gainers list, with $612 million added, while the commodities-correlated SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (XOP) added just shy of $810 million. 

Finally, the First Trust Dorsey Wright Focus 5 ETF (FV) gained nearly $1.2 billion in assets on the week, with almost all of it coming on Friday alone. The fund’s low average volume suggests the inflow is the first leg of a heartbeat trade, mirroring a similar flow of dollars in and out of the fund early last December. 

Sector Equities Struggle 

The top outflows list is dotted with sector-specific ETFS, led by the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF), which lost $963 million. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) returned to its losing ways for the year, with a decrease of almost $945 million. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) dropped by nearly $930 million, as fears of early demand destruction for oil due to soaring prices pushed the commodity slightly lower toward the end of the week. 

The First Trust Nasdaq-100 Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC) lost $550 million, having the largest single drop in assets under management on the week, at just under 22%. The iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (IYR) had outflows of $638 million, dropping 12% of its assets, while the SPDR S&P Bank ETF (KBE) lost close to $325 million for a 10.2% drop in AUM. 

For a full list of last week’s top inflows and outflows, see the tables below: 

Top 10 Creations (All ETFs)

Top 10 Redemptions (All ETFs)

ETF Weekly Flows By Asset Class

Asset Classes (Year-to-Date)

Top 10 Weekly Performers, Excluding Leverage/Inverse Funds and <1,000 Shares Traded

Top 10 YTD Performers

Disclaimer: All data as of 6 a.m. Eastern time the date the article is published. Data is believed to be accurate; however, transient market data is often subject to subsequent revision and correction by the exchanges.