Both smart beta and actively managed exchange-traded funds and products listed globally gathered net new assets in May, ETFGI, a research and consultancy firm, reported this week.
ETFGI earlier reported that ETFs/ETPs listed in the U.S. experienced net inflows of $31.6 billion in May, bringing net new assets to $124.8 billion for the year, way down from net inflows of $200.8 billion at the same point in 2017.
Smart Beta Products
Smart beta ETFs/ETPs listed globally gathered $5.3 billion in net new assets in May, according to ETFGI, the 28th consecutive month of net inflows.
Growth products had the biggest net inflows during May, with $1.7 billion, followed by value factor products with $1.3 billion and momentum-based products with $1.2 billion.
At the end of May, there were 1,281 smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs with 2,270 listings from 156 providers on 40 exchanges in 32 countries. Total assets stood at $662 billion, up 2.3% from April.
Year-to-date net inflows through May amounted to $25.5 billion, down $4 billion in net inflows from the same time last year. ETFGI said the majority of net inflows were attributable to the top 20 smart beta ETFs/ETPs, which collectively had gathered $18.4 billion in net new assets for the year.
Here are the top 10 smart beta funds by net new assets in May, with total assets in parentheses.
iShares Edge MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF — $3.2 billion ($9 billion)
Barclays ETN+ FI Enhanced Global High Yield ETN Series B — $1.3 billion ($1.5 billion)
Vanguard Growth ETF — $1.3 billion ($34.7 billion)
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF — $1.3 billion ($2.6 billion)
Vanguard Value ETF — $1.2 billion ($37 billion)
iShares S&P 500 Value ETF — $1.1 billion ($15.9 billion)
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF — $1 billion ($3.6 billion)
iShares Automation & Robotics UCITS ETF — $923 million ($2.4 billion)
Principal US Mega-Cap Multi-Factor Index ETF — $918 million ($1.7 billion)
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF — $729 million ($1.3 billion)