After 2020 saw US-domiciled ETFs gain $476 billion in net flows (i.e., inflows less outflows)—which broke the annual record of $470 billion set in 2017—they accumulated nearly $248 billion in just Q1 this year. That according to BlackRock's most recent Follow the Flow quarterly report.*
As global economies have continued to reopen, exchange-traded products (ETPs), which are composed almost entirely of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), continue to attract massive net flows relative to previous years. At this pace, ETF flows could more than double last year’s record-setting amount.
Here were the most recent trends in ETF flows.
Equity ETF flows blow the field away
Up until recently, fixed income (i.e., bond) ETFs had been the hottest category, in terms of flows. In 2020, net bond ETF flows grew by $205 billion, after increasing by $150 billion in 2019 (both representing record annual totals for bond ETFs). During the first quarter of 2021, it was equity (i.e., stock) ETFs’ turn to break records.
In just the first quarter of 2021, stock ETF net flows grew by a staggering $209 billion (see US-domiciled ETP flows chart). Momentum spilled over from last year, when stock ETFs accumulated $246 billion in net flows, representing a new annual record. Developed market/global stock ETF flows were strong as well, relative to other recent quarters, tallying more than $50 billion in net flows. In particular, global stock ETFs scored their best quarterly mark ever, taking in $30 billion in net flows.
US-domiciled ETP flows
The Q1 stock/bond dynamic continued a trend from the end of 2020—which had reversed a previous trend, where bond ETF flows were outpacing stock ETF flows for most of last year, as well as in 2019.
That trend flipped at the end of 2020 and accelerated in early 2021, as a rotation into stock ETFs was spurred on by the continued reopening of global economies (see Stock and bond ETF flow comparison chart). All told, stock ETF flows outpaced bond ETF flows by a 5-to-1 margin in Q1.
Stock and bond ETF flow comparison
Stock and bond ETF flows generally trended higher throughout the first 3 months of this year, whereas ETF flows during the same period last year were more volatile—obviously due to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic in February and March of 2020.
Among the 11 stock market sectors, cyclicals generally outperformed defensive sectors, in terms of net flows. Financials ($15 billion), technology ($14 billion), and energy ($10 billion) attracted the most net flows, while consumer staples, health care, communication services, and utilities saw negative flows during Q1 (see US sector ETP flows chart).
US sector ETP flows
Clearly, government and central bank support, coupled with the vaccine rollout, has helped support optimism for cyclical sectors—and risk assets in general. Of note, value outperformed growth ETF flows in Q1, with the former taking in $27 billion in net assets.
Exploring the ETF universe
Of course, recent or historical trends are not necessarily a harbinger for the future. Moreover, it is generally inadvisable to take action based on any one piece of information, including fund flow data. Nevertheless, ETF flows can be a useful tool to help identify market trends, to see where investors are broadly putting their money.
If you are exploring the ETF universe, the key is to find those that align with your objectives and risk constraints, regardless of the trend in flows. One tool that may be of use is Fidelity's ETF Screener, which can quickly sort through a lot of data based on the filtering selections you make. You can search for ETFs using a variety of characteristics, like the fund's objectives, fundamentals, technicals, performance, volatility, trading characteristics, tax considerations, and analyst ratings.