Inflows into U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through end-September have already exceeded any full-year total on record and are expected to grow further by year end, according to State Street Investment Management data.
Year-to-date inflows stood at more than US$1.54 trillion as of end of September, topping the annual record of $1.52 trillion set in 2025.
State Street Investment Management’s global head of research strategists, Matthew Bartolini, expects total ETF inflows by U.S.-listed funds to reach $2.3 trillion by the year end.
Equity ETFs have led inflows so far this year, taking in more than $1 trillion alone, followed by fixed income products which have taken in over $469 billion.
Among equity sectors, technology funds have marked the biggest inflows so far this year at over $59 billion, while financials has lost the most to mark outflows of over $3.8 billion.
On the basis of geography, funds tracking U.S. stocks have taken in the most this year at about $655 billion, followed by funds tracking international developed markets at inflows of $150.4 billion.
“Investors continue to favour ETFs as their primary tool for allocating capital, building portfolios, and adapting to changing market conditions, while mutual funds remain mired in persistent outflows,” said Bartolini.
As of Friday morning, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, the biggest ETF in the world in terms of assets under management, gained over 13 per cent so far this year.
Enthusiasm for AI and strong earnings pushed U.S. stocks to record highs earlier this year, but inflation fears arising from the U.S.-Iran conflict and soaring bond yields spurred volatility last month.
(Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)