Home Logon FTA Investment Managers Blog Subscribe About Us Contact Us

Search by Ticker, Keyword or CUSIP       
 
 
 
Blog Home
Bob Carey
Chief Market Strategist
Bio
X •  LinkedIn
 

  Passive vs. Active Fund Flows
Posted Under: Conceptual Investing
Supporting Image for Blog Post

 
View from the Observation Deck  
  1. Investors directing capital into mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) continued to favor passive investing over active management on a massive scale for the 12-month period ended 6/30/21. This has been the case for the past several years.   
  2. Passive mutual funds and ETFs reported estimated net inflows totaling $765.48 billion, compared to estimated net inflows totaling $280.67 billion for those actively managed.  
  3. The largest amount of total net inflows (active + passive) in the period belonged to the Taxable Bond, International Equity, Sector Equity and Municipal Bond categories at $740.62 billion, $124.70 billion, $120.39 billion and $120.10 billion, respectively. 
  4. The active categories garnering the most interest from investors over the past 12 months via net inflows were Taxable and Municipal Bonds.  
  5. The $66.97 billion in net outflows from U.S. Equity funds is bit perplexing when you consider that the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 Indices posted total returns of 40.79%, 53.24% and 67.40%, respectively, for the 12-month period ended 6/30/21, according to Bloomberg. 
  6. The strong capital flows to International Equity funds were rewarded. The MSCI Daily TR Net World (ex U.S.) and MSCI Emerging Net TR Indices posted total returns of 33.60% and 40.90%, respectively, according to Bloomberg. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) declined by 5.08%, according to Bloomberg. The index reflects the general international value of the dollar relative to a basket of major world currencies, and when exhibiting weakness can provide a potential boost to the performance of unhedged foreign securities held by U.S. investors.  
  7. Click here to see where 12-month fund flows stood as of 12/31/20. We intend to monitor net flows moving forward.
This chart is for illustrative purposes only and not indicative of any actual investment. The illustration excludes the effects of taxes and brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred when investing. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 stocks used to measure large-cap U.S. stock market performance. The S&P MidCap 400 Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the mid-range sector of the U.S. stock market. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks U.S. stocks with a small market capitalization. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance of emerging markets. The MSCI World (ex U.S.) Index is a free-float weighted index designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) indicates the general international value of the dollar relative to a basket of major world currencies.

Download a PDF of this post, please click here.
Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 @ 10:57 AM • Post Link Print this post Printer Friendly

These posts were prepared by First Trust Advisors L.P., and reflect the current opinion of the authors. They are based upon sources and data believed to be accurate and reliable. Opinions and forward looking statements expressed are subject to change without notice. This information does not constitute a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security.
Search Posts
MARKET ANALYSIS
Market Commentary and Analysis
Market Commentary Video
Monthly Talking Points
Quarterly Newsletter
Market Observations
Subscribe To Receive Email
 


 PREVIOUS POSTS
Top-Performing S&P 500 Index Subsectors Since 12/14/20
For Those Equity Investors Concerned About Valuation Levels
A Global Snapshot Of Equity Returns Spanning The COVID-19 Pandemic
A Snapshot Of Growth vs. Value Investing (Small-Caps)
The Only Constant Is Change
The Real Rate of Return on the 10-Year Treasury Note Posts Sharp Decline
A Snapshot Of Gold, Silver And The Miners
Dividends And Stock Buybacks Are In Recovery Mode
How Internet Stocks Have Fared Since The End Of 2002
How Bonds Have Fared Since 8/4/20
Archive
Skip Navigation Links.
Search by Topic
Skip Navigation Links.

 
The information presented is not intended to constitute an investment recommendation for, or advice to, any specific person. By providing this information, First Trust is not undertaking to give advice in any fiduciary capacity within the meaning of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any other regulatory framework. Financial professionals are responsible for evaluating investment risks independently and for exercising independent judgment in determining whether investments are appropriate for their clients.
Follow First Trust:  
First Trust Portfolios L.P.  Member SIPC and FINRA. (Form CRS)   •  First Trust Advisors L.P. (Form CRS)
Home |  Important Legal Information |  Privacy Policy |  California Privacy Policy |  Business Continuity Plan |  FINRA BrokerCheck
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved.