AUM, flows and more
- ETF flows totaled over $154Bn for the month, and U.S. ETF assets are now $16.3Tn.
- Foreign large caps ($21.3Bn) and Ultrashort Bonds ($20.5Bn) led September flows by a wide margin.
- Fixed income ETFs accounted for 41% of September ETF flows despite making up just 30% of YTD ETF flows.
Active spotlight
- Flows totaled $63Bn for the month. This year, about 36% of ETF flows have gone into active strategies.
- 71 active ETFs were launched in September, accounting for 76% of all ETF launches in the month.
2026 ETF launches approach a new record
The U.S. ETF market continues to expand at a record pace, with YTD launches surpassing 1,000 in September. Through just three quarters, 1,069 new ETFs have come to market, already approaching the previous full-year record (1,115) set in 2025. More than 80% of this year’s launches have been actively managed, extending a multi-year pattern where active funds have accounted for ~80% of combined ETF launches over the past three years. This trend has driven the percentage of ETFs that are actively managed above 60%, compared to just 16% in 2019 when the ETF rule came into effect. Issuance is also increasingly concentrated in derivatives-based ETFs – including income-generation and leveraged/inverse funds – reflecting investor demand for outcome-based solutions. Together, these categories have accounted for nearly half of 2026 launches.
Guide to ETFs featured slide of the month (slide 9)
Number of U.S. ETFs
U.S. ETF assets under management (AUM)
Weekly U.S. ETF exchange volume - Trailing 3 months
U.S. ETF flows ($Bn) — Trailing 12 months
2026 Top 10 active ETF by YTD flows
Equities
September ETF Flows ($Mn):
Active September ETF Flows ($Mn):
Geographic Focus ($Bn):
Monthly Sector ETF Flows ($Mn):
Fixed Income
Duration Monthly ETF Flows ($Bn):
Category Monthly ETF Flows ($Bn):
