Weekly Channel Summary
The Specialty Equity channel encompasses 81 ETFs from 54 issuers, with total assets under management reaching $21.87 billion. The channel continued its strong asset-gathering trend, adding $206 million in net inflows over the past week. This brings year-to-date net flows to a robust $6.80 billion and extends the one-year total to $8.51 billion.
This Week’s Performance Leaders and Laggards
Both Specialty Equity categories posted negative returns for the week amid broader market shifts. The Long | Short category declined by -0.86%, performing slightly better than the Hedged category, which fell by -1.22%. Despite the weekly downturn, both groups remain solidly positive on a year-to-date basis, with returns of 8.85% and 5.63% respectively.
Category Performance Snapshot
| Category | WTD | 1 Month | 3 Month | 6 Month | YTD | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Short | -0.86% | -0.35% | 4.88% | 8.12% | 8.85% | 17.99% |
| Hedged | -1.22% | 0.09% | 7.53% | 4.46% | 5.63% | 16.47% |
Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by Weekly Performance
The Leatherback Long/Short Alternative Yield ETF (LBAY) was the standout performer, delivering a 2.64% gain for the week. Several other funds, including Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF (HELS), also managed positive returns against the channel’s trend. On the other end of the spectrum, the Man Active Emerging Markets Alternative ETF (MEMA) experienced the largest decline, falling -5.48%.
| Ticker | Fund Name | WTD Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Top Performers | ||
| LBAY | Leatherback Long/Short Alternative Yield ETF | 2.64% |
| HELS | Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF | 2.19% |
| BTAL | AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund | 1.55% |
| VAMO | Cambria Value & Momentum ETF | 1.35% |
| LSEQ | Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF | 1.33% |
| Bottom Performers | ||
| MEMA | Man Active Emerging Markets Alternative ETF | -5.48% |
| CLIX | ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF | -3.62% |
| HBTA | Horizon Expedition Plus ETF | -3.43% |
| AINT | FINQ DOLLAR NEUTRAL U.S. Large Cap AI-Managed Equity ETF | -3.28% |
| ORR | Militia Long/Short Equity ETF | -3.13% |
Analyzing the Weekly Flows
Investors allocated a net $206 million to the Specialty Equity channel this week, continuing a strong pattern of inflows for the year. A clear divergence emerged between strategy types, as Long | Short ETFs attracted $313 million in new assets. Conversely, Hedged strategies faced headwinds, experiencing net redemptions totaling -$106 million for the period.
Category Flows Summary
| Category | Fund Count | AUM | 5 Day | 30 Day | 90 Day | YTD | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Short | 28 | $10.46B | $313M | $5,416M | $5,725M | $6,377M | $6,681M |
| Hedged | 53 | $11.41B | -$106M | -$60M | -$64M | $419M | $1,831M |
Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by 5-Day Flow
The iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF (BFLX) led all funds, pulling in a substantial $168 million in net new assets. Another iShares fund, the Systematic Alternatives Active ETF (IALT), also saw significant demand with $112 million in inflows. On the redemption side, the Anfield Enhanced Market ETF (AEMS) recorded the largest outflow at -$158 million, followed by the Regents Park Hedged Market Strategy ETF (RPHS) with -$44 million in withdrawals.
| Ticker | Fund Name | 5-Day Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Inflows | ||
| BFLX | iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF | $168M |
| IALT | iShares Systematic Alternatives Active ETF | $112M |
| HBTA | Horizon Expedition Plus ETF | $80M |
| PRAE | PlanRock Alternative Growth ETF | $41M |
| CLSE | Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | $17M |
| Outflows | ||
| AEMS | Anfield Enhanced Market ETF | -$158M |
| RPHS | Regents Park Hedged Market Strategy ETF | -$44M |
| CAOS | Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -$13M |
| JHDG | John Hancock Hedged Equity ETF | -$12M |
| HEQQ | JPMorgan Nasdaq Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF | -$3M |
Issuer League Table Update
iShares and JPMorgan continue to dominate the Specialty Equity landscape, commanding 25.08% and 19.17% of the market share, respectively. iShares was also the week’s biggest asset gatherer, securing $280 million in net inflows across its fund lineup. In contrast, Anfield experienced the largest net outflows among issuers, shedding -$158 million for the week.
Top 5 Issuers by AUM
| Brand | Fund Count | AUM | AUM Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| iShares | 2 | $5.49B | 25.08% |
| JPMorgan | 3 | $4.19B | 19.17% |
| First Trust | 1 | $2.40B | 10.96% |
| Fidelity | 2 | $907M | 4.15% |
| Alpha Architect | 2 | $732M | 3.35% |
Top & Bottom 3 Issuers by 5-Day Flow
| Brand | 5-Day Flow |
|---|---|
| Inflows | |
| iShares | $280M |
| Horizon | $80M |
| PlanRock | $41M |
| Outflows | |
| Anfield | -$158M |
| Regents Park | -$44M |
| Alpha Architect | -$13M |
For a deeper dive into these trends, access our FREE, in-depth EQ: Specialty ETF reports in the right side panel of this page.
Disclosures
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. All investments, including ETFs, involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.
This analysis was developed by the team at ETF Action. We leverage advanced AI tools to assist in the drafting and refinement of our content, based on our expert prompts, direction, and final review.
