Weekly Channel Summary
The Specialty Equity ETF channel, comprising 82 funds from 53 issuers, now holds $25.83 billion in total assets. This week, the channel attracted a significant $549 million in net new assets. This continues a strong trend of inflows, with year-to-date collections reaching $10.24 billion and the one-year total standing at $11.48 billion.
This Week’s Performance Leaders and Laggards
Specialty Equity categories posted modest losses this week, with Long/Short funds declining by -0.72% and Hedged strategies falling -1.16%. Despite the weekly dip, both categories remain firmly in positive territory for the year. The Long/Short category leads with a 12.33% year-to-date gain, while Hedged funds have returned a solid 8.21% over the same period.
Category Performance Snapshot
| Category | WTD | 1 Month | 3 Month | 6 Month | YTD | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Short | -0.72% | 0.78% | 2.65% | 8.94% | 12.33% | 17.55% |
| Hedged | -1.16% | 1.50% | 2.88% | 6.18% | 8.21% | 15.04% |
Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by Weekly Performance
The Leatherback Long/Short Alternative Yield ETF (LBAY) was the top-performing fund in the channel, delivering a strong 5.47% return for the week. Other notable gainers included the Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF (LSEQ), which rose 4.17%. At the other end of the spectrum, the FINQ DOLLAR NEUTRAL U.S. Large Cap AI-Managed Equity ETF (AINT) experienced the largest decline, falling -6.07%.
| Ticker | Fund Name | WTD Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Top Performers | ||
| LBAY | Leatherback Long/Short Alternative Yield ETF | 5.47% |
| LSEQ | Harbor Long-Short Equity ETF | 4.17% |
| SHRT | Gotham Short Strategies ETF | 3.65% |
| MEMA | Man Active Emerging Markets Alternative ETF | 2.09% |
| HFSP | TradersAI Large Cap Equity & Cash ETF | 1.29% |
| Bottom Performers | ||
| AINT | FINQ DOLLAR NEUTRAL U.S. Large Cap AI-Managed Equity ETF | -6.07% |
| EHLS | Even Herd Long Short ETF | -2.77% |
| HBTA | Horizon Expedition Plus ETF | -2.63% |
| CTEF | Castellan Targeted Equity ETF | -2.56% |
| MSTQ | LHA Market State Tactical Q ETF | -2.51% |
Analyzing the Weekly Flows
Investors allocated a net $549 million to Specialty Equity ETFs over the past week, continuing a positive trend for the channel. The Long/Short category was the primary destination for new capital, attracting an impressive $498 million. The Hedged category also saw positive interest, albeit more modestly, with net inflows of $51 million for the week.
Category Flows Summary
| Category | Fund Count | AUM | 5 Day | 30 Day | 90 Day | YTD | 1 Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Short | 29 | $12.94B | $498M | $964M | $7,574M | $8,525M | $8,807M |
| Hedged | 52 | $12.80B | $51M | $435M | $1,274M | $1,713M | $2,668M |
Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by 5-Day Flow
The iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF (BFLX) single-handedly drove the channel’s inflows, pulling in a remarkable $404 million. This figure accounted for nearly three-quarters of the total net new assets for the entire Specialty category. On the other side, redemptions were minimal, led by the Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF (CAOS) with outflows of $16 million and the PlanRock Alternative Growth ETF (PRAE) which saw $4 million depart.
| Ticker | Fund Name | 5-Day Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Inflows | ||
| BFLX | iShares Flexible Equity Active ETF | $404M |
| IALT | iShares Systematic Alternatives Active ETF | $60M |
| HELO | JPMorgan Hedged Equity Laddered Overlay ETF | $47M |
| CLSE | Convergence Long/Short Equity ETF | $21M |
| FTLS | First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF | $11M |
| Outflows | ||
| CAOS | Alpha Architect Tail Risk ETF | -$16M |
| PRAE | PlanRock Alternative Growth ETF | -$4M |
| PHEQ | Parametric Hedged Equity ETF | -$3M |
| HELS | Hedgeye 130/30 Equity ETF | -$1M |
| SHRT | Gotham Short Strategies ETF | -$0M |
Note: the following fund(s) were excluded from the flow totals above because the weekly flow exceeds 75% of the fund’s AUM and may be the result of a custom rebalance: HAWG ($90M).
Issuer League Table Update
iShares and JPMorgan continue to lead the Specialty Equity landscape, commanding 29.35% and 19.78% of the market share, respectively. iShares also dominated the week’s flows, attracting $464 million in new assets, largely driven by a single fund’s success. Meanwhile, Alpha Architect experienced the largest net outflows among issuers, with investors pulling $16 million from its products.
Top 5 Issuers by AUM
| Brand | Fund Count | AUM | AUM Market Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| iShares | 2 | $7.58B | 29.35% |
| JPMorgan | 4 | $5.11B | 19.78% |
| First Trust | 1 | $2.51B | 9.72% |
| Fidelity | 2 | $990M | 3.83% |
| Convergence | 1 | $892M | 3.45% |
Top & Bottom 3 Issuers by 5-Day Flow
| Brand | 5-Day Flow |
|---|---|
| Inflows | |
| iShares | $464M |
| JPMorgan | $47M |
| Convergence | $21M |
| Outflows | |
| Alpha Architect | -$16M |
| PlanRock | -$4M |
| Parametric | -$3M |
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.
