ETF Zoo

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. The crew this week explores the surge in international flows and if $2 trillion is still on the table, the merits and myths of gold as a hedge, action in oil ETFs—including tanker shipping—and the growing dominance of active ETFs as well as regulatory action on ETF taxation.  ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, and Kirsten Chang, Senior Industry Analyst at TMX VettaFi.  Topics Covered Include: Checking in on Flows and Predictions: The group discusses the massive influx of capital into ETFs, noting that nearly half a trillion dollars has already moved into the market this year. There is significant debate over whether the industry will hit a record $2 trillion in annual flows, driven largely by a class of legacy asset managers finally embracing the ETF structure. If you want more Q1 analysis, don't miss Dave Nadig's breakdown here. International vs. U.S. Equity: The rotation towards international equity continues, entering its 11th straight month of inflows and is currently pulling in twice the capital of U.S. equity ETFs. Is this a move by investors trying to tackle U.S. concentrations? Eric Balchunas discusses individual country investing and the larger implications. Gold as a Non-Correlated Asset: Recent market activity has been a sharp reminder for investors that gold doesn't function as a traditional hedge but instead remains a zero-correlated asset to stocks. As more investors embrace this reality, will it change how they use gold in their portfolios? Shipping and Oil Volatility: Sumit Roy discusses the top performing ETF, the Breakwave Tanker Shipping ETF (BWET), this year that's riding high on skyrocketing tanker freight futures caused by conflict in the Middle East. However, this is a complex, high-risk trade, and traditional investors should stick to more straightforward energy plays. Active Management and Industry Consolidation: A significant portion of new ETF launches and flows are now actively managed rather than passive. This shift is driving industry consolidation, though Kirsten Chang notes that modern mergers are becoming more methodical—focused on acquiring specific tech or specialized narratives—rather than just seeking scale through legacy mutual fund businesses. Follow along with the conversation over at ETF.com.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. This episode's crew discusses international flows and potential interpretations, bitcoin price movements and what it means for all investors — including on the institutional side, the SEC wielding its hammer, and the ongoing deluge of leveraged filings.  ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by James Seyffart, CFA, CAIA, Senior Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence; Todd Sohn, Chief ETF Strategist for Strategas; and Brent Sullivan, Editor of Tax Alpha Insider.  International Equity Inflows and Geopolitical Shifts: Money continues to be on the move into international equities, with the intensity ramping up. Are investors "Selling America" or simply diversifying their portfolios while moving towards more traditional old economy sectors like industrials and energy amidst geopolitical tensions. Regulatory Scrutiny of ETF Tax Advantages:  Brent Sullivan of Tax Alpha Insider discussed recent Bloomberg reports that the Treasury and IRS are looking more closely at ETF tax strategies, including 351 exchanges. Cryptocurrency Market Volatility and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecies: Pullbacks in bitcoin prices triggered a liquidity cascade that we're still seeing the impacts of in crypto markets. Despite nearly $9 billion in outflows however, the market appears to be holding up relatively well. Niche and Leveraged ETF Proliferation Continues: The discussion touches on the surge of filings for highly specialized products, including a Corgi company filing for a bevy of 2x single-stock and micro-niche thematic funds. And XOVR continues to catch our attention as its stake in SpaceX hits new highs over 35%. Jane Street In the Spotlight: Recent chatter has investors expressing concerns around Jane Street and its market-making activities that could be construed as market manipulation according to some. The group analyzes if there is any credence to the chatter.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. In this episode, the group covers where investing money has gravitated to so far this year, as well as the surprising lack of crypto bears, despite some significant drawdowns in recent weeks. The crew also discusses new developments in the ongoing SpaceX/private equity ETF arena centered around XOVR, and prediction market filings.  ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Cinthia Murphy, Investment Strategist at TMX VettaFi; Jeffrey Ptak, Managing Director at Morningstar; and Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action.  Topics Covered Investment Flows in 2026: The Zoo crew this week highlight how exceptionally strong investing flows have been so far this year, significantly exceeding historical averages and putting the market on pace to break previous records. The AI Trade and Thematic ETFs: Is the AI tidal wave of investments finally slowing? The group touches on the changing trend but is careful to note that while thematic AI ETFs are relatively small, much of the AI growth is baked into broad market ETFs and semiconductor funds. Cryptocurrency Sentiment: Despite recent sell-offs in major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, Cinthia Murphy can't find signs of any genuine crypto bears. Advisors and firms she has talked with recently continue maintaining a bullish long-term outlook. SpaceX and the XOVR ETF: The conversation explores the complexities of the XOVR ETF, which aims to provide exposure to SpaceX through private holdings. Morningstar's Jeffrey Ptak notes that fees and dilution have made it difficult for shareholders to benefit from SpaceX's rising valuation. Prediction Market ETFs: The discussion concludes with the emergence of new ETFs based on "event contracts" (such as political outcomes), raising regulatory concerns and questions about how these high-volatility products will trade as events approach.  Want to learn more about our recently announced ETF Breakthru Connect? Go here for all the details and to register! As always, follow along with the conversation over at ETF.com

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. In this episode,  the group digs into the shocking performance happening in emerging markets and the rapid collapse of silver prices in the largest single day drawdown in modern history. The team also checks in on the ETF fee war and how active fits into the trend, as well as the ongoing "spaghetti cannon" of filings with the SEC.  ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence and Elisabeth Kashner,  CFA, Director of Global Research Funds at FactSet.  Topics covered in this episode: The EM Rotation: Why 70% of Emerging Market ETFs are seeing fresh inflows and whether this "short film" finally has a sequel. The Beta Fee War: How active managers are surviving the "Vanguard Crucible" by slashing fees as they migrate from mutual funds to ETFs. The Silver Sell-Off: A deep dive into how a 2x leveraged ETF, AGQ, contributed to one of the biggest one-day declines in silver's modern history. Small-Caps vs. Private Giants: With small-caps lagging the S&P 500 for a decade, we discuss if the private market has become the new, real home for small-caps. The SEC "Spaghetti Cannon": Analyzing the wave of complex filings, including 4x leveraged funds and single-stock auto-callables, entering the market. Prefer to watch the conversation instead? Go to https://www.etf.com/sections/podcasts/etf-zoo-stunning-performances-silver-em-and-small-caps

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. In this episode, the group weighs in on whether international investing is actually back this time, if the "Sell America" trade has any legs, and whether small-caps deserve consideration when investors are looking to diversify. The conversation also ramps up over crypto and tokenization, two distinct yet interrelated topics.   ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Nate Geraci, President of NovaDius Wealth management and Host of ETF Prime; Kirsten Chang, Senior Industry Analyst at TMX VettaFi; and Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. In the first episode of ETF Zoo in the new year, we talk about the record-breaking capital flows of 2025 and make bold predictions for 2026. The conversation focuses on the "new normal" of massive daily inflows, the entry of major banking players into the crypto space, and the growing skepticism surrounding the market's continued bullish streak. ETF.com hosts Dave Nadig, President & Director of Research, and Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst, are joined this week by Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence; Cinthia Murphy, Investment Strategist at TMX VettaFi; and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF & Technical Strategist for Strategas Securities.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. This week's conversation covers the growing momentum of active management in ETFs, the trend towards thematic investing across sectors, the concerns of illiquid assets in ETFs, the future of ETF share classes, and the results of the "Sell America" trade. Host Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research at ETF.com, is joined this week by Ben Johnson, CFA, Head of Client Solutions, Asset Management at Morningstar; Tony Dong, Founder and Owner, ETF Portfolio Blueprint; and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF & Technical Strategist, Strategas Securities.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. This week's conversation covers the ongoing popularity of derivative strategies, underscored by the announcement of Goldman Sach's acquisition of Innovator. The group also talks the reality of crypto investing, valuing psychological commodities, and the SEC rejection of 3x-5x leveraged ETF filings. Hosts Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research at ETF.com as well as Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst at ETF.com, are joined by industry experts to cover the latest and greatest happenings in ETFs. This week's episode features Mike Akins, Founding Partner of ETF Action; Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence; and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF & Technical Strategist at Strategas Securities.

Welcome to ETF Zoo, where we check in on the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. This week's conversation features a deep dive into international waters as the experts break down why investors still hesitate to dip a toe in, a private credit pulse check, crypto update, and a collective verdict on small-caps in the next year. Hosts Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research at ETF.com as well as Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst at ETF.com, are joined by industry experts to cover the latest and greatest happenings in ETFs. This week's episode features Bryan Armour, CFA, Director of ETF & Passive Strategies Research, North America for Morningstar; Aniket Ullal, SVP and Head of ETF Research and Analytics, CFRA Research; Cinthia Murphy, Investment Strategist, TMX VettaFi; and Nate Geraci, President of NovaDius Wealth Management and Host of ETF Prime.

Welcome to our inaugural episode of ETF Zoo, where we check into the latest happenings in the wild world of ETFs. Hosts Dave Nadig, President and Director of Research at ETF.com, alongside Sumit Roy, Senior ETF Analyst at ETF.com, dig into recent ETF industry trends. They are joined this week by Elisabeth Kashner, CFA, Director of Global Funds Research at FactSet and Todd Sohn, Senior ETF & Technical Strategist at Strategas Securities. From the growth of active to the Invesco QQQ proxy and 5x leveraged ETF filings, the group discussed the latest hot topics mid-October.