US ETF Growth By the Numbers

Against a backdrop of growth, institutional investors are contemplating the best ways to utilize exchange-traded funds in their portfolios. 

Inflows into exchange-traded funds have been strong in 2025, despite shifting tariffs and challenges from monetary policy and other macro and geopolitical issues. ETFs continue to be an attractive market for all kinds of investors. Assets under management grew over the first nine months of 2025, driven by performance in underlying markets and net inflows. This drove all asset types to new all-time AUM highs at the end of Q3 2025.

The evolution of ETFs to include active funds and now dual-share class fund offerings point to ongoing changes.

The data below show the strength of the structure and provide areas of consideration for allocators seeking flexibility and opportunities.

 

Active ETFs Continue to Take Market Share

Active US ETF flows steadily increasing

Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund


Growth of Active ETFs by Broad Asset Class

Percentage of flows across active ETFs

2019
YTD–9.2025
US Equity
10%
50%
Intl Equity
1%
15%
Taxable Bond
84%
31%
Muni Bond
5%
4%
Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund

Market Presence Alone Does Not Equal Scale

Active US Equity ETFs

Active Equity ETFs with YTD NNF>$500M
Active Equity ETFs
2019
0
232
2020
8
363
2021
26
595
2022
34
793
2023
40
1,034
2024
45
1,417
YTD–9.2025
87
1,978
Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund

Active US Bonds ETFs

Active Bond ETFs with YTD NNF>$500M
Active Bond ETFs
2019
14
118
2020
14
139
2021
16
200
2022
10
241
2023
18
299
2024
46
440
YTD–9.2025
115
602
Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund

Top 10 Active ETF Issuers

Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund

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Growth of Fixed Income ETFs

Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund


Growth of Equity ETFs

Source: ISS Market Intelligence, MarketPulse, Powered by Simfund

More on this topic:

Institutional Investors Begin to Embrace ETFs
Allocators Increase ETF Use to Diversify Exposures
Institutions Eye ETF Seeding, but There Are Some Trade-Offs
Dimensional Got the SEC’s OK For Dual Share Class Funds, but What’s Next?
How Insurers Have Used ETFs to Manage Equity Exposure

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