Core Insights - The U.S. ETF industry is experiencing rapid growth, with net inflows in 2025 surpassing the previous record of $1.2 trillion set in 2024, indicating a shift towards price-based segments with distinct product offerings and market leaders [1] Low-Cost Segment - The low-cost segment, defined as ETFs with net expense ratios of 0.25% and below, accounted for 79% of the U.S. ETF market by assets as of November 7, 2025, with the "Big 3" (Vanguard, BlackRock, State Street) holding an 82% combined market share [2] - Traditional beta ETFs, which provide market-cap weighted indexed exposure, make up 88% of the low-cost segment, with an asset-weighted fee of only 0.09% [3] - State Street announced a ticker change and fee cut for the SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) on October 31, 2025, while Vanguard reduced expense ratios for 53 ETFs in February 2025 [3] Medium-Cost Segment - Active ETFs are increasingly displacing smart beta ETFs in the medium-cost segment (net expense ratios between 0.26% and 0.75%), highlighting a growing demand for active strategies [4] - BlackRock and State Street dominate this segment, but firms like Capital Group and JP Morgan are rapidly gaining market share with their active management strategies [5] - Actively managed dividend ETFs have seen significant inflows, contrasting with outflows from indexed dividend ETFs like SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) and iShares Select Dividend ETF (DVY) [6] High-Cost Segment - The high-cost segment is led by leveraged and buffer ETFs, with major players including ProShares, Direxion, and Innovator Management [7] - Leveraged and inverse ETFs account for nearly one-third of all high-cost ETFs by assets, while buffer ETFs have consistently attracted over $10 billion in net inflows annually since 2022 [9] Future Outlook - Over 40% of new ETFs launched in the U.S. in 2025 were in the high-price segment, including single-stock ETFs, although their success rate is generally low [11] - Vanguard and BlackRock may expand their presence in active ETFs, which could lead to fee compression in the medium-cost segment, benefiting investors with lower costs and more product options [10]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Reserve's second rate cut of the year is expected to further weaken the U.S. dollar, which will benefit international equities in 2025 [1][2]. Group 1: Impact of Dollar Weakness - The declining dollar is favorable for non-U.S. equity returns, as highlighted by Thornburg Investment Management [2][3]. - A weaker dollar enhances the performance of international equities, as their returns are often tied to the strength of local currencies [3][4]. Group 2: Investment Strategies - Investors interested in international equities post-rate cut should consider active investment strategies, particularly through Thornburg's funds: Thornburg International Equity ETF (TXUE) and Thornburg International Growth Fund ETF (TXUG) [5][6]. - TXUE offers broad exposure to international equities, while TXUG focuses on growth, making it suitable for investors wary of high valuations in large-cap U.S. growth stocks [6]. Group 3: Risk Management - Thornburg's investment approach includes a risk mitigation process that considers currency hedging, especially during periods of uncertainty [4][7]. - The firm emphasizes buying at a price with a margin of safety, aiming to shield investments from political volatility [7].

ETF Market Trends - ETF flows are experiencing a global surge, with record-breaking performance in the first half and Q3 of the year [1][2] - The growth is broad-based, spanning across various asset classes, including digital assets, active strategies, and index funds [2] - Actively managed ETFs are gaining traction, accounting for approximately 37% of inflows this year, compared to just over 25% last year [3] Investor Preferences - Investors seek alpha, tax efficiency, and liquidity in actively managed ETFs [5][6][7] - Investors are looking for yield and moving into short-term government bond ETFs to capture higher returns compared to holding cash [12] - Investors are showing interest in growth and income strategies, including outcome ETFs that offer upside potential with income [9][10] Specific ETF Flows - Digital asset ETFs are experiencing significant momentum and increased accessibility [9] - Short-term treasury ETFs are attracting investors seeking yield [11][12] - Some investors are moving away from index funds, with the SPY S&P 500 ETF experiencing net outflows of over $6 billion this year [8] Future Outlook - The industry anticipates continued momentum in digital asset ETFs [9] - Expects growth in growth and income strategies [9] - A potential influx of funds from the $7 trillion sitting on the sidelines in money market funds into the ETF industry is anticipated [12][13]