While still only accounting for a fraction of the overall exchange traded fund space, actively managed funds have been quickly attracting new assets.
According to AdvisorShares, actively managed U.S.-listed ETFs saw $3.6 billion in new asset inflows year-to-date through April 30, bringing active ETFs to $14.1 billion in assets under management. [Active ETFs are ‘New Distribution Channel’ for Money Managers]
“Many traditional active asset managers have expressed an interest and have made filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch active ETFs,” Deborah Fuhr, Partner and Founder of ETFGI, said in a CNBC article. “It is likely that we will see new asset managers enter the ETF industry offering new types of strategies as active ETFs in 2013.”
There are 61 actively managed U.S.-listed ETFs. So far this year, 8 new actively managed ETFs were launched. [Growing Interest for Actively Managed ETFs: SEI Report]
Leading the top of the active ETF list was the PIMCO Total Return ETF (NYSEArca: BOND), with $1.3 billion in new inflows so far this year, followed by $586 million in PIMCO Enhanced Short Duration ETF (NYSEArca: MINT), $478.9 million in WisdomTree Emerging Markets Local Debts Fund (NYSEArc: ELD) and $212.7 million into the First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund (NYSEArca: EMLP).