ETFGI reports assets invested in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ETFs and ETPs listed globally reached a new record of US$82 billion at the end of May 2020

LONDON — June 25, 2020 — ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs/ETPs ecosystem, reported today that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$4.33 billion during May, bringing year-to-date net inflows to US$28.53 billion which is significantly more than the US$7.19 billion gathered at this point last year. Total assets invested in ESG ETFs and ETPs increased by 10.4% from US$74.03 billion at the end of April 2020 to  reach a new record of US$82 billion at the end of May, according to ETFGI’s May 2020 ETF and ETP ESG industry landscape insights report, an annual paid-for research subscription service.  (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.) 

Highlights

• Assets invested in ESG ETFs and ETPs listed globally reached a new record of $82 Bn. 
• YTD through end of May, ETF/ETP listed globally gathered a record level of net inflows of $28.53 Bn 
• Europe leads with the most assets and largest number of ESG products, followed by the US and APAC (ex-Japan).

“The S&P 500 gained 4.8% in May and remains only 5.0% down from its level at the beginning of the year, as markets anticipated relief from a COVID-19-driven economic slowdown. Developed markets outside the U.S. were also up 4.8% for the month with Sweden (up 9.9%) and Germany (up 9.2%) the top performers, while Hong Kong (down 7.7%), was the only market to be down for the month due to recent political turmoil.  Emerging markets lagged during the month, gaining 1.3% as the economic impact of virus shutdowns remains somewhat more uncertain compared to developed regions.” According to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner, founder and owner of ETFGI.

The Global ESG ETF/ETP industry had 341 ETFs/ETPs, with 937 listings, assets of $82 Bn, from 82 providers on 31 exchanges in 27 countries. 

Global ESG ETF and ETP asset growth as at end of May 2020

Since the launch of the first ESG ETF/ETP in 2002, the iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF, the number and diversity of products have increased steadily, with 341 ESG ETFs/ETPs and 937 listings globally at the end of May 2020. 
During May, 66 new ESG ETFs/ETPs were launched.

Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs/ETPs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $3.32 Bn at the end of May, iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF (ESGU US) gathered $558.10 Mn alone.

Top 20 ESG ETFs/ETPs by net new assets May 2020      

    
Confusion persists around what constitutes an ESG fund. According to PRI, a UN-supported initiative which seeks to understand the investment implications of ESG issues, 56% of adopters believe there is a lack of clarity in ESG definitions. ETFGI’s classification system attempts to provide greater precision, with ETFs/ETPs listed globally organised into categories, including core ESG products and theme-based groups, such as Clean/Alternative Energies and Gender Diversity. 

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Click here to watch Episode 28 of ETF TV where Deborah Fuhr discusses with Dan Barnes the highlights of the trends in ESG ETFs and the ETF industry in Japan at the end of May.

   ETF TV is a new show for institutional investors and financial advisors which provides insights into the use, trading, regulatory and product development trends for exchange traded funds ETFs and exchange traded products ETPs. Go to www.ETFtv.net to watch the latest episodes and contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a mini segment or a full episode.

Save the date for our virtual ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit (New York) taking place on July 28-30.

The ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summits are designed to facilitate substantive and in-depth discussions around the impact that market structure and regulations have on ETF product development, due diligence, suitability, the use and trading, and technological developments have on ETFs and mutual funds in the respective jurisdictions. Free registration and CPD credits are offered to investors and financial advisors. 

Speakers include: 

• Barbara Novick, Vice Chairman, BlackRock
• Rick Redding, CEO, Index Industry Association
• Kathleen H. Moriarty, Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP
• Jeffrey B. Baccash, Director, Global Head of ETF Solutions, BNP Paribas Securities Services
• Kevin R. Gopaul, Global Head, Exchange Traded Funds, BMO Global Asset Management
• Eric M. Pollackov, Global Head of ETF Capital Markets, Invesco Ltd.
• Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner and Founder, ETFGI
• Dan McCabe, Chief Executive Officer, Precidian Investments

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Attribution Policy 
The information contained here is proprietary. The media is welcome to use our information and ideas, provided that the following sourcing is included: ETFGI is a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETF/ETP ecosystem, based in London, England. Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner, Founder, ETFGI website www.etfgi.com.  

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