ETFGI reports assets invested in ESG ETFs and ETPs listed globally reached a record of US$246 billion at the end of Q1 2021

 

LONDON — April 28, 2021 — ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm covering trends in the global ETFs/ETPs ecosystem, reported today that ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ETFs and ETPs listed globally gathered net inflows of US$15.08 billion during March, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record US$55.84 billion which is much higher than the US$15.80 billion gathered at this point last year as well as the prior record of US$41.16 Bn gathered in Q1 2020. Total assets invested in ESG ETFs and ETPs increased by 6.9% from US$231 billion at the end of February 2021 to US$246 billion, according to ETFGI’s March 2021 ETF and ETP ESG industry landscape insights report, a monthly report which is part of 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 record of $246.46 Bn at the end of Q1 2021.
  • Net inflows of $15.08 billion gathered during March
  • YTD Q1 NNA of $55.84 Bn is a record beating the prior record of $41.16 Bn gathered in Q1 2020.

“The S&P 500® gained 4.4% in March and 6.2% in Q1, supported by the increasing pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and continued monetary and fiscal support. Global equities gained 2.5% in March and 5.2% in Q1, as measured by the S&P Global BMI.  38 of the 50 countries advanced during the month and 35 were positive at the end of Q1.  Developed markets ex-U.S. gained 2.3% in USD terms in March and 4.0% in Q1.  Emerging markets were down 1.6% in USD terms in March and up 2.8% in Q1, as measured by the S&P Emerging BMI. “ According to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner, founder and owner of ETFGI.

 

There were 578 ESG ETFs and ETPs, with 1,673 listings, assets of US$246.46 Bn, from 129 providers listed on 36 exchanges in 29 countries at the end of Q1 2021.  

Global ESG ETF and ETP asset growth as at end of March 2021

 

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 578 ESG ETFs/ETPs and 1,673 listings globally at the end of March 2021.
During February, 46 new ESG ETFs/ETPs were launched.


Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs/ETPs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $7.96 Bn in March. The iShares Edge MSCI USA Minimum Volatility ESG UCITS ETF - Acc (MVEA NA) gathered $1.05 Bn the largest NNA for the month.

Top 20 ESG ETFs/ETPs by net new assets March 2021

Name

Ticker

Assets

(US$ Mn)

Mar-21

NNA

(US$ Mn)

YTD-21

NNA

(US$ Mn)

Mar-21

iShares Edge MSCI USA Minimum Volatility ESG UCITS ETF - Acc

MVEA NA

1,443.69

1,059.64

1,050.66

BMO MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index ETF

ESGY/F CN

987.61

961.72

958.13

iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF

ESGU US

15,401.86

1,315.71

835.22

Quadratic Interest Rate Volatility and Inflation ETF

IVOL US

2,611.41

1,626.09

570.29

Deka MSCI USA Climate Change ESG UCITS ETF

D6RQ GY

654.26

509.46

427.76

Invesco MSCI USA ESG Universal Screened UCITS ETF - Acc

ESGU LN

527.16

393.74

367.86

BMO MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index ETF

ESGY CN

363.67

330.83

325.34

iShares ESG MSCI EAFE ETF

ESGD US

5,011.04

866.21

309.18

Xtrackers MSCI Japan ESG UCITS ETF  - 1C - Acc

XZMJ LN

1,911.66

557.71

304.70

iShares MSCI USA SRI UCITS ETF - Acc

SUAS LN

5,958.80

771.73

292.38

iShares EUR Corp Bond 0-3yr ESG UCITS ETF

SUSS LN

1,911.38

757.52

290.46

Xtrackers MSCI World ESG UCITS ETF  - 1C - Acc

XZW0 LN

1,821.72

467.63

282.56

Invesco Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF - Acc

GCLX LN

2.48

275.41

275.41

iShares MSCI USA ESG Screened UCITS ETF - Acc - Acc

SASU LN

3,370.00

1,337.09

271.49

CSIF IE MSCI USA ESG Leaders Blue UCITS ETF - Acc

USESG SW

1,568.95

276.76

257.75

Fidelity Sustainable USD EM Bond UCITS ETF - GBP Hdg Acc

FEMP LN

248.07

246.74

246.74

iShares Global Clean Energy ETF

ICLN US

5,456.83

2,071.96

246.48

iShares MSCI USA ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF - Acc

EDMU GY

2,049.34

663.21

225.63

Vanguard ESG US Stock ETF

ESGV US

3,837.69

697.12

224.08

Fidelity Sustainable Global Corporate Bond Multifactor UCITS ETF - GBP Hdg Acc

FSMP LN

194.18

194.33

194.33

 

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. 

 

Please contact deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com if you would like to discuss the cost to subscribe to any of ETFGI’s research or consulting services. 

 

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Register now for the ETFGI Global ETFs Insights Summit - United States, a virtual event on May 19th and 20th.

Exciting line up of speakers, topics, and virtual networking! View the speakers and topics and register here.  Free attendance and educational credits for buyside institutional investors and financial advisors. Receive a free copy of the end of Q1 2021 ETFGI directory of ETFs and ETPs.

The event is designed to facilitate substantive and in-depth discussion on the regulatory, product and trading developments impacting the use of and trading of ETFs in the United States.  


Confirmed speakers: 

  • Rochelle Shelly Antoniewicz, Senior Director, Industry and Financial Analysis, Investment Company Institute, ICI 
  • Jeffrey B. Baccash, Global Head of ETF Solutions, BNP Paribas  
  • Vincent Deluard, Director - Global Macro Strategy, StoneX
  • Dan Draper, CEO, S&P Dow Jones Indices 
  • Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner, Founder, ETFGI 
  • Stacy Fuller, Partner, K&L Gates
  • Jennifer Grancio, Chief Executive Officer, Engine No. 1
  • John Jacobs, Executive Director, Center for Financial Markets and Policy, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
  • David LaValle, CEO, Alerian  
  • Matt Lewis, VP, Head of ETF Implementation and Capital Markets, American Century Investments
  • Dan Madden, Head of Capital Markets, FlexShares Exchange Traded Funds  
  • Kevin D. Mahn, President & Chief Investment Officer, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management  
  • Kathleen Moriarty, Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP 
  • Barry Pershkow, Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP 
  • Eric Pollackov, Global Head of ETF Capital Markets, Invesco  
  • Fred Pye, Chairman & CEO, 3iQ Corp. 
  • Amanda Rebello, Head of Passive Sales, US Onshore, DWS 
  • Rick Redding, CEO, Index Industry Association
  • Edward Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, Head of ETFs, American Century Investments
  • Kimberly Russell, Vice President, Market Structure Specialist, State Street Global Advisors SPDR  
  • Adam Stempel, Director, BMO Capital Markets  
  • Diana van Maasdijk, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Equileap
  • Lorraine Wang, Founder & CEO, GAMMA Investing

Topics include: 

  • Lessons learned in 2020
  • An Appraisal of Regulatory Issues Impacting Market Structure and ETF Trading 
  • Creating Better Trading Systems and Tools for ETFs
  • Hot ETFs Regulatory Topics
  • Future of Indexing
  • Sustainable Finance and ESG regulations in the US and Europe 
  • Creating ESG Indices  
  • Investing in Digital Assets 
  • Examination of the State of Active ETFs 
  • Global Macro Outlook 
  • Update on Flows & Trends in the Global ETF Industry   
  • How Are Institutions and Financial Advisors Using ETFs?  
  • How are Investors Integrating ESG into their Portfolios 
  • Future Trends in the ETF Industry 

 

Can't attend on the day? Register anyway, and you'll receive recordings of all the sessions.

Please contact Deborah Fuhr deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com and Margareta Hricova margareta.hricova@etfgi.com if you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring or speaking at any of the upcoming events.

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Best regards, Deborah and Margareta

 

 

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2nd Annual ESG and Active, 2022
3rd Annual Latin America, 2022

 

 

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Contact: 
Deborah Fuhr 
Managing Partner, Founder 
ETFGI 
Mobile: +44 777 5823 111 
Email: deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com 
Web: www.etfgi.com