ETF Daily Fund Inflow Report Date: November 18, 2025

Headline: Equity ETFs Attract Massive Inflows as Growth Sectors Gain Momentum

Market Overview
Today’s fund flows underscored a strong preference for equity exposure, with growth-oriented and broad-market ETFs dominating the inflow rankings. The top 10 list featured seven S&P 500-focused funds, alongside sector-specific plays in semiconductors, biotech, and emerging markets. While the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) stood out as a bond-market outlier, its inclusion suggests some hedging activity amid continued risk-on positioning. The inflows align with a broader trend of investors capitalizing on strong year-to-date performance in growth assets, though macroeconomic context such as recent policy developments or earnings cycles remains unspecified.

ETF Highlights
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) led the day’s inflows with $3.55B, reinforcing its role as a low-cost proxy for broad U.S. equity exposure. With $791.92B in assets under management (AUM), its $3.55B inflow highlights its scale as a core holding for passive strategies. The fund’s 12.66% YTD return, nearly in line with the S&P 500’s performance, likely supported its appeal amid sustained market optimism.

The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), tracking the Nasdaq-100, added $3.44B, reflecting continued demand for growth-heavy tech exposure. Its 16.64% YTD gain, the second-highest among the top 10, may indicate investor confidence in outperforming sectors. At $394.90B AUM, QQQ’s size underscores its role as a liquidity magnet for those seeking concentrated growth equity bets.

The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) attracted $3.22B, the only bond-focused fund in the top 10. While its 4.61% YTD return lags equities, the inflow could signal tactical balance-taking or yield-seeking amid a potential shift in interest rate expectations. IEF’s $44.00B AUM positions it as a key player in intermediate Treasury demand.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) saw $1.91B inflow, with $680.73B AUM reaffirming its status as a benchmark product. Its 12.63% YTD return mirrors the index’s trajectory, suggesting its use as a hedging or beta-adding tool. Similarly, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) drew $1.35B, its $709.20B AUM and 12.70% YTD performance highlighting its role as a diversified core holding.

Sector-specific inflows highlighted niche opportunities. The First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) gained $584.30M, its 32.88% YTD surge likely fueling momentum-driven buying. At $1.23B AUM, the inflow represents a significant boost for this smaller, high-growth product. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) added $386.16M, its 27.89% YTD gain pointing to speculative interest in healthcare innovation.

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) each drew inflows ($710.18M and $366.01M, respectively), with 5.66% and 27.73% YTD returns. IWM’s focus on small-cap equities and IEMG’s emerging markets tilt suggest rotation toward cyclical and international growth themes. The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)’s $287.16M inflow, coupled with a 15.31% YTD return, further emphasized growth equity’s allure.

Notable Trends
The top 10 featured a clear tilt toward growth assets, with three ETFs (FTXL, XBI, IEMG) posting YTD gains exceeding 27%. This contrasts with more moderate returns for broad-market funds, signaling a possible rotation into high-momentum sectors. The absence of defensive or value-oriented ETFs in the rankings also highlights current risk appetite.

Conclusion
Today’s inflows reflect a market environment favoring growth equities and sector-specific momentum, with large-cap benchmarks and high-performing niche ETFs attracting capital. The strong performance of tech and biotech funds, alongside emerging markets exposure, could indicate investor optimism about innovation-driven and global growth narratives. While bond inflows remained limited to intermediate Treasuries, the overall trend suggests a risk-on stance, with investors prioritizing assets aligned with sustained equity participation and sector rotation.