ETF Fund Flows Show Strong Outflows for Large Equity and Bond Funds in the Week of December 8–12

ETF Fund Flows Show Strong Outflows for Large Equity and Bond Funds in the Week of December 8–12 Date: 2025-12-14 The Weekly Report's Time Range: 12.08-12.12

Market Overview

This week saw substantial outflows across a range of major ETFs, including large-cap equity, bond, and leveraged funds. The most significant outflows were observed in the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (MSTY), reflecting a broad trend of investor activity across diverse asset classes. While most outflows were concentrated in large-cap and leveraged products, a few funds showed signs of resilience, including those with a strong YTD performance. The data offers a neutral snapshot of fund flows without reference to macroeconomic or geopolitical factors.

Notably, the outflows varied across fund types, from broad equity indices to sector-specific and leveraged vehicles. This week's trends may indicate a shift in investor preferences, though definitive interpretation is limited to the numerical and categorical data provided.

ETF Highlights

IVV - iShares Core S&P 500 ETF experienced the largest net outflow of the week, totaling $18.45B. As a core holding for many investors, this outflow may indicate a reassessment of exposure to large-cap U.S. equities. With a YTD performance of 16.39% and AUM of $680.63B, the fund remains a dominant market presence.

MSTY - YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF recorded the second-largest outflow of $1.49B. This strategy ETF, tied to option income on MicroStrategy, saw a sharp decline in interest, with a YTD performance of -73.95%. The AUM of $1.74B may reflect concentrated or speculative positioning in the fund's strategy.

LQD - iShares iBoxx USD Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF had a net outflow of $1.03B. This outflow might reflect a shift in investor sentiment toward fixed-income alternatives or a reallocation within the bond space. The fund's YTD return was 3.12%, with AUM of $31.48B.

SOXL - Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares saw outflows of $798.56M. As a 3x leveraged ETF focused on semiconductor equities, this outflow could suggest a pullback in risk-on positioning or tactical adjustments in leveraged exposure. The fund's YTD gain of 52.73% and AUM of $11.54B highlight its role in high-volatility environments.

ITOT - iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF had outflows of $783.91M. As a broad-based market exposure vehicle, this outflow might reflect a general reassessment of U.S. equity risk. The YTD return of 15.90% and AUM of $79.79B underscore its importance in investor portfolios.

TQQQ - ProShares UltraPro QQQ saw outflows of $467.76M. This 3x leveraged S&P 500 growth ETF, with a YTD return of 33.50%, and AUM of $29.26B, may be facing a reduction in speculative or leveraged capital flows.

GLD - SPDR Gold Shares recorded outflows of $464.63M. As a gold ETF, this outflow might reflect a temporary shift away from precious metals. The YTD performance of 63.32% and AUM of $147.16B indicate strong underlying demand despite the outflow.

TIP - iShares TIPS Bond ETF had outflows of $374.25M. As a TIPS-focused ETF, this outflow may reflect investor movement between inflation-protected and nominal bond sectors. The fund’s YTD gain of 3.45% and AUM of $14.04B suggest it is well-positioned despite the recent trend.

XLK - State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF had outflows of $361.13M. This sector ETF, with a YTD return of 23.59% and AUM of $92.84B, may see reallocation toward more defensive or sector-rotation strategies.

TLT - iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF recorded outflows of $263.55M. As a long-duration Treasury ETF, the outflow might reflect a shift in interest rate expectations or a reallocation within the bond market. The fund’s minimal YTD change of 0.01% and AUM of $47.89B highlight its role in fixed-income positioning.

Notable Trends / Surprises

The largest outflow occurred in the S&P 500 ETF, suggesting a pullback in broad equity exposure, while the largest percentage decline in YTD performance was observed in the MSTY ETF, a niche option-income strategy. Conversely, the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) continued to show strong YTD performance despite outflows, which might indicate a shift in investor sentiment toward equities over commodities.

Conclusion

The week’s fund flows highlight a broad trend of outflows across large equity and bond ETFs. These movements may indicate a reassessment of risk exposure or tactical reallocation across different asset classes. Investors should monitor these trends closely for further insights into market positioning.