ETF Weekly Fund Inflow Report: Strong Equity and Thematic ETFs Attract Capital

Date: 2025-12-08 The Weekly Report's Time Range: 12.01-12.05

Market Overview

For the week ending December 5, 2025, the ETF market saw a mix of inflows and outflows across asset classes, with a clear tilt toward equity and thematic products. Equity ETFs, particularly those tied to large-cap U.S. equities and global markets, dominated the inflow list, reflecting sustained investor confidence in growth and diversified equity exposures.

Inflows into the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) highlight continued demand for broad U.S. equities and large-cap growth stocks. The strong performance of QQQ and SPY may indicate a preference for market leadership and momentum-driven strategies. Meanwhile, the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) experienced a sharp inflow, which could suggest a possible shift in risk appetite or speculative positioning in commodities. The only outflow among the top 10 came from the YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF (TSLY), indicating some caution or profit-taking in the highly leveraged or derivative-based space. Overall, the inflow data may reflect a constructive stance toward equities and metals, with some dispersion into international and sector exposures.

ETF Highlights

1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY): With a 17.00% performance and $708.62B in AUM, SPY remains the largest U.S. equity ETF and a core holding for many investors. The inflow into SPY may indicate continued confidence in the S&P 500 as a proxy for broader market participation and stability. As a broad market index fund, it could suggest investors are seeking balanced exposure to U.S. equities.

2. Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ): QQQ, with a 22.35% performance and $411.06B in AUM, is heavily weighted toward growth stocks and technology leaders. The inflow into QQQ may indicate a focus on growth-oriented equities and tech leadership. Its performance and inflow could suggest demand for momentum-driven assets and exposure to the Nasdaq 100.

3. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA): VEA, with a 29.74% performance and $187.94B in AUM, offers exposure to developed international markets. The inflow into VEA may reflect interest in global diversification and possibly a relative rotation into international equities as U.S. markets consolidate or face domestic pressures.

4. SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA): DIA, with a 12.82% performance and $42.08B in AUM, tracks the Dow 30, a blue-chip equity index. The inflow into DIA may indicate demand for defensive or industrial exposure and a preference for market bellwethers. The relatively moderate inflow could suggest a balanced approach to equity investing.

5. Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG): VUG, with a 20.38% performance and $204.87B in AUM, focuses on U.S. growth stocks. The inflow into VUG may point to continued support for growth equities, especially in sectors like technology and consumer discretionary. Its performance and inflow could suggest ongoing investor optimism toward growth-driven strategies.

6. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS): VXUS, with a 27.91% performance and $114.82B in AUM, offers broad exposure to international equities. The inflow into VXUS may reflect a strategic shift toward international diversification, possibly as part of a broader portfolio rebalancing. The ETF’s size and performance may indicate a long-term view on global markets.

7. State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM): SPYM, with a 17.00% performance and $99.24B in AUM, is a low-cost S&P 500 alternative. The inflow into SPYM may suggest demand for cost-efficient exposure to large-cap U.S. equities. Its inflow could indicate a preference for passive, market-tracking strategies with lower expense ratios.

8. iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG): HYG, with a 2.67% performance and $19.02B in AUM, offers exposure to high-yield corporate bonds. The inflow into HYG may indicate a modest appetite for credit risk and income-generating assets, possibly as part of a diversified fixed-income strategy. The relatively small inflow could suggest cautious positioning in the bond market.

9. iShares Silver Trust (SLV): SLV, with a 101.10% performance and $29.75B in AUM, tracks physical silver. The inflow into SLV could suggest speculative or hedging activity in commodities. The sharp performance may reflect a sudden surge in silver prices or positioning ahead of macroeconomic or geopolitical developments.

10. YieldMax TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF (TSLY): TSLY, with a -45.03% performance and $1.19B in AUM, is a thematic and options-based ETF focused on Tesla. The outflow from TSLY may indicate profit-taking or risk-off positioning in a high-volatility and leveraged product. Its performance and outflow could suggest a shift away from concentrated or speculative exposures.

Notable Trends / Surprises

A clear trend is the strong inflows into U.S. equity ETFs, particularly SPY, QQQ, VUG, and SPYM, which collectively represent large-cap and growth-oriented exposure. This suggests a preference for domestic equities and momentum strategies. The inflow into SLV is notable given its thematic nature and sharp performance, possibly indicating a niche but strong interest in commodities. Conversely, TSLY’s outflow highlights the risks and volatility associated with concentrated and options-based strategies.

Conclusion

Overall, the week’s inflows may indicate a continued preference for large-cap U.S. equities and momentum-driven strategies, with additional appetite for global diversification and commodities. The outflow from a concentrated, options-based ETF may reflect a shift in risk tolerance or a correction in speculative positions. The data could point to a strategic rebalancing toward broad equity and international exposure, with cautious positioning in high-yield corporate bonds and commodities.