U.S.-listed ETFs shrugged off a volatile March, pulling in almost $96 billion in net inflows for the month. That strong showing brought year-to-date inflows to just shy of $293 billion, as investors continued to lean into ETFs despite a turbulent backdrop marked by uncertainty surrounding tariffs from the Trump administration.
Equity ETFs led the way, raking in $67 billion in March. Fixed-income ETFs also saw healthy demand, adding $21 billion as investors sought a balance between risk and safety.
The iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) topped the inflows leaderboard with $22 billion in net creations. That surge in assets helped IVV officially surpass the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) to become the second-largest ETF in the world, ending the month with $577 billion in assets under management, compared to SPY’s $573 billion. (SPY also had the unfortunate distinction of leading the outflows list, shedding $21 billion for the month.)
Coming in second for inflows was the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which gathered $6.3 billion. VOO remained the world’s largest ETF, closing out March with $587 billion in AUM.
Low-cost index exposure was a notable theme. The SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPLG), which charges a rock-bottom 0.02% expense ratio, drew in $3.6 billion, continuing its momentum as a popular choice among cost-conscious investors.
Source: etf.com data
Amid market uncertainty, investors also turned to ultra-short-term Treasury ETFs, which saw strong demand. The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) brought in $3.7 billion, while the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF (BIL) added $2.9 billion.
The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) also had a standout month, attracting $2.9 billion in inflows as gold prices surged to record highs above $3,100 per ounce, reflecting heightened demand for safe-haven assets.
More aggressive investors took advantage of the market pullback with the ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ), which picked up $3 billion during the month. The Nasdaq 100 index, which the fund tracks, briefly dipped more than 15% from its highs during March, setting the stage for bargain hunting.
International exposure remained a focus for investors. The Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) added $2.4 billion as optimism around Europe’s economy gained traction among global investors.
