Weekly Thematic Recap: Disruptive Tech Surges While MLPs Stumble

Share

Weekly Channel Summary

The Thematic ETF channel encompasses 107 issuers and 439 ETFs, managing a total of $385.0B in Assets Under Management (AUM). Overall flow activity was robust this past week, capturing $3.99B in net new money. This builds upon a strong long-term trend, with Year-to-Date (YTD) flows sitting at $51.04B and 1-Year flows totaling $96.88B.

This Week’s Performance Leaders and Laggards

Precious Metals and Disruptive Tech led the thematic universe this week, delivering strong Week-to-Date (WTD) returns of 5.46% and 5.36%, respectively. Both categories also showcase impressive Year-to-Date (YTD) gains. On the flip side, Midstream & MLPs lagged significantly, dropping -5.72% for the week, despite maintaining a solid double-digit positive return YTD.

Category Performance Snapshot

Category WTD 1 Month 3 Month 6 Month YTD 1 Year
Precious Metals 5.46% 2.80% -22.54% 14.34% 6.20% 99.97%
Disruptive Tech 5.36% 20.03% 33.77% 30.46% 30.20% 55.79%
FinTech 4.66% 13.86% 26.56% 8.24% 19.11% 56.47%
Industrial Revolution 4.54% 13.06% 16.13% 34.22% 29.45% 63.34%
Thematic – Multi-Sector 3.67% 9.85% 17.16% 16.25% 18.09% 40.87%
Evolving Consumer 2.65% 0.49% 2.50% -2.19% -4.84% 12.93%
Sustainability 2.63% 7.48% 17.97% 28.74% 30.80% 80.03%
Health Innovation 2.58% 3.49% -0.34% -0.05% 1.89% 38.84%
Natural Resources 2.10% -0.67% -3.44% 22.20% 16.75% 69.63%
Alternative Equity 1.25% -2.67% 3.36% -7.89% -9.70% -8.87%
Infrastructure 0.54% 0.73% 5.97% 22.45% 22.96% 40.62%
Midstream & MLPs -5.72% -3.57% 1.75% 16.71% 18.04% 22.26%

Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by Weekly Performance

The single best-performing thematic ETF this week was the Defiance Drone and Modern Warfare ETF (JEDI), surging 24.65%. The primary laggards were the Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF (MLPX) and the Pacer American Energy Infrastructure ETF (USAI), declining -7.19% and -6.84% respectively.

Ticker Fund Name WTD Performance
Top Performers
JEDI Defiance Drone and Modern Warfare ETF 24.65%
DRNZ REX Drone ETF 20.05%
DRAM Roundhill Memory ETF 18.52%
BZZ Corgi Drones & Urban Air Mobility ETF 15.79%
ARKG ARK Genomic Revolution ETF 12.86%
Bottom Performers
MLPX Global X MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF -7.19%
USAI Pacer American Energy Infrastructure ETF -6.84%
PIPE Invesco SteelPath MLP & Energy Infrastructure ETF -6.72%
EINC VanEck Energy Income ETF -6.62%
ENFR Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF -6.57%

Analyzing the Weekly Flows

The Thematic channel experienced a robust $3,988M in total net inflows this week. Disruptive Tech was the primary driver, capturing an impressive $2,669M in inflows and boosting its category AUM to $89.6B. Industrial Revolution also saw significant positive momentum, taking in $1,760M. Conversely, Thematic Multi-Sector faced the heaviest redemptions, bleeding -$914M in weekly outflows.

Category Flows Summary

Category Fund Count AUM 5 Day 30 Day 90 Day YTD 1 Year
Disruptive Tech 69 $89.6B $2,669M $11,527M $16,898M $18,267M $34,021M
Industrial Revolution 49 $27.6B $1,760M $3,364M $5,718M $8,650M $12,580M
Infrastructure 44 $63.8B $394M $3,498M $8,093M $12,675M $21,668M
Sustainability 28 $10.5B $167M $722M $911M $1,407M $2,259M
Midstream & MLPs 18 $26.0B $147M $377M $888M $1,353M $2,153M
Natural Resources 57 $60.6B $19M $88M $2,217M $10,425M $17,858M
Alternative Equity 9 $2.4B $16M $38M $327M $316M $778M
Evolving Consumer 50 $14.0B -$12M -$121M -$936M -$1,575M -$1,472M
Health Innovation 24 $2.5B -$14M -$70M -$144M $31M $17M
FinTech 28 $5.7B -$60M -$3M $226M -$1M $466M
Thematic – Precious Metals 15 $49.3B -$185M -$1,083M -$3,527M -$1,149M $2,346M
Thematic – Multi-Sector 46 $33.1B -$914M -$698M $998M $636M $4,198M

Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by 5-Day Flow

The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) was the standout for the week across the thematic landscape, attracting a massive $1,477M in net new money. On the other end of the spectrum, the iShares U.S. Thematic Rotation Active ETF (THRO) and the iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF (IYZ) faced the steepest redemptions, with outflows of -$1,869M and -$114M respectively.

Ticker Fund Name 5-Day Flow
Inflows
DRAM Roundhill Memory ETF $1,477M
NASA Tema Space Innovators ETF $1,156M
XOVR ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF $580M
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF $334M
QTUM Defiance Quantum ETF $306M
Outflows
THRO iShares U.S. Thematic Rotation Active ETF -$1,869M
IYZ iShares U.S. Telecommunications ETF -$114M
DAPP VanEck Digital Transformation ETF -$69M
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF -$52M
SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF -$48M

Issuer League Table Update

Global X and iShares continue to dominate the thematic landscape, holding the top two spots with 18.28% and 16.79% of the AUM market share, respectively. However, Roundhill was the biggest winner in terms of short-term asset gathering, securing an impressive $1,541M in weekly inflows. Meanwhile, iShares experienced the heaviest weekly outflows among top issuers, shedding -$1,694M.

Top 5 Issuers by AUM

Brand Fund Count AUM AUM Market Share
Global X 38 $70.38B 18.28%
iShares 33 $64.62B 16.79%
First Trust 30 $52.04B 13.52%
VanEck 19 $46.95B 12.19%
Roundhill 11 $19.99B 5.19%

Top & Bottom 3 Issuers by 5-Day Flow

Brand 5-Day Flow
Inflows
Roundhill $1,541M
Tema $1,160M
ERShares $580M
Outflows
iShares -$1,694M
VanEck -$72M
Alerian -$6M

For a deeper dive into these trends, access our FREE, in-depth Thematic ETF reports in the right side panel of this page.

Disclosures

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. All investments, including ETFs, involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

This analysis was developed by the team at ETF Action. We leverage advanced AI tools to assist in the drafting and refinement of our content, based on our expert prompts, direction, and final review.