Morningstar is out with its monthly tally, and passive equity is once again energized.
In August, investors placed an estimated $13 billion into passive U.S. equity funds, compared with outflows of $14.1 billion in the previous month.
On the active front, investors pulled $14.4 billion, compared with $11.2 billion of outflows reported for July.
The Chicago-based research behemoth also found:
- Long-term flows to open-end and exchange-traded funds dipped to an estimated $22.2 billion in August 2018 following July’s $32.1 billion.
- Taxable-bond funds continue as the leading category group in August with $19.1 billion in inflows, although this was down from July’s $25.2 billion.
- Within Morningstar categories, ultrashort-bond was the most popular with $9.7 billion in inflows, the category’s greatest inflows in at least a decade.
- The large-value category was the least popular, with approximately $2.3 billion in outflows.
- Among top U.S. fund families, iShares posted the greatest inflows, with $15.8 billion.
- Other firms with top inflows include Vanguard and J.P. Morgan, with $8 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively. State Street Global Advisors saw approximately $8.2 billion in outflows in August, more than double any other firm. Behind State Street, Harbor, Franklin Templeton, and Columbia saw the highest outflows with $2.9, $2.2, and $1.7 billion, respectively. Each saw notable outflows from their active strategies with minimal cushioning from passive offerings.
- Among all U.S. open-end mutual funds and ETFs, Bridge Builder Core Plus Bond saw the most inflows of all active strategies at $1.6 billion. Harbor International, with a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze, saw $2.6 billion in outflows, more than any other active fund.
- Fidelity’s newly launched zero-fee funds had their first full month of flows data. Fidelity Zero Total Market Index and Fidelity Zero International Index had inflows of $754 and $234 million, respectively.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of 401(k) Specialist and Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots. Experienced financial services content executive specializing in creative new media delivery. He joined the American Retirement Association in 2023 as Chief Content Officer, overseeing communications for the organization, as well as its sister organizations.