Institutional Asset Owners Boost ETF Use

⦿ Executive Snapshot

• What: Institutional asset owners are increasingly adopting exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with nearly half planning to increase allocations in the next 24 months.
• Who: Key players include Cerulli Associates, Invesco, and institutional asset owners with over $1 billion in assets.
• Why it matters: The growth in ETF use signals a shift in investment strategies among large asset owners, highlighting evolving market dynamics and potential for increased efficiency in capital deployment.

⦿ Key Developments

• Institutional ETF assets reached approximately $337 billion in 2025, with a 14.4% compound annual growth rate from 2020 to 2025.
• Nearly half of surveyed institutional decision-makers expect to increase their ETF allocations in the next two years, with 16% of non-users planning to start using ETFs.
• Active ETFs represented 31.2% of total ETF net flows in 2025, despite comprising only 10.9% of total ETF assets.
• Significant adoption of ETFs among public pension plans, which accounted for 17 of the top 25 ETF users in the survey.
• The Invesco MSCI North America Climate ETF, co-manufactured with Finnish pension insurer Varma, launched with $2.4 billion in assets, marking the largest ETF launch by assets.

⦿ Strategic Context

• The rapid increase in ETF usage by institutional asset owners reflects a broader trend of diversification and efficiency in investment strategies, moving from traditional active management.
• The growth of active ETFs indicates a market evolution where institutional investors seek innovative products that blend active management benefits with the liquidity and cost-effectiveness of ETFs.

⦿ Strategic Implications

• Immediate implications include heightened competition among ETF providers to cater to the growing demand from institutional investors, leading to more innovative product offerings.
• Long-term implications suggest a potential redefinition of investment management practices, as asset owners increasingly rely on ETFs for both core and tactical allocations across various asset classes.

⦿ Risks & Constraints

• Potential regulatory hurdles could impact the growth and structure of ETF products, particularly in the realm of active management.
• Competition among ETF providers may lead to market saturation, making it challenging for new entrants to gain traction and for existing firms to maintain profitability.

⦿ Watchlist / Forward Signals

• Upcoming ETF launches and innovations from major players like Invesco and BlackRock could signal continued trends in institutional adoption and product evolution.
• Monitoring the performance and adoption rates of active ETFs will provide insights into their viability in the institutional investment landscape.