As Uncertainty Mounts, Active ETFs See Dynamic Inflows

With no end in sight to the macroeconomic uncertainty on both the domestic and global fronts, is now the time to pivot to the flexibility of active ETFs? Many advisors and investors seem to think so. Much like last year, active ETFs are seeing significant inflows, likely buoyed by the need for flexibility and direct portfolio expertise. Notably, the top five ETFs in terms of year-to-date fund flows have collectively seen over $12 billion in net inflows this year. 

The Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM ) is currently leading the park in terms of active fund flows. Year-to-date, AVEM has seen net inflows of $3.42 billion, as of March 11, 2026. 

When considering AVEM’s portfolio approach, its resounding popularity begins to make a lot more sense. The fund actively invests in companies across the cap spectrum from a variety of emerging market countries, such as China, South Korea, Taiwan, and India. This broad, flexible, diversified approach lets investors take advantage of the opportunities in emerging markets without being beholden to any particular country. 

Currently in second place is the Capital Group Dividend Value ETF (CGDV A). As of March 11, 2026, this fund’s year-to-date net inflows sit at about $2.9 billion. 

True to its name, CGDV offers a compelling path to income through dividend paying companies. Though the fund focuses on U.S. large caps, a smaller portion of assets can also be invested outside the U.S., offering further diversification potential. 

The Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA ) currently holds the third place for active ETF net flows. JAAA’s year-to-date net flows sit at around $2.6 billion, as of March 11, 2026. 

JAAA’s popularity as of late is highly understandable. CLOs proved themselves a reliable asset class during times of uncertainty. JAAA’s distinct focus on high-quality, AAA-rated CLOs could prove especially potent in the days to come.  

Next on the docket is the iShares U.S. Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF (DYNF A-). DYNF has seen year-to-date inflows, as of March 11, 2026, of a little over $2.5 billion.

The fund’s approach to rotating exposure has given it a potent use case in many portfolios. DYNF invests in both large- and midcaps, rotating through different investment style factors based on different market conditions. 

Last but certainly not least is the JPMorgan NASDAQ Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPQ A+). As of March 11, 2026, JEPQ’s net inflows sit at $2.5 billion. 

A different take on U.S. large cap exposure, JEPQ looks to offer strong monthly income along with low-volatility Nasdaq-100 exposure. This approach can prove to be a healthy ballast for those looking to offset risk in either their equity or fixed income portfolios.

All in all, even as uncertainty begins to mount, there are plenty of different actively managed approaches available that investors can lean into in order to ride out the chaos. After all, when the going gets tough, sometimes it’s best to trust an active portfolio team. 

For more news, information, and analysis, visit VettaFi | ETFDB.