Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 394

$100 billion! Five reasons investors are flocking to ETFs

Any day soon, perhaps now, the Australian Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) sector will exceed $100 billion. It’s a remarkable rise. It started 2020 at $62 billion, giving an increase of over 50% in a year. In the last decade, ETFs have moved from marginal usage by specialist advisers into mainstream investments, with 215 products listed on the ASX and another 11 ETFs and QMFs on Chi-X.

As well as strong inflows into ETFs, the rapid rise was boosted in December 2020 by the conversion of Magellan’s Global Fund to an ‘open class’ which allows applications and redemptions on and off market, and this change contributed $13.5 billion. Without this injection, the increase was still an impressive 32% over the calendar year, taking the compound annual growth since 2001 to 46%, as shown in the chart below.

Total funds under management in Australian ETFs, April 2001 to December 2020

Equally impressive is the fact that the increase did not rely on market movements, as the S&P/ASX200 was flat over 2020. About $20 billion of new money was invested in ETFs over the 12 months, driven by thousands of individual investors including younger people using the stockmarket for the first time. Among the ETF issuers, both Vanguard and BetaShares reported records of over $5 billion in annual net flows each.

Google Trends shows the search interest in ETFs hit a peak during the height of the pandemic in March 2020, and surged again recently while maintaining significantly higher levels than in 2019.

Five reasons for the success of ETFs

1. Popularity of index funds to reduce costs

Notwithstanding the ability of active fund managers to attract investors and in some cases outperform the market, about 90% of ETF flows go into passive or index funds. There are two main reasons: first, they are cheaper, such as the BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX:A200) which is the cheapest Australian equity fund with a management fee of 0.07% a year, or Vanguard’s US Total Market Shares ETF (ASX:VTS) at 0.03% which tracks an index of about 3,500 US companies.

In addition, there is strong evidence that most active managers fail to outperform the index after fees over time. S&P’s SPIVA Australia Scorecard reports on the performance of active funds against their respective benchmarks over different time periods, evaluating over 900 equity funds in large, mid, and small cap categories as well as 463 international equity funds. Although some dispute the analysis, the latest report shows 92% of global equity managers are outperformed by the index over 10 years, and 82% of Australian equity funds.

Investors are increasingly asking if it is worth paying for active management, and these index-tracking funds continue to hold their market share of ETFs, as shown below (source: BetaShares).

While the broad index ETFs attract the largest flows, some sectors such as gold and tech also did well in 2020, as this table shows. 

Source: Morningstar Direct. 

2. Desire for international investments

Like most investors around the world, Australians traditionally invested with a heavy domestic bias. This was encouraged by the franking credits generated by Australian companies, and the popularity of Australian businesses such as the big banks, Telstra, Woolworths, BHP and Wesfarmers.

However, Australians have realised that with 98% of companies by market value listed outside the country, including global tech leaders such as the FAANGs (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google), a greater diversity of sectors and better exposure to the world’s leading companies is needed.

Although global investments also occur directly into companies listed on foreign exchanges and through unlisted funds, global ETFs are major beneficiaries of this broader appetite. In 2020, international equities received the highest level of inflows of any asset category, at about $7.6 billion, ahead of Australian equities at $6.8 billion, as shown below (source: BetaShares).

3. Rise of thematic funds

While major indexes attract the bulk of flows, sector-specific funds allow investors to back themes which are benefitting from changes in global trends. There is a wide range of ETFs which gives exposure to sectors such as gold, tech, robotics, commodities, agriculture, currencies, property, infrastructure and cybersecurities.

In 2020, 38 new products were launched across all categories. The year also delivered some big sector and theme winners and losers. Inevitably, the extreme ups and downs are among the special themes rather than the broad indexes.

Source: Morningstar Direct. 

4. Development of Active ETFs

ETFs have become a viable alternative to unlisted managed funds and Listed Investment Companies for many fund managers. It is likely that leading managers will increasingly use these vehicles and they will gradually build market share, with the likes of Munro Partners and Hyperion following up their good 2020 results with new Active ETFs.

Existing issuers include Fidelity, Schroders, Vanguard and Legg Mason. Volumes will be boosted by existing unlisted managed funds converting to listed, open-ended structures, and Chi-X recently launched a range of lower cost Magellan funds in a 'core' series.

5. Preference for listed vehicles

The unlisted managed fund industry has never succeeded into streamlining its direct investing application processes. While it is possible to access unlisted funds via a platform, and these are popular especially for consolidating investments and reporting, platforms come with additional fees at a time when informed investors are looking to minimise costs. Additionally, improved portfolio management software gives HIN-based listed investments much of the functionality of platforms without the cost.

Most unlisted application processes are stuck in the dark ages, especially for SMSFs. They require certified copies of trust deeds, identification of directors and completion of a long application form. The FATCA identification process adds more compliance, and each unlisted fund is supported by a unique website with logins and passwords.

Younger investors find the simplicity of one signup with an online broker appealing, with ready access to hundreds of funds and thousands of companies at their fingertips. The more advanced platforms are now HIN-based pushing more investing online.

The stalling of LICs and LITs

As recently as a couple of years ago, in 2018, the ETF and LIC/LIT sectors were about the same size, around $40 billion. LICs have a history of almost 100 years and previously dominated the listed fund space. However, much of the LIC/LIT demand was driven by commissions paid by issuers to advisers and brokers, under an exemption from the Future of Financial Advice (FoFA) laws introduced in 2012 which prevented advisers from receiving a commission from product manufacturers. However, this exemption was removed in 2020, and there have been no new transactions for a year. As shown in the chart below, LIC/LIT balances have stagnated.

LIC/LIT market capitalisations and number to December 2020

Source: Listed Investment Companies & Trusts Association (LICAT).

It remains to be seen whether LICs and LITs can come again. Their closed-end structure gives fund managers committed capital and they do not need to sell assets to meet redemptions, especially in times of market disruption. This has advantages for less liquid asset classes such as private debt or non-investment grade bonds. 

However, prices can drift into heavy discounts to the value of the underlying assets if demand falls away. Issuers have been unable to attract enough buyers for new transactions without paying commissions to brokers and advisers. For now, most active managers are adopting the ETF structure for new transactions.

 

Graham Hand is Managing Editor of Firstlinks. This article is general information and does not consider the circumstances of any investor.

 

8 Comments
Aussiebrian
February 16, 2021

The large up-take of ETF's is alarming. A huge forced ETF sell-off, that will inevitably occur in the event of a market correction, will likely exacerbate the trend and lead to a market crash. It will happen so quickly investors will have little time or warning to respond. I am also concerned at the currency risk of unhedged Global ETF's, novice investors taking this opportunity to invest globally may not be aware of the risk they are taking. I like LIC's and the ability of LIC's to retain some earnings enables them to provision for downturns and maintain dividend pay outs - some funds holding reserves to cover multiple years of dividend payments.

Steve
February 13, 2021

While there are many B & C rated active funds, this also proves that the average punter has no idea where to find the long-term top performing actively managed funds. They could start with the Vanguard Actively Managed Funds (ie Baillie Gifford) which thrashes most if not all of the Vanguard indexed funds. Talk about ironic.

Kerry Smith
February 12, 2021

Looks increasingly like the herd is gathering.

Boyd
February 10, 2021

While the benefit of index investing through many ETFS is appealing, I always remind myself of the Japanese Nikkei index which is still well below its record high after 30 years. An active manger in Japanese stocks would have also suffered badly at the time but at least they have had the chance to pick stocks that have done well over those thirty years.

Ingram
February 10, 2021

There is something stunning in this article that I never realised. Look at the table showing how ETFs performed in 2020. Sure, we know tech and robotics and cyber did well. But look at Global Dividend ETF -19%, Global Income Leaders ETF -23%, Global Core Infrastructure -23%. So much for using the sharemarket to deliver income. In a year when the US market overall boomed, these are a total disaster. Who knew? I've never seen an article on this, certainly not from the ETF providers.

BeenThereB4
February 10, 2021

Coming from stockbroker-land, I still like the traditional LIC's (AFIC, ARG, MLT and BKI and WLE) that have Fund managers selecting investments, rather than taking the full box and dice, that includes some dogs. Also their management fees are reasonable.

The reporting of the trad LICs is also more transparent than what I glean from the ETFs.

BUT for foreign securities I recognise the attractions of ETFs.

And some have been around for many years eg SPY (listed in NY) that is a S&P500 index play.

Steve
February 10, 2021

I had a couple of the larger LIC's (Milton & Argo) and sold them last year after being disappointed at their performance. Well, well behind a simple ETF like VAS, even worse against a simple strategy like equal weighting (MVW). My suspicion is being established they are also conservative and miss some of the new guns on the market (an example of skewness). Maybe they could be a small part of the portfolio as a backstop, but no longer the keystone. Morningstars equity income portfolio has the same problem, which I have raised with them a few times, but they persist with dogs like Telstra.......

Roy Lawrence
February 10, 2021

Makes sense but I prefer LIM's - very good reporting and I get a better feel of my investments and what is happening

 

Leave a Comment:

     

RELATED ARTICLES

Thematic exposure to global trends using ASX

The challenges of building a lazy portfolio

It pays to look under the hood of ETFs

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

The nuts and bolts of family trusts

There are well over 800,000 family trusts in Australia, controlling more than $3 trillion of assets. Here's a guide on whether a family trust may have a place in your individual investment strategy.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 581 with weekend update

A recent industry event made me realise that a 30 year old investing trend could still have serious legs. Could it eventually pose a threat to two of Australia's biggest companies?

  • 10 October 2024

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 583 with weekend update

Investing guru Howard Marks says he had two epiphanies while visiting Australia recently: the two major asset classes aren’t what you think they are, and one key decision matters above all else when building portfolios.

  • 24 October 2024

Preserving wealth through generations is hard

How have so many wealthy families through history managed to squander their fortunes? This looks at the lessons from these families and offers several solutions to making and keeping money over the long-term.

A big win for bank customers against scammers

A recent ruling from The Australian Financial Complaints Authority may herald a new era for financial scams. For the first time, a bank is being forced to reimburse a customer for the amount they were scammed.

The quirks of retirement planning with an age gap

A big age gap can make it harder to find a solution that works for both partners – financially and otherwise. Having a frank conversation about the future, and having it as early as possible, is essential.

Latest Updates

Planning

What will be your legacy?

As we get older, many of us start to think about how we’ll be remembered by those left behind. This looks at why that may not be the best strategy to ensure that you live life well and leave loved ones in good stead.

Economy

It's the cost of government, stupid

Australia's bloated government sector is every bit as responsible for our economic worries as the cost of living crisis. Grand schemes like the 'Future Made in Australia' only look set to make it worse.

SMSF strategies

A guide to valuing SMSF assets correctly

SMSF trustees are required to value all fund assets, including property, at market value when preparing the fund's financial statements each year. Here are some key tips to ensure that you get it right.

Economics

Australia is lucky the British were the first 'intruders'

British colonisation's Common Law system contributed to economic prosperity, in contrast to Latin America's lower wealth under Civil Law. It influenced capitalism's success in former British colonies, like Australia.

Economics

A significant shift in the jobs market

The expansion of the 'care sector' represents the most profound structural change to Australia's job market since the mining boom. This analyses how it's come about and the impact it will have on the economy.

Shares

Searching for value in tech stocks

Just because a stock is cheap doesn't necessarily make it good value. This uses case studies in the tech sector to help identify when stocks trading on 30x earnings may be inexpensive and when others on 10x may be value traps.

Investing

Are more informed investors prone to making poorer decisions?

Finance Professor Michael Finke recently discussed the double-edged sword of taking an interest in your investments, three predictors of panic selling, and why nurses tend to be better investors than doctors.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2024 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.