Smart beta exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded products listed globally gathered a record US$18.39 billion in net inflows in February, bringing year-to-date net inflows to a record US$29.45 billion, research and consultancy firm ETFGI says in a monthly report.

Smart beta equity ETF/ETP assets have increased by 5.9% from US$994 billion to US$1.05 trillion, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 22.9%.

February’s net inflows surpassed the prior record of US$16.76 billion in November 2020.

YTD net inflows reached US$29.45 billion, higher than the US$15.60 billion gathered YTD in 2020 and beating the prior record of US$25.86 billion set in February 2018.

There were 1,344 smart beta equity ETFs/ETPs, with 2,573 listings, assets of US$1.05 trillion, from 192 providers on 45 exchanges in 37 countries at the end of February 2021, according to the report.