Multi-Asset Pulse: Defensive Strategies Lead as Weekly Flows Hit $334M

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Weekly Channel Summary

As of March 6, 2026, the Multi-Asset ETF channel holds $35.40B in Total Assets Under Management (AUM) across 144 ETFs and 83 issuers. Over the past 5 days, the channel experienced $334M in net inflows. Year-to-date flows stand at $3,497M, with 1-year flows reaching an impressive $10,258M.

This Week’s Performance Leaders and Laggards

Target Risk Performance

Target Risk categories faced broad headwinds this week. The Conservative category showed the most resilience with a -1.31% WTD return, while Growth lagged the furthest at -3.10%. Unlimited HFGM Global Macro ETF (HFGM) led all Target Risk funds with a 1.89% gain, while Myriad Dynamic Asset Allocation ETF (MDAA) posted the steepest decline at -7.45%.

Category WTD 1 Month 3 Month 6 Month YTD 1 Year
Conservative -1.31% -0.16% 1.92% 4.25% 1.78% 9.68%
Global Macro -2.68% -1.15% 3.67% 8.83% 3.53% 18.07%
Aggressive -2.81% -2.75% 0.41% 5.71% 0.16% 18.90%
Moderate -2.95% -1.00% 3.59% 7.99% 3.17% 16.86%
Growth -3.10% -2.10% 1.47% 5.50% 1.32% 15.08%
Top 5 Target Risk Performers
Ticker Fund Name WTD Performance
HFGM Unlimited HFGM Global Macro ETF 1.89%
HIDE Alpha Architect High Inflation & Deflation ETF 1.01%
TYLD Cambria Tactical Yield ETF 0.07%
USAF Atlas America Fund -0.05%
FARX Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF -0.38%
Bottom 5 Target Risk Performers
MDAA Myriad Dynamic Asset Allocation ETF -7.45%
DALI First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF -7.31%
RULE Collaborative Investment Series Trust – Adaptive Core ETF -6.77%
ROMO Strategy Shares Newfound/ReSolve Robust Momentum ETF -6.45%
QVOY Q3 All-Season Active Rotation ETF -6.06%

Specialty Performance

Specialty categories similarly experienced weakness, with Multi-Asset Income returning -1.66% for the week, and Real Assets returning -2.17%. Despite the weekly drawdown, Real Assets maintain a robust 11.55% YTD performance. GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF (HIPS) managed a positive 0.34% weekly return, while LOGIQ Contrarian Opportunities ETF (LCO) struggled, dropping -5.70%.

Category WTD 1 Month 3 Month 6 Month YTD 1 Year
Multi-Asset Income -1.66% -0.94% 1.97% 3.52% 2.02% 10.65%
Real Assets -2.17% 2.77% 12.21% 19.32% 11.55% 35.52%
Top 5 Specialty Performers
Ticker Fund Name WTD Performance
HIPS GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF 0.34%
YFYA Yields for You Income Strategy A ETF -0.24%
MDIV Multi-Asset Diversified Income Index Fund -0.27%
HYIN WisdomTree Private Credit and Alternative Income Fund -0.51%
THRV Prospera Income ETF -0.62%
Bottom 5 Specialty Performers
LCO LOGIQ Contrarian Opportunities ETF -5.70%
PPI Astoria Real Assets ETF -4.67%
YYY Amplify CEF High Income ETF -3.37%
FCEF First Trust Income Opportunities ETF -2.91%
CEFZ RiverNorth Active Income ETF -2.90%

Alternative Asset Sleeve Performance

The Alternative Asset Sleeve experienced a -1.10% WTD decline, driven by volatility in precious metals and digital asset strategies. Highly concentrated cryptocurrency strategies like USCF Oil Plus Bitcoin Strategy Fund (WTIB) skyrocketed by 36.93%, while Gold-oriented strategies like Strategy Shares Gold Enhanced Yield ETF (GOLY) bottomed out at -11.97%.

Category WTD 1 Month 3 Month 6 Month YTD 1 Year
Alternative Asset Sleeve -1.10% 0.91% 1.20% 6.99% 2.03% 32.93%
Top 5 Alternative Asset Sleeve Performers
Ticker Fund Name WTD Performance
WTIB USCF Oil Plus Bitcoin Strategy Fund 36.93%
RSBY Return Stacked Bonds & Futures Yield ETF 6.70%
RSSY Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Futures Yield ETF 5.60%
OOQB One One Nasdaq-100 and Bitcoin ETF 1Shs 2.31%
BTGD STKd 100% Bitcoin & 100% Gold ETF 1.56%
Bottom 5 Alternative Asset Sleeve Performers
GOLY Strategy Shares Gold Enhanced Yield ETF -11.97%
GDMN WisdomTree Efficient Gold Plus Gold Miners Strategy Fund -11.62%
NTSE Wisdom Tree Emerging Markets Efficient Core Fund -7.58%
NTSI WisdomTree International Efficient Core Fund -6.87%
BPRO Bitwise Proficio Currency Debasement ETF -5.41%

Analyzing the Weekly Flows

The channel recorded net positive flows of $334M this week. Capital strongly favored the Target Risk – Conservative category, which raked in $156M. Conversely, the Specialty – Alternative Asset Sleeve faced significant headwinds, shedding -$237M over the past 5 days.

Category Flows Summary

Category Fund Count AUM 5 Day 30 Day 90 Day YTD 1 Year
Target Risk – Conservative 6 $1.36B $156M $177M $202M $163M $304M
Target Risk – Global Macro 30 $4.48B $141M $384M $702M $639M $1,673M
Target Risk – Growth 11 $10.18B $112M $646M $1,641M $1,263M $4,320M
Specialty – Real Assets 4 $2.23B $101M $388M $608M $576M $963M
Specialty – Multi-Asset Income 26 $5.33B $29M $103M $215M $235M $956M
Target Risk – Moderate 20 $3.49B $13M $49M $135M $13M $202M
Target Risk – Aggressive 3 $3.15B $10M $49M $146M $99M $424M
Specialty – Alternative Asset Sleeve 34 $4.69B -$237M $161M $575M $416M $1,124M

Top & Bottom 5 ETFs by 5-Day Flow

Top 5 Inflows
Ticker Fund Name 5-Day Flow
TBFC Brinsmere Fund Conservative ETF $154M
TBFG Brinsmere Fund Growth ETF $143M
HECA Hedgeye Capital Allocation ETF $77M
RAAX VanEck Real Assets ETF $70M
RLY State Street Multi-Asset Real Return ETF $58M
Bottom 5 Outflows
RSST Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Managed Futures ETF -$261M
AOR iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF -$53M
RAA SMI 3Fourteen REAL Asset Allocation ETF -$32M
MOOD Relative Sentiment Tactical Allocation ETF -$14M
RSSY Return Stacked U.S. Stocks & Futures Yield ETF -$8M

Issuer League Table Update

The Multi-Asset landscape remains concentrated at the top. iShares controls the largest market share at 26.23%, followed by Capital Group at 15.37%. Looking at immediate momentum, The Brinsmere Funds won the weekly flows race with a massive $297M haul, while Return Stacked bled -$263M to round out the bottom.

Top 5 Issuers by AUM

Brand Fund Count AUM AUM Market Share
iShares 19 $9.29B 26.23%
Capital Group 1 $5.44B 15.37%
WisdomTree 7 $2.79B 7.87%
Franklin 1 $1.32B 3.73%
SPDR 3 $1.28B 3.61%

Top & Bottom 3 Issuers by 5-Day Flow

Top 3 Issuer Inflows
Brand 5-Day Flow
The Brinsmere Funds $297M
Hedgeye $77M
VanEck $70M
Bottom 3 Issuer Outflows
Return Stacked -$263M
SMI Funds -$32M
iShares -$31M

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Disclosures

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. All investments, including ETFs, involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Investors should consider their investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing.

This analysis was developed by the team at ETF Action. We leverage advanced AI tools to assist in the drafting and refinement of our content, based on our expert prompts, direction, and final review.