As the market settles into 2026, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) remain as popular an investment as ever. U.S. ETFs gobbled up an incredible $1.48 trillion in total inflows in 2025 as hundreds of new products launched, further broadening the scope and depth of strategies available to investors through these tools.
In the face of uncertainty about the impact of geopolitics, trade shifts, a possible AI bubble, and more, investors might increasingly turn to ETFs for their defensive potential. On the other hand, though, a number of funds have hit the ground running with incredible momentum in 2026 and may present an opportunity for investors with a bit more risk tolerance to notch some impressive gains early in the year.
