ETFs to Watch in 2025: Bitcoin, Cheap Beta, AI, & More

• (1:15) - Breaking Down Bitcoin ETFs And Their Current Success
• (12:00) - Complicated ETFs and 2024 Favorites
• (18:40) - U.S. vs International Investments: Who Is The Winner Abroad?
• (24:20) - Will We See More Private Investments Available In 2025?
• (27:50) - Top Picks For 2025: What Can Investors Expect From ETFs?
• (35:45) - Episode Roundup: IBIT, VOO, JAAA, NUKZ
• podcast@zacks.com

In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, about the top ETF stories of 2024 and the outlook for 2025.

The year 2024 was a landmark for the stock market and the ETF industry, marked by numerous milestones and record-breaking achievements.

A significant highlight was the launch of the first spot Bitcoin ETFs after a decade-long wait. These ETFs have proven incredibly popular among investors.

The iShares Bitcoin Trust IBIT alone has amassed over $53 billion in assets, making it the most successful ETF launch in history. With a crypto-friendly administration, the market could witness further innovation  and growth in this space.

ETF providers continue to innovate, with a surge in actively managed ETFs and derivative-based strategies. Leveraged single-stock ETFs tracking popular names like NVIDIA NVDA, Tesla TSLA, and MicroStrategy MSTR have been quite popular, alongside options-based ETFs designed to deliver defined outcomes or enhanced income.

Private assets have experienced rapid growth in recent years, and the largest asset managers are racing to bring them to retail investors. Could we see more private asset ETFs launched this year?

Eric expects global ETF assets to reach $35 trillion by 2035. The approval of ETF share classes of mutual funds could accelerate flows into ETFs as they solidify their position as the investment vehicle of choice for many investors, thanks to their tax efficiency and low costs.

ETFs he’s watching this year include the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO, Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF JAAA, and Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF NUKZ.

Tune in to the podcast to learn more.

Make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the ETF Spotlight and remember to subscribe! If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@zacks.com.

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