Fund performance

The top 20 outpaced the broader industry and had an average net expense ratio far below the 0.45% investors paid last year.

The scale of the withdrawal indicates that the ETF is both being used by large institutions and a favorite with retail investors, an expert says.

While broadening stock-market gains may one day provide more fertile ground for picking equities, right now fundamental managers are struggling.

Global equities notched their largest monthly gain since at least 1988, while multiple major benchmarks are at or near all-time highs.

The 20 mutual funds and ETFs on this list have an average fee of roughly 111 basis points.

The top 20 have delivered overall outperformance. However, their gains come with fees more than twice the industry average.

The average expense ratio for this group was more than 100 basis points.

“Their top holdings are focused on those companies that have benefited in a post-COVID world,” an expert says.

Fees among the leaders range from as little as two basis points to as high as 125 basis points.

“These are tracking the industries that are supporting the economy and will continue in the post-pandemic world,” an expert says.