Trackinsight survey finds ETFs a core allocation for most professional respondents

Trackinsight's ETF survey, reported by ETF Express, found most professional respondents treat ETFs as a core allocation: 53.5% allocate at least a quarter of their portfolios to ETFs. In addition, 69.5% are reviewing existing positions—25.3% actively upgrading and 44.2% selectively evaluating opportunities.

The survey was produced with Calamos Investments and S&P Dow Jones Indices. Trackinsight said the debate has shifted from whether to use ETFs at all to choosing among them. Global ETP assets were USD21.66 trillion, and 1,790 new products launched in the first seven months of 2026.

Portfolio fit drew 61% of professional respondents as an important selection factor, the most cited, ahead of strategy design at 50% and cost at 45.1%.

Among product types, 43.6% are using or expanding active ETF strategies, and 75.5% report stronger demand for thematic ETFs over the past year. Half are not at all supportive of giving crypto ETFs a strategic portfolio role.

Calamos, which co-produced the survey, is also behind the $1.3 billion autocallable ETF this publication covered in September, a fund that turned autocallables into an advisor product.