Exchange-traded fund closures accelerated during the second quarter, with 61 funds shutting down compared to 40 closures during the first quarter, according to FactSet data.
Asset managers pulled the plug on underperforming and niche ETFs at a faster pace as they trimmed their lineups in a crowded market. June alone saw 27 closures, the busiest month for ETF shutdowns in 2025.
The closures hit funds across sectors, from commodities to clean energy, as companies axed products that couldn’t gather enough assets or keep up with rivals, according to FactSet.
Hartford Funds shut down four ETFs on June 23, including the Hartford Multifactor Developed International ETF (RODE) and the Hartford Schroders Commodity Strategy ETF (HCOM), according to FactSet. The Hartford funds posted positive returns for the year, ranging from 3% to 16.3%.
Recent ETF Closures—Source: etf.com Closures Tool & FactSet data
iPath also closed several commodity exchange-traded notes during June, including the iPath Bloomberg Platinum Subindex Total Return ETN (PGMFF) and the iPath Bloomberg Grains Subindex Total Return ETN (JJGTF), according to the data. The platinum ETN gained 44.2% year to date before closing June 25.
Clean energy and tech funds took a hit during the quarter, with several closures in both areas. The VanEck Green Infrastructure ETF (RNEW) closed June 23, down 0.2% for the year, while the WisdomTree Battery Value Chain and Innovation Fund (WBAT) shut down June 20 with a 5.4% gain.
Closures picked up steam through the quarter, with 19 funds closing during April and 15 during May, according to the data.
Some funds performed well before closing, including the Hartford Multi-Cap International Small Company ETF (ROIS), with a 16.3% gain, and the Simplify Macro Strategy ETF (FIG), up 16.2%, according to FactSet.
Others struggled before closing, such as the Defiance Next Generation H2 ETF (HDRO), down 25.4%, and the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long Uranium ETF (URAX), which dropped over 35%, according to the data.
Permalink | © Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
