iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF

BAI

Market cap $8.31B

Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, joined host Nate Geraci this week on ETF Prime to preview five key ETF stories to watch in 2026 following a record year that saw nearly $1.5 trillion in net inflows.

They say there's no rest for the weary and ETF investors are no exception. BlackRock U.S. head of equity ETFs Jay Jacobs tells CNBC's Dominic Chu on “ETF Edge” there are three key ETF themes to keep an eye out for in 2026: growth opportunities in the market, income sources, and finding diversification amid bouts of market volatility.

It will be hard to top 2025 for the ETF industry following a record $1.49 trillion of net inflows. But a year doesn't need to break records to be remarkable.

Jay Jacobs, U.S. head of equity ETFs at BlackRock, joins CNBC's "Halftime Report" to discuss his ETF investment tips and key growth areas for 2026.

Thematic ETF assets climbed 49.6% through the first 11 months of 2025, reaching $467.93 billion by the end of November, according to research from ETFGI. Investors moved money into funds targeting specific investment themes rather than broad market exposure.

The iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF ( NYSEARCA:BAI ) launched in October 2024 to capture the entire AI infrastructure buildout in one actively managed package.

iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is rated a Buy for its high-conviction, selective exposure to AI leaders and service integrators. BAI outperforms broad passive ETFs in AI bull markets but exhibits sharper drawdowns; its active approach favors higher risk and higher return potential. Compared to CHAT, BAI is more concentrated in US hyperscalers and infrastructure, offering defensiveness in consolidating or correcting markets.

ETF investors stuck with tech through a turbulent November.

AI ETFs invest in some of the fastest-growing companies that enjoy multiyear tailwinds. AI chipmakers and software giants frequently show up on this list.

After 10 years and under $100 million in assets, many ETFs still trading are on life support, before possibly being sent to the graveyard. However, last week assets in the previously obscure iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) rose approximately ten-fold.