BofA reveals a third consecutive week of U.S. equity outflows

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BofA analysts told investors in a note Tuesday that last week represented the third consecutive week of U.S. equity outflows for the firm’s clients.

They explained that clients sold single stocks and bought ETFs for only the fourth time this year, although YTD flows have mostly been into stocks and out of ETFs.

“Institutional & retail clients were both net sellers, for a third straight week, while hedge fund clients were net buyers after selling the prior week,” the analysts wrote.

However, they noted that the outflows were “entirely from mid caps,” representing the seventh largest outflows in BofA’s data history since 2008, after two weeks of outflows across all sizes.

While most sectors saw outflows, they were led by healthcare, according to the analysts, while the firm’s clients also sold financials for the third consecutive week.

Meanwhile, corporate “client buybacks accelerated to their highest weekly level since mid-Jan,” added the analysts. “Buybacks as a % of S&P 500 market cap were the largest since 2010 and above typical seasonal trends for just the second time in 11 weeks. After earnings season begins, buybacks typically accelerate over the subsequent ~6 weeks.”

For ETFs, there were inflows across most types and sectors. “Clients bought ETFs across most styles (Blend/Value; Blend ETFs saw biggest inflow since Dec.) and across small/mid/large cap ETFs. Growth and Broad market ETFs saw outflows,” said the analysts.