The Nigerian Exchange’s Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) extraordinary performance in January 2026, driven by order-flow driven rally and growing investor appetite for diversified investment vehicles and not fundamentals analysis.
Several ETFs outperformed the NGX-All-Share Index (ASI), which returned 6.27% in January 2026.
Some smaller ETFs posted impressive double-digit returns.
The month-to-date (MTD) performance in January was between 35% to 322%, which appears to be more outrageous when compared to the year-to-date (YTD) return of 2025, which was between 5% to 170%.
Total ETF trading volume in January reached 6.33 million units, while the total value rose to N1.51 billion, indicating a significant increase in market activity. Twelve ETFs are listed on NGX; the remaining two, Vetiva Grifin 30 ETF and NewGold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), posted 36.64% and 35.25%, respectively.
If the NGX 30 Index did not rise 237% in January, then Stanbic IBTC ETF 30’s return reflects price dislocation rather than index replication. ETFs typically track a specific stock index, sector, or asset class such as banking stocks, consumer goods companies, industrial firms, or government bonds. Their strong showing in January suggests that investors preferred targeted exposure to specific sectors rather than buying the entire market.
Data as of January 30, 2026, computed by Nairametrics Research from the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), it also shows increased trading activity in ETFs. This reflects growing awareness and participation from both retail and institutional investors who want simple, low-cost exposure to structured portfolios.
Below are the top 10 best-performing ETFs for January 2026, ranked by year-to-date (YTD) return.
- YTDÂ return: 139.12%Â
- Total volume: 460,786Â
- Total value in: N42,929,733Â
- Market capitalization: N239 millionÂ
The Vetiva Industrial ETF achieved a 139.12% return, driven by the growing demand for infrastructure and industrial stocks. The price surged to N143.47 at the end of the month from N60 at the beginning of the same month. Overall gain in 2025 was 43.37%.
With Nigeria’s increasing focus on infrastructure development, this ETF is positioned to continue benefiting from the country’s growth in these sectors. Managed by Vetiva Capital Management, it remains one of the top performers in the industrial space.
