DWS, a majority-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, has surpassed 100 billion Swiss francs in assets under management in Switzerland, marking a pivotal moment in the expansion of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The achievement underscores a broader trend: ETFs have evolved from niche products to a cornerstone of both private and institutional portfolios over the past quarter-century. The Swiss market remains a key growth driver for DWS, as evidenced by recent figures from ETF Stream and ETF World.
In the first half of 2026 alone, ETF-related transactions in Switzerland surged by 22.5% year-over-year to 84.5 billion CHF, with transaction volumes rising by 46.1% to over 2.5 million. This surge aligns with DWS’s strategic focus on its Xtrackers brand, which now manages over 327 billion CHF in passive investments alone. The firm’s European ETF portfolio stands at 1.19 trillion euros, placing Xtrackers in third position among European ETF providers.
DWS’s Swiss operations have expanded its ETF offerings to over 170 funds, reflecting the sector’s accelerating momentum. The company’s CEO for Switzerland and Europe’s institutional client coverage, Sven Württemberger, emphasized the market’s importance, noting that Switzerland continues to be a critical hub for ETF growth. This milestone underscores the growing prominence of passive investment strategies in asset allocation, driven by their cost efficiency, diversification benefits, and alignment with long-term investor preferences.
The data highlights not only DWS’s success but also the broader expansion of ETFs as a dominant force in the financial services landscape, particularly in Europe’s asset management sector.
