How Are Robotics-AI ETFs Doing?

How do exchange-traded-funds (ETF) focused on development of robotics-artificial intelligence (AI), an arguably hot area of technology, perform? To investigate, we consider eight of the largest such ETFs, all currently available, as follows:

• • Robo Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO)
  • ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ)
  • Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ)
  • First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT)
  • Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ)
  • iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY)
  • Spear Alpha ETF (SPRX)
  • WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund (WTAI)

We use Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) as a benchmark, assuming investors look at robotics-AI stocks as a way to beat other technology stocks. We focus on monthly return statistics, along with compound annual growth rates (CAGR) and maximum drawdowns (MaxDD). Using monthly total returns for the eight robotics-AI ETFs and QQQ as available through December 2024, we find that: (more…)