How to invest in robotics and artificial intelligence
Active or passive – and if passive, which is the best benchmark to track?
Citywire Playbook helps you decide the best route to invest in this fast-growing theme
FUND PERFORMANCE chart data is in percentages and valid as of 31 May 2021
The robots are coming: be ready to invest
Techology is taking over our lives. Every year, more of the goods we buy are made by robots while more tasks and services from the most routine to the most complex are delivered by artifical intelligence.
Active
Plays
Three best active funds
Active funds in the robotics and AI space are young, but some have gathered huge assets in their short lives
Active Play
Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence
Started
Mar 2017
On Benchmark
Active Play
Sanlam Artificial Intelligence
Started
Jun 2017
On Benchmark
Active Play
Pictet - Robotics
Started
Oct 2015
On Benchmark
Active Play
Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence
Started
Mar 2017
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Sebastian Thomas
Sebastian Thomas
Benchmark
MSCI World/Information Tech GR USD
3-year total return % (USD)
134.8
Holdings
Biggest holding
Roku Inc
Biggest holding size
5.25
%
Active Play
Sanlam Artificial Intelligence
Started
Jun 2017
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Chris Ford
Chris Ford
Timothy Day
Timothy Day
Benchmark
MSCI World/Information Tech GR USD
3-year total return % (USD)
107.93
Holdings
38
Biggest holding
Alphabet
Biggest holding size
6.7
%
Active Play
Pictet - Robotics
Started
Oct 2015
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Managers
Peter Lingen
Peter Lingen
John Gladwyn
John Gladwyn
Benchmark
FTSE World TR USD
3-year total return % (USD)
86.24
Holdings
38
Biggest holding
Alphabet
Biggest holding size
4.7
%
Index Play
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF
Started
Sep 2016
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.68
%
Benchmark
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF
P/E ratio
34.1
Holdings
33
Biggest holding
NVIDIA
Biggest holding size
2.29
%
Index Play
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF
Started
Oct 2013
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.95
%
Benchmark
Robo-Stox Global Robotics and Automation Index
P/E ratio
42.37
Holdings
84
Biggest holding
Brooks Automation Inc
Biggest holding size
2.0
%
Index Play
iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF
Started
Jun 2018
View fact sheet
Total return vs benchmark in %
Source:
Morningstar
Expense ratio
0.68
%
Benchmark
Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index
P/E ratio
36.75
Holdings
32
Biggest holding
Nvidia Corp
Biggest holding size
8.69
%
Index
Plays
Three Largest ETFs
Like their active counterparts, robotics and AI ETFs have grown quickly in size since inception
Index Play
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF
Started
Sep 2016
On Benchmark
Index Play
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF
Started
Oct 2013
On Benchmark
Index Play
iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF
Started
Jun 2018
On Benchmark
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