Why AI and Robotics Are Now National Security Assets
For the past year, the artificial intelligence (AI) narrative has centered largely on enterprise efficiency and consumer-facing chatbots. However, a distinct shift is underway in Washington that is redefining the sector's growth trajectory.
ROBO: A Different Vision To Understand Its True Nature
ROBO is the first ETF in the world dedicated to robotics and automation, one of the few that in my opinion really manages to isolate the robotics trend. This, however, comes at a cost, high, equal to an expense ratio of 0.95%, even though at its core there is a sort of passive replication. If compared to AI ETFs or technology ETFs, ROBO underperforms, proving to be less competitive.
ROBO: Industrial Automation Strategy For Industry 4.0
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF earns a "Buy" rating, targeting 3%-5% allocation for exposure to secular growth trends in industrial automation and robotics. ROBO offers diversified global exposure across 77 holdings, with 56% of assets in overseas companies and a balanced mix of large, mid, and small caps. Reindustrialization and automation investments, projected to reach $4.7 trillion, provide strong thematic tailwinds for ROBO's portfolio companies.
The Future Is Photonics: Solving the AI Energy Bottleneck
While AI applications dominate the conversation, a less-visible hardware trend is already delivering results. Key photonics companies are posting strong earnings, validating the theme for investors in AI and robotics and automation ETFs.
U.S.-Japan Tariff Deal Eases Investor Anxiety Over Robotics
Tariff news continue to dominate the 24-hour news cycle, and the latest deal struck with the U.S. and Japan should ease any potential investor anxiety over the robotics industry. Though tariff clouds were present, it never really dimmed the sunny outlook for the industry as a whole.
The Case For ROBO ETF: Investing In Automation, Not Hype
ROBO ETF offers diversified exposure to robotics and automation, emphasizing both hardware and applications, with strong sector, market cap, and geographic diversification. The ETF's unique weighting by ROBO score—not market cap—allows smaller, innovative companies to contribute meaningfully, supporting long-term alpha generation. While recent performance has lagged AI-heavy peers, ROBO's purist automation focus and risk diversification make it a robust long-term portfolio stabilizer.
The AI Arms Race Heats Up: June's Robotics & Automation Playbook
Below, we recount highlights from constituents of the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index (ROBO) and the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ). Silicon Valley's Superintelligence Sprint Ending the quarter on a (highly expensive) note, META (META) launched new, human-capital-intensive, superintelligence labs.
Top AI & Robotics News You May Have Missed In April
The Artificial Intelligence and Robotics sectors saw significant developments in April 2025, impacting companies across various industries.
Time to Buy? Robotics & Automation Valuations Fall Despite Constructive Outlook
Now could be an attractive entry point for investors looking to add exposure to the robotics and automation sector. The ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO) garnered a premium valuation relative to the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) for much of the past decade.
ROBO: Missing The Mark In These 3 Areas
ROBO Global Robotics & Automation ETF is a sell due to its high fees and lack of strong holdings that will capture industry growth. ROBO's top holdings lack the size, scale, and R&D capacity compared to mega-cap tech companies like Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta. ROBO's high expense ratio of nearly 1% could cost investors significantly over time, particularly compared to lower fee ETFs.
Play AI Investing Upside Without AI Firms in ROBO
Looking for a way to increase your portfolio's exposure to AI investing without adding exposure to firms already in your portfolio? Many investors already hold names like Nvidia (NVDA) and Microsoft (MSFT) in their equity allocations.
Post-Election 2025 Policy Landscape: Why Robotics and AI May Be the Less Obvious Play
Summary Understand the Post-2025 Landscape: See how emerging policies—from the Biden administration's AI Executive Order to shifting immigration rules—may accelerate robotics and AI adoption across U.S. industries. Pinpoint Key Sectors Under Pressure: Discover which areas (construction, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics) face intensifying labor shortages and how automation can fill the gaps.
