Not financial advice. Expense ratios and characteristics are approximate from public reporting — always verify on the issuer's site before investing. ETFs diversify single-stock risk but not sector/theme risk.
01 // BY SECTOR
The Fund Menu
| Ticker | Fund | Sector | Approx. ER | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBO | ROBO Global Robotics & Automation | Robotics | ~0.95% | 86 holdings, max ~2% weight — broadest diversification; ~+20% YTD |
| BOTZ | Global X Robotics & AI | Robotics | ~0.68% | Top-heavy: ABB/NVDA/Fanuc ~10% each; ~+2% YTD |
| KOID | KraneShares Humanoid Robotics | Robotics | 0.69% | First humanoid-specific ETF; 50 holdings across brain/body/integrators; $242.6M AUM |
| IRBO | iShares Robotics & AI | Robotics | ~0.47% | Broad equal-weighted AI+robotics |
| SHLD | Global X Defense Tech | Defense | ~0.50% | Defense-technology tilt incl. Palantir |
| ITA | iShares US Aerospace & Defense | Defense | ~0.40% | US primes, market-cap weighted |
| PPA | Invesco Aerospace & Defense | Defense | ~0.57% | US-focused incl. mid-caps |
| EUAD | Select STOXX Europe Defense | Defense | ~0.50% | Pure European rearmament exposure |
| URA | Global X Uranium | Nuclear | ~0.69% | Miners + fuel cycle |
| NLR | VanEck Uranium & Nuclear | Nuclear | ~0.61% | Blends utilities, miners, SMR developers — tamer than URA |
| URNM | Sprott Uranium Miners | Nuclear | ~0.75% | Pure miners, highest beta |
| REMX | VanEck Rare Earth & Strategic Metals | Minerals | ~0.53% | Global rare-earth miners/processors |
| LIT | Global X Lithium & Battery Tech | Minerals/Storage | ~0.75% | Lithium chain, miners to battery makers |
| XME | SPDR Metals & Mining | Minerals | ~0.35% | Broad US metals, equal-weighted |
| UFO | Procure Space | Space | ~0.75% | Pure-play space index |
| ARKX | ARK Space Exploration | Space | ~0.75% | Actively managed, looser theme definition |
| ROKT | SPDR Kensho Final Frontiers | Space | ~0.45% | Space + deep-sea blend |
| GRID | First Trust Smart Grid | Storage | ~0.57% | Grid infrastructure & equipment |
| BATT | Amplify Lithium & Battery | Storage | ~0.59% | Battery value chain |
| XBI | SPDR S&P Biotech | Biotech | ~0.35% | Equal-weight biotech — small-cap tilt |
| IBB | iShares Biotechnology | Biotech | ~0.45% | Large-cap weighted |
| ARKG | ARK Genomic Revolution | Biotech | ~0.75% | Active, concentrated genomics/AI-bio |
| QTUM | Defiance Quantum | Quantum | ~0.40% | Quantum + advanced computing basket — the standard diversified route |
02 // HOW TO CHOOSE
Selection Principles
CONCENTRATION
Check the top-10 weight
BOTZ-style funds (~40%+ in five names) behave like a handful of stocks; ROBO-style equal-weighting actually diversifies. Concentration isn't bad — it's a choice to make deliberately.
OVERLAP
Watch for duplicate exposure
NVDA appears in robotics, AI, and quantum funds simultaneously. Holding three thematic ETFs can mean tripling the same mega-caps rather than diversifying.
COSTS
Thematic ERs run 0.4–1.0%
Versus ~0.03–0.10% for broad index cores. Fine for satellite positions; expensive for core money.
LIQUIDITY
Small AUM funds can close
Thematic ETFs under ~$50M AUM get liquidated regularly — a taxable event forced on you. Prefer funds with established AUM.