What are robotics & automation ETFs?
Robotics and automation ETFs own companies that build industrial robots, factory controls, sensors and the chips that power them. They also own firms that apply automation to cars, farming and defense. Two stocks show up most often: Teradyne and Nvidia each appear in five of the seven funds. Tesla and Emerson Electric appear in three. Other familiar names include Fanuc, Rockwell Automation, ASML, Keyence, ABB, Taiwan Semiconductor and Deere.
The funds differ most in how they choose stocks. ROBO tracks the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index and spreads its money across 79 holdings, with only about 18% in its top 10. IBOT follows the BlueStar Robotics Index. BOTT tracks an index of companies that earn significant revenue from humanoid and service robots. ARKQ, FBOT and IQM follow no index; their managers pick stocks for long-term growth. ARKQ and BOTT are the most concentrated of the ordinary funds, each with about 54% in its top 10 holdings.
UBOT is a different kind of fund. It is 2x leveraged, meaning it aims to deliver twice its index's return each day and then resets. That makes it a short-term trading tool rather than a long-term holding.
Costs vary widely. The median expense ratio, the yearly fee taken from fund assets, is 0.50%. BOTT charges the least at 0.35% and UBOT the most at 1.32%. Among the ordinary funds, ROBO costs the most at 0.95%. The money is concentrated too. Of roughly $4.4 billion across the seven funds, 98% sits in the five largest: ROBO, ARKQ, FBOT, IQM and IBOT. ROBO and ARKQ alone hold close to $2 billion each.
Robotics & automation ETF holdings: the stocks most funds own
The stocks that show up most often among the largest positions of the 7 biggest robotics & automation ETFs with holdings reports, from their latest N-PORT filings.
| Stock | Funds holding it | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Teradyne, Inc. | 5 of 7 | 5.36% |
| Nvidia Corp | 5 of 7 | 4.64% |
| Tesla Inc | 3 of 7 | 5.08% |
| Emerson Electric Co. | 3 of 7 | 2.52% |
| Palantir Technologies Inc | 2 of 7 | 3.75% |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd | 2 of 7 | 3.61% |
| Deere & Company | 2 of 7 | 3.33% |
| Alphabet Inc | 2 of 7 | 2.79% |
| Applied Materials Inc | 2 of 7 | 2.11% |
| Sk Hynix Inc | 2 of 7 | 1.98% |
| Lam Research Corp | 2 of 7 | 1.94% |
| Rockwell Automation, Inc. | 2 of 7 | 1.9% |
Typical weight is the median share of each fund’s assets in the stock, among the funds that hold it in their 25 largest positions.
The largest robotics & automation ETFs, side by side
Swipe the table to see all 5 funds.
| ROBO | ARKQ | FBOT | IQM | IBOT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets | $1.99B | $1.86B | $218.1M | $117.6M | $97.9M |
| Expense ratio | 0.95% | 0.75% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.47% |
| Holdings | 79 | 40 | 49 | 76 | 65 |
| In the 10 largest | 17.67% | 53.96% | 42.09% | 42.38% | 39.47% |
| Biggest holding | Ambarella, Inc. (2.09%) | Tesla Inc (9.75%) | Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg Co Ltd (6.51%) | Nvidia Corp (6.58%) | ASML Holding NV (5.3%) |
| Yield | 0.38% | 0.27% | 0.42% | 0% | 0.32% |
| 1-year return | +10.3% | -3.5% | +12.8% | +5.2% | +20.5% |
| 3 years, a year | +19.7% | +35.9% | +23.1% | +33.4% | +27.1% |
| 5 years, a year | +3.2% | +7.3% | — | +13.4% | — |
| Worst drop, past year | -17.4% | -23.8% | -14.0% | -26.5% | -16.7% |
| Launched | 2013 | 2014 | 2023 | 2020 | 2023 |
The largest ordinary funds by net assets (leveraged and inverse funds are listed further down). Holdings from each fund’s latest N-PORT report; returns include reinvested distributions, as of Oct 27, 2026.
Head to head
ROBO vs ARKQ
ROBO and ARKQ, the two largest funds, are built differently. ROBO tracks the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index across 79 stocks; its top 10 hold about 18%, led by Ambarella at 2%. ARKQ's managers pick 40 stocks, with 54% in the top 10 and Tesla near 10%. Only 10.5% of their assets overlap. ROBO charges 0.95% a year, ARKQ 0.75%. In the year to October 27, 2026, ROBO returned 10.3% and ARKQ -3.5%, and ARKQ's worst decline was deeper (-23.8% vs -17.4%). ROBO may suit investors wanting breadth; ARKQ, those accepting concentrated bets.
ROBO vs IBOT
ROBO and IBOT are both index funds and overlap more than any other pair here: 36.4% of assets in common across 30 shared stocks. IBOT tracks the BlueStar Robotics Index with 65 holdings, 39% in the top 10, led by ASML at 5.3%. ROBO spreads 79 holdings thinly, with none above about 2%. IBOT costs 0.47% a year, about half ROBO's 0.95%. In the year to October 27, 2026, IBOT returned 20.5% and ROBO 10.3%, with similar worst declines (-16.7% vs -17.4%). Both may suit investors who prefer an index; ROBO's record runs back to 2013, IBOT's to 2023.
ARKQ vs FBOT
ARKQ and FBOT both pick stocks rather than track an index, and they share 28.2% of assets across 14 stocks, including Teradyne. ARKQ is more concentrated, with 54% in its top 10 led by Tesla at 9.75%, plus a stake in SpaceX. FBOT's top 10 make up 42%, led by Taiwan Semiconductor at 6.5%. FBOT costs 0.50% a year against ARKQ's 0.75%. In the year to October 27, 2026, FBOT returned 12.8% and ARKQ -3.5%; FBOT's worst decline was milder (-14% vs -23.8%). Both may suit investors open to a manager's judgment; FBOT's record dates only to 2023.
How much do the largest robotics & automation ETFs overlap?
Owning two funds that hold the same stocks adds little diversification. Overlap here is the share of assets two funds have in common: for each stock both own, the smaller of its two weights, added up.
| Funds | Assets in common | Shared holdings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBO and IBOT | 36.4% | 30 | |
| ROBO and FBOT | 30.2% | 25 | |
| ARKQ and FBOT | 28.2% | 14 | |
| FBOT and IBOT | 27.3% | 17 | |
| ARKQ and IQM | 19.4% | 13 | |
| IQM and IBOT | 15.6% | 13 | |
| FBOT and IQM | 11.9% | 8 | |
| ROBO and ARKQ | 10.5% | 8 | |
| ROBO and IQM | 7.5% | 9 | |
| ARKQ and IBOT | 6.5% | 5 |
From each fund’s full holdings in its latest N-PORT report.
How have robotics & automation ETFs performed?
The five largest ordinary funds: growth from the start of the range, distributions reinvested. The dashed gray line is the S&P 500 (SPY).
Best-performing robotics & automation ETFs over the past year
| # | Fund | Net assets | Cost | 1 mo | YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBOT Vaneck Robotics ETF | $97.9M | 0.47% | -2.0% | +20.4% | +20.5% | +27.1% |
| 2 | FBOT Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF | $218.1M | 0.5% | -2.2% | +14.6% | +12.8% | +23.1% |
| 3 | ROBO ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF | $1.99B | 0.95% | -4.8% | +11.4% | +10.3% | +19.7% |
| 4 | IQM Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF | $117.6M | 0.5% | -12.1% | +11.9% | +5.2% | +33.4% |
| 5 | ARKQ ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | $1.86B | 0.75% | -6.2% | +1.7% | -3.5% | +35.9% |
| 6 | BOTT Themes Robotics & Automation ETF | $63.4M | 0.35% | -11.1% | -11.2% | -10.9% | — |
Funds with at least $25 million in net assets; leveraged and inverse funds left out. Past returns don’t predict future returns.
How robotics & automation ETFs did in past market crashes
| Fund | 2008 crash | 2020 crash | 2022 drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBO | not yet launched | -33.2% | -41.8% |
| ARKQ | not yet launched | -33.4% | -45.7% |
| FBOT | not yet launched | not yet launched | not yet launched |
| IQM | not yet launched | not yet launched | -40.4% |
| IBOT | not yet launched | not yet launched | not yet launched |
| S&P 500 (SPY) | -55.2% | -33.7% | -24.5% |
Total return from the stock market’s peak to its low in each fall, distributions reinvested.
What drives robotics & automation ETFs?
Many companies in these funds make equipment that other businesses order when they expand: industrial robots, factory controls, sensors, chipmaking tools and the processors that run them. Those orders rise and fall with the economy and can drop quickly when factories cut back. Interest rates matter twice. Higher rates make equipment costlier to finance, and they shrink the value investors place on growth companies whose profits lie further ahead. Many funds also lean on chip stocks such as Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor and ASML, which follow semiconductor demand cycles, and ARKQ gives nearly 10% to Tesla alone.
That sensitivity shows in past declines. In the 2020 COVID crash, ROBO fell 33.2% and ARKQ 33.4%, close to the S&P 500's 33.7% drop. The 2022 bear market (a fall of 20% or more), when rising interest rates hit growth stocks, was much harsher for these funds: ARKQ lost 45.7%, ROBO 41.8% and IQM 40.4%, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. None of the funds existed in the 2008 financial crisis, when the S&P 500 fell 55.2%. FBOT and IBOT are too new to have been tested by any of these downturns.
Robotics & automation ETFs with the lowest expense ratios
| # | Fund | Expense ratio | On $10,000 | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOTT Themes Robotics & Automation ETF | 0.35% | $35 a year | $63.4M |
| 2 | IBOT Vaneck Robotics ETF | 0.47% | $47 a year | $97.9M |
| 3 | FBOT Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF | 0.5% | $50 a year | $218.1M |
| 4 | IQM Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF | 0.5% | $50 a year | $117.6M |
| 5 | ARKQ ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 0.75% | $75 a year | $1.86B |
Ordinary funds with at least $10 million in net assets. The median ordinary robotics & automation ETF charges 0.5% a year; leveraged and inverse funds usually charge more.
Do robotics & automation ETFs pay dividends?
5 of the 6 ordinary robotics & automation ETFs with a page here paid distributions over the last 12 months, with a median yield of 0.32%.
| Highest yields | Yield | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| FBOT Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF | 0.42% | $218.1M |
| ROBO ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF | 0.38% | $1.99B |
| IBOT Vaneck Robotics ETF | 0.32% | $97.9M |
| ARKQ ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | 0.27% | $1.86B |
| BOTT Themes Robotics & Automation ETF | 0.16% | $63.4M |
Distributions over the last 12 months divided by the price; funds with at least $25 million in net assets.
How to choose a robotics & automation ETF
- Yearly fees range widely. BOTT is the cheapest at 0.35% a year, followed by IBOT at 0.47% and FBOT and IQM at 0.50%. The two largest funds cost more: ARKQ charges 0.75% and ROBO 0.95%.
- Index rules or a manager's picks. ROBO and IBOT track robotics indexes, and BOTT tracks one focused on companies earning significant revenue from humanoid and service robots. ARKQ, FBOT and IQM follow no index, so returns depend on their managers' picks.
- Spread thin or concentrated. ROBO spreads money across 79 stocks, with about 18% in its top 10 and no holding above about 2%. ARKQ and BOTT put about 54% in their top 10, so a handful of names drive results.
- US-heavy or global holdings. Several funds own large non-US companies: IBOT's top holdings include ASML, Keyence and ABB, and ROBO's include Fanuc and GEA Group. ARKQ's largest positions are US names such as Tesla, Teradyne and AMD. Non-US holdings add currency swings.
- Fund size and trading costs. ROBO and ARKQ each hold close to $2 billion, while BOTT has about $63 million and UBOT about $24 million. Smaller funds can have wider bid-ask spreads, the gap between quoted trading prices, and more risk of closing.
- UBOT is a 2x daily trading tool. UBOT aims for twice its index's return each day and resets daily, so over longer periods results can differ sharply from 2x. It charges 1.32% a year and lost 31.8% in the year to October 27, 2026.
What are the risks of robotics & automation ETFs?
- Sharp price swings. Over the year to October 27, 2026, volatility (how widely prices swing) ran from 21.6% for FBOT to 42.3% for BOTT, excluding UBOT. BOTT fell as much as 43.6% from its high, IQM 26.5% and ARKQ 23.8%.
- A few stocks carry a lot of weight. ARKQ puts 54% of its money in 10 stocks, with Tesla at 9.75%. BOTT's top 10 are also about 54%, led by Leader Harmonious Drive System at 8.83%. Bad news at one company can move these funds sharply.
- Owning two funds may double up. Teradyne and Nvidia each appear in five of the seven funds, and Tesla in three. ROBO and IBOT share 36.4% of their assets, so pairing them adds less diversification than two tickers suggest.
- Tied to chips and business spending. Many funds lean on chip stocks like Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor, ASML and SK Hynix, plus equipment makers whose orders follow the economy. In the 2022 bear market, ROBO fell 41.8% and ARKQ 45.7%, against 24.5% for the S&P 500.
- Leveraged UBOT can lose fast. UBOT seeks twice its index's daily return and resets each day, so losses can compound in choppy markets. In the year to October 27, 2026, it fell 31.8%, with volatility of 52.2% and a worst drop of 42%.
Leveraged and inverse robotics & automation ETFs (2x)
These funds aim for a multiple, or the opposite, of one day’s return, and reset every day. Held for longer than a day, their results can drift far from that multiple, especially when prices swing. They are trading tools, not long-term holdings. Why leveraged ETFs decay →
| Fund | Daily aim | Net assets | 1-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBOT Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence … | 2× | $23.7M | -31.8% |
List of all robotics & automation ETFs, by size
| # | Fund | Net assets | Cost | Yield | YTD | 1 yr | 5 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROBO ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF | $1.99B | 0.95% | 0.38% | +11.4% | +10.3% | +3.2% |
| 2 | ARKQ ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | $1.86B | 0.75% | 0.27% | +1.7% | -3.5% | +7.3% |
| 3 | FBOT Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF | $218.1M | 0.5% | 0.42% | +14.6% | +12.8% | — |
| 4 | IQM Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF | $117.6M | 0.5% | 0% | +11.9% | +5.2% | +13.4% |
| 5 | IBOT Vaneck Robotics ETF | $97.9M | 0.47% | 0.32% | +20.4% | +20.5% | — |
| 6 | BOTT Themes Robotics & Automation ETF | $63.4M | 0.35% | 0.16% | -11.2% | -10.9% | — |
| 7 | UBOT Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence … Leveraged | $23.7M | 1.32% | 1.34% | -23.5% | -31.8% | -15.3% |
Questions investors ask about robotics & automation ETFs
What is the largest robotics ETF?
ROBO, the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF, is the largest, with about $2.0 billion in net assets. ARKQ from ARK Invest is close behind at about $1.9 billion. ROBO launched in 2013, tracks the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index across 79 stocks and charges 0.95% a year. The next largest fund, Fidelity's FBOT, is far smaller at about $218 million.
Which robotics ETF has the lowest expense ratio?
BOTT, the Themes Robotics & Automation ETF, has the lowest expense ratio, or yearly fee, at 0.35%. VanEck's IBOT follows at 0.47%, then Fidelity's FBOT and Franklin's IQM at 0.50%. BOTT is small, with about $63 million in assets, and narrow: it tracks an index of humanoid and service robot companies and puts about 54% in its top 10. It fell 10.9% in the year to October 27, 2026.
ROBO vs ARKQ: what's the difference?
ROBO follows an index and spreads money widely, while ARKQ's managers make bigger bets on fewer stocks. ROBO holds 79 stocks with about 18% in its top 10. ARKQ holds 40, with 54% in its top 10, led by Tesla at 9.75%. Only 10.5% of their assets overlap. ROBO costs 0.95% a year and ARKQ 0.75%. In the year to October 27, 2026, ROBO returned 10.3% and ARKQ -3.5%, though ARKQ was ahead over three years.
How many robotics ETFs are there?
This guide covers seven US-listed robotics and automation ETFs: ROBO, ARKQ, FBOT, IQM, IBOT, BOTT and UBOT. Three track indexes (ROBO, IBOT and BOTT), and three are run by stock pickers (ARKQ, FBOT and IQM). The seventh, UBOT, is a 2x leveraged fund built for short-term trading. Together they hold about $4.4 billion, but 98% of that sits in the five largest funds.
Do robotics ETFs pay dividends?
Most pay small ones. Five of the six funds with yield figures pay dividends, with a median yield of 0.32%. FBOT yields 0.42%, ROBO 0.38%, IBOT 0.32%, ARKQ 0.27% and BOTT 0.16%, while IQM's yield is zero. Yields this low mean the funds offer little income. They hold growth companies that pay out little of their profits, so returns come mainly from share prices.
Do robotics ETFs own Nvidia?
Yes. Five of the seven funds hold Nvidia, at a median weight of 4.64%. It is the largest holding in Franklin's IQM at 6.58% and among the five biggest positions in FBOT (4.83%) and IBOT (4.64%). Teradyne is held just as widely. Tesla appears in three funds, including ARKQ, where it is the largest holding at 9.75%, and BOTT, where it makes up 5.08%.
Is there a leveraged robotics ETF?
Yes. UBOT, the Direxion Daily Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Automation Index Bull 2X Shares, aims to return twice its index's move for a single day, then resets. Over weeks or months, that daily reset means results can differ sharply from twice the index's return, especially in choppy markets. UBOT lost 31.8% in the year to October 27, 2026, fell as much as 42% from its high and charges 1.32% a year. It is built as a short-term trading tool, not a long-term holding.
Does Vanguard or Fidelity have a robotics ETF?
Fidelity does, and none of the seven US-listed funds in this group comes from Vanguard. Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF (FBOT) launched in 2023, picks stocks for long-term growth rather than tracking an index, charges 0.50% a year and holds 49 stocks led by Taiwan Semiconductor, Teradyne and Deere. It returned 12.8% in the year to October 27, 2026. The other issuers are Exchange Traded Concepts, ARK Invest, Franklin Templeton, VanEck, Themes ETF and Direxion.
Is there a Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab robotics & automation ETF?
Yes. Fidelity offers one: FBOT (Fidelity Disruptive Automation ETF). Vanguard and Schwab don’t have a robotics & automation ETF.
