At a glance
ROBO charges 0.95% a year, above the 0.6% average of the 3 funds most like it (the most expensive of 4). It has $1.99B in assets, the 2nd largest of that group; it paid 0.38% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, annual. Over the past year it returned +10.3% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 2nd of those 4 funds; over three years it returned +19.7% a year. At its worst it fell 33.2% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 41.8% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 2 months and 37 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 17.7% of the fund, out of 79 in all.
The short version
ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is an index fund from Exchange Traded Concepts. It holds 79 robotics and automation companies worldwide, including Ambarella, Rockwell Automation and Japan's Fanuc, as of July 31, 2026. It spreads money widely, with no stock above about 2.1%, and only about 45% sits in US companies. The trade-off is cost: its 0.95% expense ratio is the highest among comparable funds, which average 0.6%.
Price history
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ROBO +10.3% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBO official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2025 | — | +22.95% | — | +2.84% | +11.26% | — |
| ROBO price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +11.4% | +10.3% | +19.7% | +3.2% | +11.1% | +9.2% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ROBO returned +10.3%, 2nd of 4 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +3.2% and its 10-year +11.1%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 33.2% and regained its old high 2.3 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-33.9%); its best was 2020 (+45.3%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 43.7% (Nov 4, 2021 to Oct 14, 2022), recovered by Dec 10, 2025.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +11.3% | — |
| 2025 | +23.7% | +22.95% |
| 2024 | -1.3% | -1.22% |
| 2023 | +23.7% | +23.83% |
| 2022 | -33.9% | -33.63% |
| 2021 | +15.3% | +15.28% |
| 2020 | +45.3% | +44.34% |
| 2019 | +29.5% | +29.51% |
| 2018 | -20.9% | -20.43% |
| 2017 | +44.3% | +44.17% |
| 2016 | +18.6% | +17.84% |
| 2015 | -5.6% | — |
| 2014 | -5.9% | — |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 33.2% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 33.2%, back to its old high 2.3 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 41.8% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 41.8%, back to its old high 36.5 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.2900 | -6.5% |
| 2024 | $0.3100 | +933.3% |
| 2023 | $0.0300 | -75.0% |
| 2021 | $0.1200 | 0.0% |
| 2020 | $0.1200 | -25.0% |
| 2019 | $0.1600 | +33.3% |
| 2018 | $0.1200 | +1100.0% |
| 2017 | $0.0100 | -80.0% |
| 2016 | $0.0500 | -28.6% |
| 2015 | $0.0700 | +40.0% |
| 2014 | $0.0500 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 79 securities; the ten largest made up 17.67% of assets. It also reported 4.17% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| AMBARELLA, INC. | 2.09% | |
| ILLUMINA, INC. | 1.92% | |
| ROCKWELL AUTOMATION, INC. | 1.90% | |
| FANUC CORPORATION | 1.74% | |
| GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft | 1.72% | |
| Yokogawa Electric Corporation | 1.71% | |
| TERADYNE, INC. | 1.67% | |
| EMERSON ELECTRIC CO. | 1.67% | |
| JBT MAREL CORPORATION | 1.63% | |
| NOVANTA INC. | 1.62% | |
| SMC CORPORATION | 1.62% | |
| ATS CORPORATION | 1.57% | |
| NORDSON CORPORATION | 1.57% | |
| Samsara Inc (Nevada) | 1.57% | |
| ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION | 1.56% |
By country
United States 44.6%Japan 19.23%Germany 9.87%Taiwan 6.74%Canada 2.99%By asset type
Stocks 99.3%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $252.7M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -6.16%, -3.95%, +9.58%.
How it works
ROBO, from Exchange Traded Concepts, tracks the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index. The index provider, ROBO Global Index LLC (part of VettaFi), picks from its own database of companies that earn a significant share of revenue from robots or automation. Each company gets a "ROBO Score" from 1 to 100. The score is based on robotics revenue, investment in the field, and technology and market leadership. Companies scoring 50 or more can qualify if they also pass size, trading-volume and environmental, social and governance (ESG) screens.
The index holds 50 to 100 stocks (79 as of August 3, 2026). Each stock's weight generally follows its share of the total ROBO Score, not its market value, so holdings are fairly even. As of July 31, 2026, the largest holding, Ambarella, was about 2.1% of the fund, followed by Illumina and Rockwell Automation. The top 10 made up about 17.7%. The provider expects at least 40% of the index to be non-US companies, which may include mainland Chinese A-shares.
The index rebalances and adds companies quarterly, and it can drop them at any time. The fund normally buys every index stock at its index weight, an approach called replication, but it may hold a representative sample instead. It keeps at least 80% of net assets in robotics and automation companies and uses no leverage or options strategies.
What it really costs
- ROBO charges 0.95% a year, versus an average of 0.6% for the similar funds below (4th of 4, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $97 in the first year and $1,166 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROBO | $97 | $303 | $525 | $1,166 |
In a retirement portfolio
It is a narrow, high-cost theme fund that has fallen more than 40% in past downturns, so it fits better as a small add-on than as a foundation.
ROBO adds a targeted bet on robotics and automation, with a large slice outside the US: about 19% in Japan and 10% in Germany as of July 31, 2026. The ride has been rough. The fund launched in 2013, so it has no record from 2008. It fell 33.2% in the 2020 COVID crash but had recovered by June 2020. In the 2022 bear market it lost 41.8%. Its deepest drop, 43.7% from November 2021 to October 2022, took about 38 months to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2022, down 33.63%. Anyone forced to sell shares or draw cash during a stretch like that would lock in losses.
Income is minimal: the yield was 0.38% as of October 27, 2026, paid once a year. Costs are high. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 invested costs $1,166 over 10 years. Past results don't predict future ones, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors wanting a global robotics slice, with about 45% in US stocks and large stakes in Japan and Germany as of July 31, 2026.
- People who prefer a wide spread: 79 holdings weighted by ROBO Score, none above about 2.1% as of July 31, 2026.
- Long-term holders who can wait out drops like the 43.7% fall of 2021–2022, which took about 38 months to recover.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: the 0.95% expense ratio is the highest among similar funds; VanEck Robotics ETF (IBOT) charges 0.47%.
- Anyone seeking income: the yield was 0.38% as of October 27, 2026, and it pays only once a year.
- Investors who may need to sell in a slump: it fell 41.8% in the 2022 bear market and has swung far more than the broad market.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
Net assets from each fund's latest N-PORT or annual report where available. Returns through Oct 27, 2026.Questions investors ask
Is ROBO a good ETF for retirement?
ROBO may suit a small, higher-risk part of a retirement portfolio, but it is not built to be a core holding. It focuses on one theme, robotics and automation, and charges 0.95% a year. It fell 41.8% in the 2022 bear market and took about three years to recover. The yield was only 0.38% as of October 27, 2026. Someone who may need to sell or draw income in a bad year faces a real risk of selling low.
ROBO vs IBOT: what's the difference?
Both funds own robotics and automation stocks, and about 36% of their holdings overlap, based on their latest N-PORT reports. VanEck Robotics ETF (IBOT) costs much less, at 0.47% versus ROBO's 0.95%. As of October 27, 2026, IBOT returned 20.5% over one year, versus 10.3% for ROBO. IBOT is far smaller, with about $98 million in net assets as of June 30, 2026. ROBO had about $1.99 billion as of July 31, 2026, and a longer record dating to 2013.
Does ROBO pay dividends?
Yes, but very little, and only once a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, ROBO paid about $0.29 per share, a yield of 0.38%. Most of its holdings are industrial and technology companies that put their cash back into growth rather than paying large dividends. Investors looking for steady income would get little from this fund. Its appeal lies in potential price growth, not payouts.
What are ROBO's top holdings?
As of July 31, 2026, ROBO's largest holdings were chipmaker Ambarella (2.09%), Illumina (1.92%), Rockwell Automation (1.90%), Japan's Fanuc (1.74%) and Germany's GEA Group (1.72%). Yokogawa Electric, Teradyne, Emerson Electric, JBT Marel and Novanta round out the top 10. The fund weights stocks by their ROBO Score, not company size, so its 10 largest holdings were only 17.67% of assets, spread across 79 companies.
How has ROBO performed over the long term?
Results have been strong over 10 years but weak over five. Its prospectus reports an average annual return of 11.26% over 10 years and 2.84% over five years, as of December 31, 2025. Returns swing widely: the fund gained 44.34% in 2020 and lost 33.63% in 2022. Over the 10 years to October 27, 2026, the fund's price return was about 186% in total, or 11.1% a year.