AI-focused ETFs' recent surge highlights both strong returns and a concentration in companies developing the technology, according to Kauppalehti's analysis of three major AI-oriented investment funds.
The Global X AI UCITS ETF delivered returns of up to 50 percent over the past year. The fund focuses on companies building AI systems, with a large share of its holdings in electronics and semiconductor firms. Its total market value has reached around 6.8 billion dollars.
A comparable fund, Xtrackers AI and Big Data ETF, returned 44.3 percent during the same period. In addition to AI developers, it includes companies involved in Big Data and cybersecurity. The fund’s market value stands at around 5.7 billion euros.
Both funds share similar top holdings, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, though their weightings differ. Samsung accounts for more than seven percent of the Xtrackers fund, while Global X distributes its holdings more evenly. Across the funds reviewed, US companies make up more than 60 percent of total assets.
A third fund, iShares AI Adopters and Applications, focuses on companies expected to benefit from AI over time rather than those developing it. Its return was 14.5 percent over the past year. The fund is weighted toward healthcare and financial companies, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, AstraZeneca, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley.
Kauppalehti Analyst Viljo Hautala said the strong returns reflect high investor interest and elevated valuations in AI-related sectors.
The comparison shows that recent gains in AI ETFs are largely driven by companies building the underlying technology.
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