BOTZ - Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF

NasdaqGM - NasdaqGM Real Time Price. Currency in USD
20.30
+0.07 (+0.35%)
At close: 4:00PM EDT
Stock chart is not supported by your current browser
Previous Close20.23
Open20.26
Bid20.26 x 2200
Ask20.49 x 800
Day's Range20.17 - 20.33
52 Week Range16.01 - 21.99
Volume396,743
Avg. Volume643,178
Net Assets1.42B
NAV20.13
PE Ratio (TTM)N/A
Yield1.97%
YTD Daily Total Return20.02%
Beta (3Y Monthly)1.74
Expense Ratio (net)0.68%
Inception Date2016-09-12
Trade prices are not sourced from all markets
  • The Growth of BOTZ: the AI & Robotic ETF
    Yahoo Finance Video

    The Growth of BOTZ: the AI & Robotic ETF

    The U.S. stock rally appears to have stalled out ahead of earnings season, but Jay Jacobs believes there is investor demand for more specialized sectors. Yahoo Finance's Adam Shapiro and Julie Hyman join Heritage Capital President Paul Schatz and Global X SVP & Head of Research and Strategy Jay Jacobs to discuss Global X ETFs.

  • Benzinga

    Robotics ETF Offers Growth At A Surprisingly Reasonable Price

    Look now because the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (NASDAQ: BOTZ) is on the mend. Up more than 20% year to date, the $1.35 billion BOTZ tracks the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index, providing exposure to “companies that potentially stand to benefit from increased adoption and utilization of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), including those involved with industrial robotics and automation, non-industrial robots, and autonomous vehicle,” according to Global X.

  • ETF Trends

    This Robotics ETF Shrugs Off Cyclical Slump

    BOTZ “seeks to invest in companies that potentially stand to benefit from increased adoption and utilization of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), including those involved with industrial robotics and automation, non-industrial robots, and autonomous vehicles,” according to Global X. Robotics and artificial intelligence are making machines smarter and more capable than ever before, allowing robots to take on increasingly sophisticated tasks for faster and more accurate production. Several sub-groups of artificial intelligence and robotics spaces could be major drivers of the themes’ returns in the coming years, including industrial robots.

  • Charts Look Positive for Robotics and AI Stocks
    Investopedia

    Charts Look Positive for Robotics and AI Stocks

    Bullish chart patterns suggest that the robotics and artificial intelligence sector is worth watching in the coming weeks and months.

  • Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Is Holding Strong
    InvestorPlace

    Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Is Holding Strong

    This article is a part of InvestorPlace's Best ETFs for 2019 contest. Tom Taulli's pick for the contest is the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ).It's time for another update for the InvestorPlace Best ETFs contest. My pick, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ), has performed reasonably well for the year so far with a year-to-date return of 19%.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsUnfortunately, it ranks No. 4 among the others. The top performer is the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (BATS:ITB), which was the choice for Vince Martin. He made a very shrewd call that the sector was way oversold.Regardless, I'm still bullish on BOTZ. Hey, for the years to come, I think it has the potential for being among the best ETFs.There are several reasons for this. First of all, AI represents a truly transformational technology that has wide appeal. We've already seen how companies like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) have leveraged it for their own platforms. AI offers benefits of lower costs, better predictions and accurate insights.Here are some data points to consider: * PWC projects that AI will add a whopping $15.7 trillion in value to the global economy by 2030 * IDC projects that spending on the technology will go from $24 billion in 2018 to $77.6 billion by 2022 * For other categories related to AI like robots and drones, which are included in the BOTZ ETF, IDC expects that spending on these categories will jump from $115.7 billion to $210.3 billion AI and the Best ETFsSo what were some of the developments in the latest quarter for BOTZ? Let's take a look at a few: * 10 Cloud Stocks to Invest in the Future * Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA): This is one of the premier AI companies. The company's core technology -- GPUs or Graphics Processing Units -- have proven to be ideal for the technology, in terms of the high speed, efficiency and parallel processing. While NVDA has had its challenges, such as with the U.S.-China trade war and the competition from operators like Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD), the company has been able to get things back on track. This was evident in its latest earnings report, in which the company beat expectations on both the top and bottom lines. NVDA also should get a boost from its expected acquisition of Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ:MLNX). Oh, and yes, the company continues to push the boundaries of innovation, such as with its autonomous driving car segment. * Brooks Automation (NASDAQ:BRKS): For the year so far, the shares are up about 45%. The company's automation systems for semiconductors are seeing much uptake because of megatrends like IoT (Internet-of-Things), 5G and yes, AI. The company has also focused on the valuable life sciences market, which should help with long-term growth. According to the CEO, Steve Schwartz, in the earnings press release: "We believe each of our businesses hold great advantages and are positioned nicely in strong markets with additional opportunity as we go into the final quarter of our 2019 fiscal year." * iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT): This stock is one of the reasons that BOTZ is not the one of the best ETFs! The performance for the company has been absolutely awful. During the last quarter, IRBT stock has lost about 36% of its value. Then again, in July, the company issued a disappointing earnings report that showed a deceleration on the top line. The problem? It really comes down to the situation in China. Keep in mind that a hefty amount of sales come from the country.Tom Taulli is the author of the book, Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction. Follow him on Twitter at @ttaulli. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Cloud Stocks to Invest in the Future * 7 Next-Gen Growth Stocks to Buy for Long-Term Gains * 7 Cheap Stocks That Ought to Consider a Sale The post Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Is Holding Strong appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • ETFs to Gain as Surgical Robots Rise in Popularity
    Zacks

    ETFs to Gain as Surgical Robots Rise in Popularity

    We highlight ETFs which are set to gain from an expanding surgical robotic market on factors like growing demand for automation in healthcare, rising cases of chronic diseases and ageing population.

  • ETF Trends

    AI On The Rise And The Robotics ETF Still Worth a Look

    Like other growth-oriented ETFs, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ) was punished during the August broader market retreat, but there's still plenty of compelling long-term opportunity with this robotics fund. BOTZ “seeks to invest in companies that potentially stand to benefit from increased adoption and utilization of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), including those involved with industrial robotics and automation, non-industrial robots, and autonomous vehicles,” according to Global X. Robotics and artificial intelligence are making machines smarter and more capable than ever before, allowing robots to take on increasingly sophisticated tasks for faster and more accurate production.

  • ETF Trends

    Robotics ETFs Can Still Industrial Rock

    The cyclical industrial sector has had its share of struggles this year, but some robotics ETFs, which have heavy industrial exposure, are still performing well. For example, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ) is up 12.31% year-to-date and there could be more upside coming for BOTZ and rival robotics funds. BOTZ is considered a thematic ETF.

  • PR Newswire

    Global X ETFs Announces the Addition of Three Funds to Schwab ETF OneSource™

    NEW YORK , July 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Global X ETFs, the New York -based provider of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the inclusion of three additional ETFs to Schwab ETF OneSource, one ...

  • 10 Best ETFs for 2019: The Race for #1 Intensifies
    InvestorPlace

    10 Best ETFs for 2019: The Race for #1 Intensifies

    If you're interested in investing in several stocks related to a specific theme or thesis about where the market is headed but don't have the time to cherry-pick stocks and pile them into a unique portfolio yourself, then exchange-traded funds offer an ideal solution. Each ETF follows a grouping of stocks related to a specific concept, and, therefore, removes much of the pressure from investors to make superb tactical decisions.That's not to say, however, that all ETFs are created equal. And here at InvestorPlace, we had several of our experts choose what they think might be the best ETFs for 2019.So far, the race for first place in InvestorPlace's Best ETFs of 2019 contest has been fairly tight with three core themes battling it out for supremacy: Vince Martin's home construction play, James Brumley's water focused fund and my own 5G real estate pick have all been at the top of the heap for most of the first half of 2019. On the other hand, some of the other themes, such as emerging markets, have had a much more difficult time rising to the top thanks to trade war headlines and other concerns.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsBut whatever the case may be, there's still plenty of time for any of the downtrodden ETFs on this list to make it to the top and there's always a chance that one of the main contenders could see a dramatic fall by the end of 2019. * 10 Best Stocks for 2019: A Volatile First Half With all of that said, here are InvestorPlace's best ETFs of 2019, in ascending order of year-to-date gains through the end of June. iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF)Investor: Todd Shriber Expense Ratio: 0.43%, or $43 annually per $10,000 invested Year-to-Date Gains Through Q2: 3%Todd Shriber based his pick for the contest, the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF), on the idea that the healthcare sector would continue its 2018 bullishness -- it was the S&P 500's highest performing sector last year. And while the thesis behind his selection was sound, the perceived political boost it would get this year from a Democrat-dominated House of Representatives has actually turned into a roadblock.In Shriber's words, "the fact that so many of the Democrat contenders for that party's 2020 presidential nomination favor Medicare For All has been a significant drag on IHF." A big part of this drag on IHF has to do with UnitedHealth (NYSE:UNH), which is one of IHF's largest holding allocations: "The impact of Medicare For All speculation has been palpable, particularly for UnitedHealth," Shriber wrote.While the case for IHF isn't closed completely yet, Shriber recommends monitoring the action in UNH as an indicator for where the fund might go in the near term.Read more about the IHF ETF from Shriber here. iShares Mexico MSCI ETF (EWW)Investor: Ian Bezek Expense Ratio: 0.47% YTD Gains: 5%The primary idea behind Ian Bezek's selection for the contest -- the iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF(NYSEARCA:EWW) -- is that while Mexican stocks took a hit in 2018, as trade relations between the U.S. and Mexico improve, so too will the stocks, which comprise EWW's holdings.And so far, things have indeed begun to cheer up for this Mexican stocks ETF. "With the tariff issue out of the way, the skies are looking brighter for Mexico-U.S. relations, and thus EWW, for the second half of 2019," Bezek wrote. "[I]nvestors in EWW and other Mexican assets should be reassured to know that … [d]espite the change in government, which led to a great deal of concern last year, economic numbers have been acceptable." * 10 Stocks to Buy on College Students' Radars While Bezek asserts that the road to the top won't be easy (if at all possible), he's confident that there is still some upside potential left in EWW and Mexican stocks this year … along with the inevitable possibility for continued volatility.Read more about the EWW ETF from Bezek here. iShares Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG)Investor: Jim Woods Expense Ratio: 0.14% YTD Gains: 9%Although Jim Woods' pick, the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG), had a rough run at the start of 2019 amid trade war headlines and other economic concerns, there is still some hope left for the emerging markets fund.As Woods points out: "[W]ith the trade situation now back in "truce" mode, and with the Fed now likely to begin rate cuts that should bring down the value of the dollar vs. rival foreign currencies, we could be looking at an extension of the June gains for emerging markets."Woods is confident that although IEMG still retains its unavoidable speculative tune -- all emerging markets themes are prone to unpredictability and volatility -- there are strong signs that the ETF could make a run for the top place at the end of this year if trade conditions between the U.S. and China continue to improve.Read more about the IEMG ETF from Woods here. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)Investor: Readers' Choice Expense Ratio: 0.67% YTD Gains: 10%Next up is our Reader's Choice for the best ETF of 2019: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM). Somewhat similar to Woods' IEMG selection, the primary thesis behind this pick was likely the easing of tensions between China and the U.S. The relationship between the two countries got uglier in 2018, which sent many Chinese stocks down the gutter, along with the general stalling of the Chinese economy.Although "trade negotiations between the two nations [have been] constantly ping-ponging from seemingly positive to negative throughout the first half of 2019," the longer-term case behind EEM still holds weight. Given that "29% of the ETF's portfolio is comprised of Chinese stocks, with the remaining big-time allocations based in South Korea (12%), Taiwan (11.7%) and India (9.4%)" it's possible that if the trade war comes to an end or, at the very least, if the dynamic between the U.S. and China improves, then EEM could start to rise even higher. * 7 Retail Stocks to Buy for the Second Half of 2019 While it's too soon to determine if it can make a strong comeback this year, EEM still might be a solid choice for investors with a longer-term perspective.Read more about the EEM ETF here. Best ETFs for 2019: SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)Investor: Kent Thune Expense Ratio: 0.40% YTD Gains: 10%Originally at the No. 10 spot to end Q1, Kent Thune's pick, the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:GLD), has managed to make solid progress at the half way mark of 2019. Now in the No. 6 spot, Thune expects GLD to continue its success as the year comes to an end."In the first half of 2019, investors were rewarded for taking market risk. But the second half could be a completely different story," Thune wrote. "If Q2 2019 is any indication, gold has the momentum as GLD was up 9% and the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY) was up 3% for the quarter, coming into the final week of June."As Thune explains, investors are demonstrating general positivity in the markets, while gold hoarders see things differently, making both gold and stocks seem strong right now. But given that gold is considered a reliable safe haven in difficult times, we can expect the GLD ETF to rise higher if markets do indeed take an ugly turn at the end of the year.Read more about the GLD ETF from Thune here. Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)Investor: Dana Blankenhorn Expense Ratio: 0.13% YTD Gains: 16%So far this year, the Financial Sector Spider ETF (NYSEARCA:XLF) -- Dana Blankenhorn's pick for the best ETFs of 2019 contest -- has been a solid performer. While the bank ETF might not have made it to the No. 1 spot yet, Blankenhorn is content with the fund's success so far and expects more good things to come as the year goes by."Hope for a comeback lies in consolidation," Blankenhorn wrote. "It all comes down to a new sobering reality. Banks are about to become the new stock market casino. But casinos make good money." * The 7 Best Long-Term Stocks to Buy for 2019 and Beyond While Blankenhorn acknowledges that some bank stocks face growing pains as they struggle to come to terms with general developments in technology and the new ways we spend/handle money, a part of this necessary growth will be acquisitions, which in turn, will lead to speculation of more takeovers. As such, Blankenhorn believes it's only a matter of time before the growing hype in bank stocks will make XLF owners a lot more money.Read more about the XLF ETF from Blankenhorn here. Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ)Investor: Tom Taulli Expense Ratio: 0.68% YTD Gains: 24%The ride for the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ) -- Tom Taulli's selection for best ETF in 2019 -- hasn't gone as smooth as anticipated. But regardless of a few roadblocks, the AI/Robotics ETF is still up more than 20% YTD and the high-tech theme still holds plenty of long-term promise.While pointing out some of the headwinds BOTZ has faced this year, such as "disrupted global supply chains" thanks to the trade war between China and the U.S. and increasing challenges in "introducing new products," Taulli maintains that he's still optimistic about BOTZ."I'm still bullish on AI/Robotics. These technologies are likely to lead to leaps in progress across many industries. For example, IDC predicts that spending on AI will jump from $24 billion in 2018 to $77.6 billion by 2022 and the spending on robotics/drones will go from $115.7 billion to $210.3 billion," he wrote. "[W]hile the BOTZ ETF might not win the best ETFs competition, I still wouldn't call it a complete loser despite its disappointments."Read more about the BOTZ ETF from Taulli here. Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO)Source: Shutterstock Investor: James Brumley Expense Ratio: 0.62% YTD Gains: 26%According to James Brumley, water is "the trade no one saw coming."So far, his pick, the Invesco Water Resources ETF (NASDAQ:PHO), has been a top performer among the other ETFs in this contest. Up 26% since the end of June, the concept behind this fund is that as America strives to improve its water infrastructure amid a constant decrease in water quality, its holdings will see a boost.In Brumley's words: "Some the country's biggest and most-established cities … are running out of water as natural, treatable sources of it are literally and figuratively drying up," which has led to an estimated $1 trillion worth needed to help solve the problem over the next couple of decades. And many of PHO's holdings will be the companies that "are well-positioned to capture more than their fair share of that spending." * 10 Best Stocks for 2019: A Volatile First Half Although it took some time for PHO to start flowing well into the green (Brumley picked PHO for last year's best ETFs contest but it didn't win), it now has a clear shot to be one of the best ETFs to buy this year. And in Brumley's assessment, the "the ebbs [in PHO] are hurting a little less than they do the broad market, and the flows are helping a little more."Read more about the PHO ETF from Brumley here. Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF (SRVR)Investor: Robert Waldo Expense Ratio: 0.60% YTD Gains: 27%My pick for InvestorPlace's ETF contest, the Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:SRVR), has consistently been at the top this year, and I expect it to continue this success.While I don't necessarily see another 30% or so increase in the books over the next six months for SRVR, I still think the 5G infrastructure ETF has plenty of remaining strength to help it take the throne. As I pointed out recently, SRVR is "a real-estate play on the 5G catalyst with holdings that will mostly succeed over the long-term, even without the inevitable 5G boost."It can continue to run higher based on the roll out of 5G, but many of its holdings are also needed to help our technologically advanced world operate efficiently. And that's precisely why I think it has what it takes to come out on top this year: "It's a win-win scenario at a time when we are facing countless uncertainties."Read more about the SRVR ETF here. iShares US Home Construction ETF (ITB)Investor: Vince Martin Expense Ratio: 0.43% YTD Gains: 27%At the midpoint of 2019, Vince Martin's choice of iShares Dow Jones US Home Const. ETF (BATS:ITB) has taken the No. 1 spot, still neck and neck with the SRVR ETF. His choice of the home construction ETF was based on the fact that housing stocks took a massive hit in 2018, despite the headline buzz not justifying the devastating investor reaction.Although Martin doesn't anticipate that ITB can run significantly higher this year, and he cites several challenges bearing down on the home-building space now, he still believes there's reason to be bullish: "With some help from lower interest rates, which would lower mortgage costs, and economic strength, it could re-take … [its 2018] highs, suggesting another 20% or so in upside."While the end-year success of Thune's pick in GLD relies heavily on market conditions worsening, much of the enduring strength of Martin's ITB relies on the continuation of a healthy U.S. economy. * 7 Retail Stocks to Buy for the Second Half of 2019 Ultimately, a clearer victor might be in sight as we reach the end of this quarter, but for now, ITB is still holding strong as one of the best ETFs in 2019.Read more about the ITB ETF from Martin here.Robert Waldo is a Web Editor at InvestorPlace. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 5 Shining Silver and Gold Stocks to Buy Right Now * 10 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy For the Rest of 2019 * The 7 Best Acquisitions of 2019 The post 10 Best ETFs for 2019: The Race for 1 Intensifies appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • ETF Trends

    Catalysts That Could Catapult the BOTZ ETF Higher

    The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NasdaqGM: BOTZ) is one of the prime examples of a successful thematic exchange traded fund. Up 26% year-to-date, BOTZ proves the artificial ...

  • Active Traders Are Watching for a Pullback in Robotics and AI
    Investopedia

    Active Traders Are Watching for a Pullback in Robotics and AI

    Charts in the robotics and artificial intelligence industries suggest that better entry points for bulls could be a few weeks or months away.

  • Robotics and Automation ETFs Programmed for Further Gains
    Investopedia

    Robotics and Automation ETFs Programmed for Further Gains

    Robotics and automation companies sit ready to benefit from challenges facing the modern world. Gain exposure using these ETFs.

  • Bet on BlackRock's Megatrends With These ETFs
    Zacks

    Bet on BlackRock's Megatrends With These ETFs

    BlackRock has pointed out five megatrends that are here to stay. These ETFs revolve around these emerging themes.

  • ETC & Qraft Technology Launch a Couple of AI ETFs
    Zacks

    ETC & Qraft Technology Launch a Couple of AI ETFs

    In the wake of increasing AI craze, ETC and Qraft Technology came together to launch ETFs QRFT and AMOM.

  • ETF Trends

    What Defines a Thematic ETF Investment

    As more investors grow comfortable with the exchange traded fund investment vehicle, many are looking at niche or so-called thematic ETFs that help further hone in on potential market opportunities. “I ...

  • ETF Trends

    Self-Driving and Electric Vehicle Tech ETF Adds to Disruptive Space

    The disruptive exchange-traded fund (ETF) space continues to grow and investors can now take advantage of self-driving, electric vehicle technology via the iShares Self-Driving EV and Tech ETF (NYSEArca: ...

  • MoneyShow

    Eddy's Ready for Robots

    The other day, I came face to face with an astounding sight -- an electronic ordering kiosk at a McDonald's (MCD), notes Eddy Elfenbein, a leading financial expert who recently joined Investors Alley as editor of its Growth Stock Advisor newsletter.

  • Here's Why You Should Invest in Robotics ETFs
    Zacks

    Here's Why You Should Invest in Robotics ETFs

    Robotics, AI and automation are transforming our lives. Here's what investors need to know.

  • BOTZ ETF Very Well May Be Your Best Artificial Intelligence Play
    InvestorPlace

    BOTZ ETF Very Well May Be Your Best Artificial Intelligence Play

    The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ), which started trading in Sep. 2016, is one of the most widely followed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that specialize in a niche market. If you want to get in on the AI boom, BOTZ ETF might be your easiest entry point.Source: Shutterstock The robotics and AI industry is expected to grow in double digits in the next decade. Analysts expect global AI revenues to grow "$3.2 billion in 2016 to an expected $ 89.85 billion by 2025." Similarly, "by 2022, the size of the surgical robots and artificial intelligence market is expected to be worth 1$8 billion."Robots hoover the floor in our homes, perform surgeries, search for objects underwater, and entertain moviegoers. In general, AI makes it easier the train robots. As automated devices that integrate machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence enter our daily lives at an increasing speed, the investment theme of these segments become more attractive for the average investor.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsTherefore, if you are a long-term investor that is interested in participating in the growth potential of the technological advances, you may want to consider investing in the sector through a fund like the BOTZ. * 7 Marijuana Companies: Which Pot Stocks Should You Buy? Here is why: Global Mix of Robotics and AI PlayersBOTZ ETF follows the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index. This index, which has been around since 2010, divides the robotics and artificial intelligence sector into four sub-themes: * Industrial Robots and Automation * Unmanned Vehicles and Drones * Non-industrial Robotics (such as application in agriculture, healthcare, or entertainment) * Artificial IntelligenceThe fund has 37 exchange-listed stocks in its portfolio -- with the top 10 companies accounting for 60.69% of the holdings. In less than three years, assets under management have reached $1.7 billion. The fund's expense ratio stands at a reasonable 0.68% or $68 per $10,000 invested.BOTZ has a high level of exposure to Japan (49% of assets), followed by the U.S. (31%) and Switzerland (10%). In terms of sector concentrations, industrials top the list (45%), followed by information technology (33%), and health care (14%). Other industries include consumer discretionary, energy, and communication services.Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), the developer of robotics-assisted surgical systems that specialize in minimally invasive surgical procedures, has the highest weighting among the holdings of the BOTZ ETF.Next is Keyence Corp NPV (OTCMKTS:KYCCF), which develops machine vision systems and fiber optic sensors, followed by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (OTCMKTS:MIELY), which specializes in manufacturing robots. As a general rule, the companies in the fund derive at least 50% of their revenues from robotics or AI industries. Short-term Technical AnalysisThe 52-week range of BOTZ ending April 18 has been $24.54 and $16.01. Year-to-date, BOTZ is up over 27%. So, in the next few weeks, there might be some profit taking in the fund.As a result of the recent impressive run-up in the price, short-term technical indicators have become somewhat over-extended. Investors who pay attention to short-term oscillators should note that Visa's technical message has also become "overbought."In April and May, BOTZ could trade sideways for several weeks, and even have a pullback toward $20 or even $19 level, where the stock is likely to find major support.If you already own BOTZ ETF, you might want to hold your position. However, within the parameters of your portfolio allocation and risk/return profile, you may consider placing a stop loss at about 5-7% below the current price point.If you are an experienced investor in the options market, you may also consider using a covered call strategy with approximately a three-month time horizon. The Bottom Line on Robotics and AI StocksIf you are an investor with a long-term focus, then a thematic ETF such as BOTZ would give you a good and potentially rewarding exposure to robotics and artificial intelligence stocks.In addition to the BOTZ ETF, you may also want to learn more about two other similar funds, namely, the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (NASDAQ:ROBO) and the First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (NASDAQ:ROBT).As of this writing, Tezcan Gecgil did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Internet Stocks to Watch * 7 AI Stocks to Watch with Strong Long-Term Narratives * 10 Dow Jones Stocks Holding the Blue Chip Index Back Compare Brokers The post BOTZ ETF Very Well May Be Your Best Artificial Intelligence Play appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • 10 Best ETFs for 2019: A Close Race at the Front
    InvestorPlace

    10 Best ETFs for 2019: A Close Race at the Front

    Exchange-traded funds can be a useful tool for smoothing out the volatile gyrations of the stocks market by allowing you to buy into baskets of stocks, rather than betting on a single name. The converse of that, however, is that it's a lot harder to pick an ETF that will be a runaway success. Just by their nature, the Best ETFs for 2019 contest entries have to work harder than their counterparts over in the Best Stocks contest to really stand out.And so far, these ETFs are up to the challenge. While none of them have doubled anyone's money, many have outperformed S&P 500 funds, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:VOO) and the top three funds so far have been battling for supremacy for the better part of the quarter.Will these funds stay in the lead or will something else come up to challenge them? With a number of uncertain headline risks, it's almost impossible to guess for certain. All we can say for certain is that no matter what the markets -- and the headlines -- decide to do, there's probably at least one fund that can benefit big-time.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 15 Stocks to Buy Leading the Financial Charge Here, in ascending order of year-to-date gains through the end of March, are this year Best ETFs contestants. Best ETFs for 2019: SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)Investor: Kent Thune Expense Ratio: 0.4% Year-to-Date Gains Through Q1: 1%It's not surprising that the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:GLD) is lagging the rest of the field. Gold is traditionally thought of as a safe-haven commodity, and with the markets going gangbusters, many investors haven't felt as strong a need to dip into safety as they might have in, say, the end of 2018. The ETF did have a pretty nice run into February, but has pretty much been treading water since then.But there's still a shine on this ETF -- a shine that could get brighter if the outlook for the regular stocks gets a little dimmer. "Although there is no recession in sight in 2019, investors will soon begin to structure their portfolios for 2020," wrote Thune. "This is because the stock market is a forward-looking, discounting mechanism, that tends to reflect the collective expectations of investors three to six months in advance."So if the markets start to waver, look for the GLD ETF to make a comeback in the Best ETFs contest.Read more about the GLD ETF from Thune here. iShares US Helathcare Providers ETF (IHF)Investor: Todd Shriber Expense Ratio: 0.43% YTD Gains: 2%The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF) has been looking sickly compared to most of the field so far. This isn't solely at the feet of the constituent stocks, however. The XLV ETF suffered from a severe case of political headlines. On the one hand, there's still plenty of talk about overpriced prescription medication, raising worries about the reliability of future revenues. And on the other, the Affordable Care Act has been under fire again, and there are a lot of questions about what the future of healthcare in the United States even looks like at this point.All this is making things difficult for the XLV ETF. As Shriber put it, "Muddying the waters for stocks like UnitedHealth and funds such as IHF is talk among some analysts that although Wall Street does not expect Medicare For All to happen, investors should not expect a snapback rally in managed care stocks once it becomes apparent that single-payer healthcare will not take hold in the U.S." * 7 Breakout Stocks to Watch in 2019 A little stability could go a long way to helping this fund get back in the race again.Read more about the IHF ETF from Shriber here. iShares Mexico MSCI ETF (EWW)Investor: Ian Bezek Expense Ratio: 0.49% YTD Gains: 6%The iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF(NYSEARCA:EWW) may be lagging most of the field, and rumors of President Donald Trump perhaps closing the U.S./Mexico border could cause some serious pain, but investors should not despair just yet.There are some tailwinds that should help lift the EWW. As Bezek wrote, "Despite political rumors that drove Mexican shares down sharply last year, its government and the Trump administration continue fostering closer relations. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve's easier monetary policy is likely to help boost all-important industrial production in Mexico."Can it catch up? We're only one quarter through 2019, and it's not like the fund is negative on the year. If politics don't hamstring it, a turnaround is completely possible for the EWW ETF.Read more about the EWW ETF from Bezek here. Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF)Investor: Dana Blankenhorn Expense Ratio: 0.13% YTD Gains: 8%The Financial Sector Spider ETF (NYSEARCA:XLF) hasn't had a resoundingly positive start to the year. All the fears about a yield inversion have investors skirting around bank stocks, and deflation and banking disruption certainly haven't helped."The weight of deflation on the global economy is increasing, not decreasing," wrote Blankenhorn. "This directly impacts banking as fintech replaces traditional banking functions. Technology is lowering the cost of processing transactions and of evaluating and servicing loans and insurance policies. Fintech companies are bidding to replace banks entirely." * 5 Cheap Small-Cap Stocks to Buy Banking stocks are not out of it yet, but the current climate is not too kind to them -- and those bank stocks make up over 40% of the fund's holdings.Read more about the XLF ETF from Blankenhorn here. iShares Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG)Investor: Jim Woods Expense Ratio: 0.14% YTD Gains: 10%This entry and the following one in the Best ETFs contest both focus on the same segment of the market -- emerging markets. And the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF's (NYSEARCA:IEMG) Q1 gain was frustrating, but not terrible."That said," Woods wrote, "we must realize that Q1 performance in stocks was highly atypical, not just from a straight-up numbers standpoint, but also because the drivers that sent stocks soaring nearly across the board aren't likely to be duplicated during Q2."Even if earnings stay good for the rest of 2019, it's just going to be hard for stocks to continue making the sort of torrid gains during the rest of the year that they have in the first quarter. In the meantime, if the dollar's strength backs off, that will benefit companies in other countries.Read more about the IEMG ETF from Woods here. iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM)Investor: Readers' Choice Expense Ratio: 0.69% YTD Gains: 10%Given all the headwinds that the trade war between China and the United States has put on the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:EEM), it's not wholly surprising that it hasn't quite matched the performance of the SPY. However, given that those headwinds haven't yet KO-ed the EEM ETF, just imagine how well it could take off if those headwinds were to ease off.As I recently wrote, there are other positives on the horizon. "Second, MSCI has decided to increase the weighting of Chinese stocks among its indexes. While the goal of a 3.3% share of the indexes doesn't sound that big, remember that's four times the current level. And MSCI isn't the only one boosting investors' access to these securities: the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index will also be including Chinese companies starting next month." * 5 Cannabis Stocks Set to Skyrocket -- According to Wall Street's Top Analysts It's not a leader yet, but the EEM ETF is hanging in there with the Best ETFs for 2019 front-runners so far.Read more about the EEM ETF here. iShares US Home Construction ETF (ITB)Investor: Vince Martin Expense Ratio: 0.43% YTD Gains: 18%As the United States economy continues cruising along, the iShares Dow Jones US Home Const. ETF (BATS:ITB), which focuses on home construction companies as the name implies, has been cruising as well. Not as well as the Best ETFs contest frontrunners, so far, but the year is still young.The factors that have led to ITB performing well so far this year, however, have maybe been a little surprising to some investors. As Martin put it, "The case for ITB was that even if new home sales stayed soft, a strong economy would lift renovation and remodeling spending. Yet it has been ITB's exposure to new construction, not R&R, that has driven a majority of its gains so far."So imagine how the ITB ETF could do if the remodeling and renovation dollars start flowing in as well. It has stayed within striking distance of the leaders, and a little boost may be all it needs.Read more about the ITB ETF from Martin here. Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (BOTZ)Investor: Tom Taulli Expense Ratio: 0.68% YTD Gains: 20%The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ) has been full of winners so far this year -- in fact, as of March 25, only two of the fund's 37 holdings were in the red for 2019 thus far. But the real attraction here is the long growth runway that lies ahead of the BOTZ ETF.According to Taulli, "When it comes to AI and robotics, I think there should be a long-term focus. The fact is that these industries are quite volatile and highly competitive, with huge players like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB)." * The Elite 8 Stocks to Buy for Massive Outperformance That means that investors should hold on tight because the 2019 ride could be bumpy. But the growth drivers that are powering the fund aren't going away, and the potential for big volatility also means the potential for big gains. The BOTZ ETF is going to be one to watch as the contest continues.Read more about the BOTZ ETF from Taulli here. Invesco Water Resources ETF (PHO)Source: Shutterstock Investor: James Brumley Expense Ratio: 0.62% YTD Gains: 21%Water is vital to our lives in a fundamental way, and the Powershares Water Resource Portfolio (NASDAQ:PHO) allows investors to invest in that -- and reap rewards of 20% in just three months.But while the first quarter results were great, what's even better is that it looks like they may be able to continue "The performance of the Powershares Water Resource Portfolio isn't the most compelling aspect of PHO stock here, however. It's that the fund's constituents have been so uniformly bullish of late after a couple clunkers took a big toll on last year's bottom line."As we move toward a world where the companies that the PHO ETF holds will be in greater and greater demand, hopefully it will see more and more growth through the rest of the Best ETFs of 2019 contest.Read more about the PHO ETF from Brumley here. Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF (SRVR)Investor: Robert Waldo Expense Ratio: 0.6% YTD Gains: 21%After the first quarter, the Pacer Benchmark Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:SRVR) has taken the top spot. It was a fight, but the tech sector -- and specifically, the growing tailwind of 5G's approach -- gave SRVR the edge.You probably know 5G as the next step in data speed. According to Waldo, "To get an idea of how fast 5G is compared to 4G LTE, consider that 4G LTE's top speed is 1GB per second, while 5G will have a top speed of 20 GB per second -- a 2,000% increase!"With our increasingly connected word, this boost in speed is going to change a lot in the coming years. But if you're not sold on all of the individual companies that are looking ahead to 5G, don't worry. The SRVR ETF isn't really a play on 5G in that way.As Waldo put it, "But as hype-worthy of a trend as 5G may be, that's not all that SRVR has going for it. In fact, part of my decision to pick this fund for our best ETFs contest was that it's a real estate investment trust (REIT) ETF. This means its holdings own data centers and fiber that are vital to the 5G rollout, but are also necessary for all of our current, general tech-related luxuries like the cloud." * 15 Stocks to Buy Leading the Financial Charge So SRVR took the top spot, and seems well positioned to try to defend it for the rest of 2019.Read more about the SRVR ETF from Waldo here.Jessica Loder is an assistant editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing, she did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.Compare Brokers The post 10 Best ETFs for 2019: A Close Race at the Front appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Powers Ahead
    InvestorPlace

    Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Powers Ahead

    This article is a part of InvestorPlace's Best ETFs for 2019 contest. Tom Taulli's pick for the contest is the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ).In early December, I wrote a post for InvestorPlace.com regarding my pick for the Best ETFs for 2019 contest. My pick: The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ).At the time, the markets were in the bear phase, and tech stocks were getting hit particularly hard. But of course, within a couple weeks, things would improve in a big way.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsSo what about the BOTZ stock now? Well, the year-to-date return has been solid, with a gain of nearly 19%.Now when it comes to AI and robotics, I think there should be a long-term focus. The fact is that these industries are quite volatile and highly competitive, with huge players like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL, NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB). * 7 Marijuana Stocks to Play the CBD Trend Yet I think the risks are well worth it since AI and robotics represent some of the most strategic categories in technology. Consider the following stats: * IDC predicts that spending on robotics and drones will rise this year by 17.6% to $115.7 billion and hit $210.3 billion by 2022. * IDC also forecasts that global spending on cognitive and AI systems will go from $24 billion in 2018 to $77.6 by 2022.As for the BOTZ ETF, it has 37 holdings in its portfolio -- with assets over $1.5 billion -- and a reasonable expense ratio 0.68%. Some of the top holdings include Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), Keyence (OTCMKTS:KYCCF) and OMRON (OTCMKTS:OMRNY). The fund also has much exposure in international markets, with 17.44% in Europe and 48.94% in Asia.In fact, BOTZ stock only had two losers for the year so far. There is ABB (NYSE:ABB), which dropped a mere 1% and Renishaw (OTCMKTS:RNSHF), which was off about 10%.OK then, so what were some of the big winners for BOTZ stock? Let's take a look: * NVDA - 33%: The company's GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) have proven quite adept for AI because of the ability for intensive processing. And NVDA has been aggressive, building out solid businesses in the datacenter and self-driving cars. Yet during the quarter, the company also agreed to shell out $6.9 billion for Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ:MLNX), which develops sophisticated ethernet switches. The deal, which is expected to be accretive, will expand NVDA's footprint in the data center and will also help with AI applications. * iRobot (NASDAQ:IRBT) - 47%: The company reported solid results for the fiscal fourth quarter, with earnings soaring from 16 cents a share to 88 cents a share and revenues jumping by 17.7% to $384.7 million. The Street, on the other hand, was looking for earnings of 50 cents a share and revenues of $381 million. During the holiday quarter, IRBT saw lots of traction with its innovative Roomba i7 and i7+ robots, as well as a strong performance in the Japanese market.Tom Taulli is the author of High-Profit IPO Strategies, All About Commodities and All About Short Selling. Follow him on Twitter at @ttaulli. As of this writing, he did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 7 Dual-Class Stocks That Will Outperform * 7 Reasons Why Apple Streaming Won't Move the Needle for Apple Stock * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy in the Second Quarter Compare Brokers The post Best ETFs for 2019: The Global X Robotics and AI ETF Powers Ahead appeared first on InvestorPlace.

  • ETF Trends

    Mark Cuban’s Latest Business Idea He’d Start Today

    Technology maven and "Shark Tank" personality Mark Cuban is brimming with business ideas, but if there's one that he would start today, it would revolve around the latest smart home technology and artificial intelligence. "Alexa skills and scripting Alexa skills is really, really easy.

  • ETF Trends

    How Should Thematic ETFs be Weighted?

    It is a question that constantly challenges issuers of new exchange traded funds: how should those funds be weighted? Cap-weighted ETFs remain dominant in the ETF space, but there are hundreds of equal-weight ...

  • InvestorPlace

    5 Cheap ETFs Worth Considering

    Price is what investors pay and value is what they hope they are getting from a security, be it a bond, stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF). For some reason, many investors conflate price and value, assuming a stock or ETF with a high price tag lacks value while cheap ETFs are automatically good values.That is not always the case, but there are examples of cheap ETFs that are worth considering. Nearly 280 ETFs, or more than 10% of the U.S.-listed exchange traded products universe, sport price tags of $20 or less. Some of these cheap ETFs have serious potential. Others do not.For investors looking for what appear to be cheap ETFs, the good news is that funds with sub-$20 price tags span multiple asset classes, including bonds, commodities and stocks.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 9 Trade War Stocks to Sell on U.S.-China Deal News Penny-pinching and capital-starved investors are sure to like some of these cheap ETFs, all of which traded below $20 as of Wednesday afternoon. Global X Future Analytics Tech ETF (AIQ)Expense Ratio: 0.68% per year, or $68 on a $10,000 investment.The Global X Future Analytics Tech ETF (NASDAQ:AIQ) is an example of a cheap ETF, at least by price tag, that is also a thematic fund focusing on a compelling market segment. In this case, that is aritifical intelligence (AI) and related fare, such as big data. AIQ, which debuted last May, tracks the Indxx Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index.While AIQ is a cheap ETF by price, the fund's price-to-earnings ratio of just over 21 is a premium to broader equity benchmarks, but still reasonable among many thematic funds. That is very resonable when considering the massive growth potential in the AI market."According to one report, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to global GDP in 2030, with $9.1 trillion coming from consumption-side effects and $6.6 trillion coming from increased productivity," said Global X in a note out last year. "For context, that would add about 14% to global GDP, or more than China and India's combined output."AIQ, which is up almost 20% this year, holds 80 stocks, over 60% of which are technology names. SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM)Expense Ratio: 0.18%As has been widely reported, the fee wars that have been so prominent in the ETF space over the years made their way to gold ETFs, meaning the SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (NYSEARCA:GLDM) is a cheap ETF in more way than one. Not only is GLDM's price tag low, it is one of the cheapest gold ETFs on the market."For many investors, costs associated with buying and selling the Shares in the secondary market and the payment of GLDM's ongoing expenses will be lower than the costs associated with buying and selling gold bullion and storing and insuring gold bullion in a traditional allocated gold bullion account," according to State Street. * 7 Chinese Stocks to Buy for the 2019 Rebound GLDM proves investors like cheap ETFs, regardless of asset class. This fund debuted last June and has nearly $630 million in assets under management, making it one of the most successful ETFs to debut in 2019. Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ)Expense Ratio: 0.68%The days of being a sub-$20 ETF are probably numbered for the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ), which is currently hovering just under that mark. That is still good enough to make one of the largest robotics ETFs cheap, by price tag anyway. BOTZ targets the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index.Like the aforementioned AIQ, BOTZ and other robotics ETFs are thematic funds with exposure to a rapidly growing theme. Although robotics is a rapidly growing theme and the fund is up over 17% this year, BOTZ is not extended on valuation. China, the U.S. and Japan are among the world's marquee robotics markets, a fact reflected in BOTZ as the fund devotes 78% of its weight to Japanese and U.S. stocks."The U.S. is the second largest robotics market, following China. And while the U.S. economy is entering late stage in the business cycle, capex growth is expected to remain robust in 2019 at approximately 8%-10% among US capital goods producers," according to Global X research. "This suggests that manufacturers are keen to invest in new equipment, much of which is likely to be directed towards automation to reduce future expenses." Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (PEY)Expense Ratio: 0.54%Some cheap ETFs are dividend strategies, including the oft-overlooked Invesco High Yield Equity Dividend Achievers ETF (NASDAQ:PEY). PEY is a mix of a yield and dividend growth strategy and follows the Nasdaq U.S. Dividend Achievers Index.While this cheap ETF's roster of 50 is small compared to other domestic dividend funds, PEY does an admirable job of providing exposure to large-, mid- and small-caps. In fact, just over 46% of this cheap ETF's roster is allocated to large-cap stocks, a small figure compared to many traditional dividend funds. PEY yields 3.9% over the last 12 months, driven in large part by a 45% combined weight to the utilities and consumer staples sectors. * 7 March Madness Stocks to Consider for the Big Dance This cheap ETF is also value play, as about 72% of its holdings are classified as value stocks. PEY also pays a monthly dividend. Exponential Reverse Cap Weighted US Large Cap ETF (RVRS)Expense Ratio: 0.29%There are many ways to approach the S&P 500 via ETFs. Over the long term, the Exponential Reverse Cap Weighted U.S. Large Cap ETF (CBOE:RVRS) could prove to be one of the best. This cheap ETF's approach is easy to understand: it takes the S&P 500 holdings and assigns the largest weights to the benchmark's smallest companies.RVRS follows the Reverse Cap Weighted U.S. Large Cap Index and features meaningfully different sector weights than the traditional S&P 500. For example, consumer discretionary is the largest sector weight in RVRS at 20.22%. That is more than double the weight assigned to that sector by the traditional S&P 500.RVRS also mitigates stock-specific risk in superior fashion to the cap-weighted S&P 500. The largest holding in RVRS commands a weight of 1.07% compared to 3.7% in the S&P 500. Numbers do not lie. Year-to-date, RVRS is beating the S&P 500 by nearly 500 basis points and since inception, RVRS is beating the S&P 500 by more than 200 basis points.As of this writing, Todd Shriber did not own any of the aforementioned securities. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 9 Blue-Chip Stocks That Will Lose You Money * 7 Cheap Stocks Under $5 That Could Soar * 7 Stocks Under $10 You Shouldn't Buy Compare Brokers The post 5 Cheap ETFs Worth Considering appeared first on InvestorPlace.