The ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ ) recorded new milestones this month, crossing $100 per share and topping $500 million in assets under management for the first time. The ETF’s impressive run highlights the impact of disciplined index methodology in capturing AI exposure.
Key Takeaways
- The ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ ) reached historic milestones this month. It closed above $100 per share for the first time and surpassed $500 million in assets under management.
- The ETF is outperforming the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ ) by 34.4 percentage points year-to-date, marking its largest annual outperformance on record.
- Index additions and deletions since January 2025 contributed an estimated 17 percentage points. They account for roughly 30% of THNQ’s year-to-date returns.
Record Outperformance Over Megacap Tech
THNQ has generated a 57.3% return year-to-date through October 2, significantly outpacing the 22.9% return of the Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ ). This 34.4 percentage-point margin is the widest annual outperformance gap over QQQ on record. It surpasses the previous 19.6 percentage-point record set in 2020.
Additionally, this strong performance from THNQ follows a 10.5 percentage-point lead in 2025. It positions the AI ETF for its second consecutive year of double-digit outperformance over QQQ.
Strategic Additions & Removals Fuel Portfolio Gains for THNQ
Recent index reconstitutions have served as an important driver of THNQ’s outperformance, positioning the fund to focus on the current opportunity set. Companies added to the underlying ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index (THNQ) since January 2025 generated 19.3 percentage points, or 34%, of THNQ’s 57.3% return through October 2.
The six constituents added in 2025 contributed 15.9 percentage points, led by Nebius (NBIS), up 5.3 points, Lumentum (LITE), up 5.0 points, and Astera Labs (ALAB), up 3.7 points. Meanwhile, the seven additions in 2026 provided 3.4 points, led by Credo (CRDO), up 2.9 points.
The index’s process of removing constituents proved equally important to portfolio performance. Removing 10 companies in 2025 added an estimated six percentage points to this year’s performance, compared to holding those names at original weights.
Former constituents are down an average of 10% this year, with Adobe (ADBE), Intuit (INTU), FICO (FICO), and Fiserv (FISV) down 39% to 73% since they were removed from the index. Combined, portfolio reconstitutions added 17 percentage points to 2026 performance. That underscores the value of a dynamic index that provides exposure to companies leading the AI revolution.
Read more: Personal AI Assistants: How to Get Started & How to Invest
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vettafi.com is owned by VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”). VettaFi is the index provider for THNQ, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, THNQ is not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi. VettaFi and its affiliates have no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of THNQ.
