- Business
- Global X Robotics & AI Index ETF (RBOT.TO) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to replicate, to the extent possible, the performance of the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index (the "Underlying Index"), net of expenses. The Underlying Index is designed to measure the performance of equity securities of companies involved in the development of robotics and/or artificial intelligence, including industrial robots and production systems; automation products and services; automated inventory management; unmanned vehicles; voice, image, or text recognition software; and medical robots or robotic instruments. The ETF primarily invests in equity securities, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), or Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) of the Underlying Index's constituent issuers, predominantly in the information technology sector with exposure to software, systems software, and automation services; it maintains a USD/CAD hedge on its portfolio value at all times. Key holdings as of recent data include NVIDIA Corp. (approximately 12.2%), ABB Ltd. ADR (approximately 9.0%), alongside cash positions in Canadian and U.S. dollars.
Global X Investments Canada Inc. (formerly Horizons ETFs Management (Canada) Inc.), the manager and issuer of RBOT.TO, was founded in 2005 and is headquartered at 55 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The firm is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a Seoul-based global asset manager with over $710 billion in assets across 19 countries; it offers one of Canada's largest suites of exchange-traded funds, managing more than $30 billion in assets under management with over 100 ETFs listed on major Canadian stock exchanges. RBOT.TO, launched on November 28, 2017, targets investors seeking growth-oriented exposure to global public equity markets across diversified market capitalizations in robotics, automation, and AI themes.
In October 2023, the ETF was renamed from Horizons Robotics and Automation Index ETF to Horizons Robotics & AI Index ETF to better align with the Underlying Index's focus on artificial intelligence alongside robotics. Effective May 1, 2024, it underwent a further rebranding to Global X Robotics & AI Index ETF, reflecting the manager's transition from Horizons ETFs to Global X Investments Canada Inc., part of a broader corporate rebranding initiative without changes to investment objectives, management fees, or operations. In 2025, the manager launched additional thematic ETFs, including the Global X Defence Tech Index ETF (SHLD) and Global X Bitcoin Covered Call ETF (BCCC), amid strong inflows driven by market interest in technology and innovation themes. The ETF is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under tickers RBOT (CAD-hedged unitholders) and RBOT.U (unhedged), serving Canadian retail, institutional, and advisor clients with a focus on global developed and emerging markets.