Midyear Symposium: Making a Strategic Home for Thematic ETFs

For years, thematic investing offered investors a different look at traditional growth exposure that included artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. While these themes have now become commonplace, time and evolution are creating a new crop of thematic opportunities in memory, robotics, and space exploration. At a recent TMX VettaFi Midyear Symposium, a question was asked to advisors: “How much exposure do you have to thematic strategies in your average client portfolio?”Key Takeaways: 73% of survey respondents said that they now maintain a dedicated thematic allocation for clients, with most favoring a 1% to 5% satellite exposure. The Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) has captured over $18 billion in net flows within three months of launching, serving as a pure-play vector for AI hardware. The ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO B) and Procure Space ETF (UFO ) offer targeted exposure to structural shifts. See more: Procure Space ETF (UFO) Adds SpaceX Following Historic DebutThematic Portfolio Integration RisingThe poll results shouted a trend of rising integration. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents now maintain a dedicated allocation to thematic strategies within their average client portfolios. While the bulk sits within the more pragmatic 1% to 5% satellite allocation, nearly 30% of advisors have expanded their thematic footprint to more than 6% of the overall asset mix.One answered question begets another: what’s driving this adoption? It appears advisors are now moving away from broad, generic tech buckets of the past and towards targeted mega-trends. Three distinct themes have captured significant interest: memory, robotics, and space exploration. All three themes are encapsulated in the ETFs below.DRAM: If Memory Serves CorrectIt’s difficult to have software-driven AI without the physical hardware required to store and process data. With that, the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM) has captured intense advisor attention as a pure-play vector into the hardware stack. It’s also captured plenty of capital with over $18 billion in net flows since its inception just under three months ago.As the buildout of AI infrastructure accelerates, high-performance memory could emerge as a critical technological bottleneck with demand outpacing supply. While much of the buildout is focused on semiconductors, DRAM is the first ETF specifically targeting global memory and storage companies. From a thematic allocation perspective, DRAM gives investors targeted exposure to AI-driven demand for faster data processing and storage.ROBO: The Automated RealityAnother interesting topic the Symposium covered was Robotics as a fast-emerging theme. Zeno Mercer, senior research analyst at VettaFi, lead the discussion and shared his expertise  Once a niche segment of alternative industrial tech, robotics has evolved into a mainstream necessity. Driven by the changing needs of the global economy, this demand will only continue to grow. Given this, an ideal fund to consider for exposure to this thematic opportunity is the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO B). Labor shortages, global nearshoring initiatives, and manufacturing efficiency demands have transformed robotics from a futuristic concept into a necessity. With about $2 billion in assets and growing, ROBO captures the global supply chain of automation from computational sensing to manufacturing logistics. This thematic tilt can work in tandem with a traditional industrial allocation to provide comprehensive growth exposure to a portfolio.UFO: Beyond Otherworldly AllocationOf course, the investing world has been abuzz with SpaceX. However, the space exploration theme goes beyond launching rockets. From a more macro perspective, the long-term secular trend in the orbital economy can be captured with the Procure Space ETF (UFO ). UFO offers pure-play exposure to the commercialization of space, tracking satellite operators, hardware manufacturers, and space communications infrastructure. Space is no longer exclusively a government endeavor. It’s become a foundational component in global defense strategy, data collection, and connectivity networks. While SpaceX is a prominent feature in the fund’s top 10 holdings, other companies like Trimble, Garmin, and Sirius XM add to this diversified fund. As commercial interest in the space economy grows, UFO stands ready to capture it.Implementing the Thematic SleeveAs the poll results from the symposium show, a discussion on thematic allocation has shifted from “should I allocate” to “how much should I allocate?” Whether it’s using a thematic allocation to take advantage of themes like memory via DRAM, robotics via ROBO, and the space economy via UFO, investors have greater optionality. In this new era of modern investing, thematic tools are no longer speculative bets, but precise instruments for long-term growth. For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Thematic Investing Content Hub. VettaFi LLC (“VettaFi”) is the index provider for UFO and ROBO, for which it receives an index licensing fee. However, UFO and ROBO are not issued, sponsored, endorsed, or sold by VettaFi, and VettaFi has no obligation or liability in connection with the issuance, administration, marketing, or trading of UFO and ROBO.