Korea Exchange to List Three New ETFs Focused on Humanoid Robots

Yeouido KRX Korea Exchange [Image courtesy of Yonhap]

The funds, managed by Samsung Asset Management, KB Asset Management, and Hanwha Asset Management, mark a growing investor interest in next-generation robotics and artificial intelligence.

Samsung’s KODEX U.S. Humanoid Robot ETF targets American companies engaged in humanoid robotics and related component manufacturing. The fund uses a natural language processing (NLP) keyword filter to identify relevant companies, which are then reviewed by an index advisory committee. It includes 20 stocks, with individual weightings capped at 15% and bottomed at 2%.

KB Asset Management’s RISE U.S. Humanoid Robot ETF classifies candidate companies into three categories—hardware, software, and robotics applications—selecting 18 stocks based on keyword similarity scores. Each holding is limited to a 20% maximum weighting.

mark a growing investor interest in next-generation robotics and artificial intelligence.(Image created by AI/ChatGPT)

Hanwha Asset Management’s PLUS Global Humanoid Robot Active ETF takes an active approach, investing in 27 companies across the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and Europe.

The selection includes firms with a 20-day average market cap of at least $300 million and daily trading volume above $1 million. The focus is on makers of humanoid robots and related parts such as actuators and sensors.

The Korea Exchange said demand for humanoid robotics is expected to grow amid rapid advances in generative AI, rising labor costs, and demographic pressures from aging populations and low birth rates. These robots, which combine AI software and hardware to replicate human-like movements, are seen as a key solution in industries facing labor shortages.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)