What do the expense ratios for AIQ and AIS mean for investors?

The expense ratio is an annual fee, deducted from fund assets, that covers management and operational costs. AIQ charges 0.68%, while AIS charges 0.75%. This 0.07 percentage-point difference may seem small, but over time, it could slightly erode returns. Higher ratios, like AIS's, often reflect active management or more specialised strategies. Investors should consider these ongoing costs when evaluating long-term investment horizons, as they impact net returns. Both funds are in the technology category, where fees can vary based on the fund's specific focus and management style.

How do the sizes of AIQ and AIS influence their investment characteristics?

AIQ, with $10.5 billion in net assets, is significantly larger than AIS's $1.0 billion. Larger funds like AIQ often benefit from better trading liquidity and lower per-share costs due to economies of scale. In contrast, smaller funds like AIS might be more nimble in their strategy but could face wider bid-ask spreads, potentially increasing transaction costs for investors. Fund size can influence how easily shares are bought or sold and how the fund manages its portfolio, particularly in response to market inflows and outflows. Investors should consider these structural differences.

What is the significance of a fund's inception date when comparing ETFs?

An ETF's inception date marks the beginning of its performance history. AIQ was launched on May 11, 2018, offering several years of track record data for investors to analyse how it has performed across different market cycles. AIS, with a much newer inception date of October 1, 2024, has a shorter history, meaning there is less long-term performance data available. While past performance does not predict future results, a longer track record can provide more context for how a fund might behave in various economic environments. For AIS, investors must rely more on its stated strategy and holdings than historical data.

How do the top ten holdings of AIQ and AIS differ?

AIQ's top ten holdings are diversified across established technology and consumer internet giants, including PLTR (3.94%), MSFT (3.49%), SPCX (3.41%), ORCL (3.29%), META (3.25%), INTC (3.23%), TSLA (3.12%), AMD (3.03%), GOOGL (2.97%), and AMZN (2.94%). This reflects a broader 'artificial intelligence & technology' theme. In contrast, AIS's top holdings are more concentrated in specific semiconductor, memory, and networking hardware leaders like MU (7.13%), AMD (5.53%), SMTC (4.64%), MRVL (4.07%), TSM (3.69%), INTC (3.45%), VRT (3.21%), SIMO (3.02%), GEV (2.63%), and STX (2.36%). This indicates a focused bet on the AI infrastructure and hardware supercycle.

What does the dividend yield tell us about AIQ and AIS?

Dividend yield represents the annual dividend income as a percentage of the fund's price. AIQ has a very modest annual dividend yield of 0.07%, indicating it generates a small amount of regular income for investors. AIS, however, has a dividend yield of 0.00%, meaning it currently does not distribute any income. Both yields are minimal, which is typical for growth-oriented technology ETFs that prioritise capital appreciation through reinvestment rather than income payments. Investors seeking regular cash flow would find these yields negligible. ETFs may reinvest dividends back into the fund's assets instead of distributing them to shareholders.

Which types of investing goals are AIQ and AIS generally associated with?

AIQ, with its diversified portfolio of large-cap tech companies and longer track record, is often associated with investors seeking a broad, established exposure to the global AI and technology sectors. Its $10.5 billion size and 0.68% expense ratio reflect a more conventional fund structure. AIS, with its concentrated holdings in AI infrastructure and hardware companies, is generally linked to investors targeting more specific, thematic exposure to the perceived 'supercycle' in AI technology. Its newer inception and higher 0.75% expense ratio align with a more specialised, active strategy aimed at capturing high-growth segments of the technology industry.

How do the liquidity profiles of AIQ and AIS differ?

Liquidity refers to how easily an asset can be bought or sold without significantly affecting its price. AIQ, managing $10.5 billion in net assets, likely offers greater trading liquidity due to its larger size, which typically means more shares are traded daily. AIS, with $1.0 billion in assets, is a smaller fund and may consequently have lower daily trading volumes. This could lead to wider bid-ask spreads for AIS, meaning investors might pay slightly more to buy or receive less when selling shares compared to AIQ. Size is a key factor in assessing potential liquidity for any exchange-traded fund.

What should investors understand about the tracking index for these ETFs?

For both AIQ and AIS, specific information regarding the index they track is not available. This is notable because many passive ETFs clearly state the benchmark index they follow. The absence of this detail for AIQ, an established fund, and AIS, a newer active fund, means investors cannot simply compare their performance to a known benchmark. Instead, the investment thesis relies more on the fund's stated strategy, portfolio composition, and management approach. Investors should review each fund's documentation carefully to understand its objectives and how it aims to deliver returns relative to the broader AI and technology market.

How can an investor practically compare the costs of AIQ and AIS?

When comparing costs, focus on the expense ratio, which is the primary ongoing fee for ETFs. AIQ has a 0.68% expense ratio, while AIS is slightly higher at 0.75%. Over time, this 0.07% difference compounds. Additionally, consider potential transaction costs, which are influenced by fund liquidity. AIQ's larger size may facilitate cheaper, easier trades than the smaller AIS. Review any trading commissions your broker might charge. These factors—ongoing fees, bid-ask spreads, and commissions—all contribute to the total cost of investing, which can impact net returns, particularly over longer periods. Always check the fund's prospectus for the most current fee structure.

What are the key takeaways for a beginner evaluating an AI ETF comparison?

Beginners should focus on four key areas: 1. Costs: Compare expense ratios (AIQ 0.68% vs. AIS 0.75%). 2. Holdings: Analyse the portfolio concentration (AIQ's diversified tech vs. AIS's focused hardware). 3. Fund characteristics: Consider size ($10.5bn vs. $1.0bn) and age (2018 vs. 2024), as these affect liquidity and track record. 4. Income: Note yields are low (0.07% vs. 0.00%). Remember, sector weights are not available for both. This FAQ is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.

AIQ vs AIS

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in October 2026.

This page compares Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) and VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS), examining fees, holdings, dividends and market tracking approaches. AIQ has a 0.68% expense ratio with $10.5 billion net assets and 0.07% yield, while AIS has a 0.75% expense ratio with $1.0 billion net assets and 0.00% yield. Index tracking is not available for either fund. Educational content, not financial advice.

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

Metric

0.68%

Expense Ratio

0.75%

0.07%

Dividend Yield

0.00%

$10.46B

Net Assets

$1.01B

Holdings

May 11, 2018

Inception Date

Oct 1, 2024

–

Index Tracked

–

Technology

Fund Category

Technology

AIQ costs about $7.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

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Investment Analysis

AIQ

Pros

AIQ manages $10.5 billion, ensuring substantial scale and potential trading liquidity for investors.
Since its May 2018 inception, AIQ has a longer track record than the newer alternative fund.
Its top ten holdings feature highly diversified, established technology and consumer internet businesses.

Considerations

The 0.68% expense ratio is relatively high compared to typical broad-market technology ETFs available.
An annual dividend yield of just 0.07% offers very little regular income to investors.
Information regarding the specific index methodology tracked by AIQ is currently not available.

AIS

Pros

VistaShares provides targeted exposure to the artificial intelligence infrastructure and hardware supercycle themes.
Its top holdings are weighted heavily toward specific semiconductor, memory and networking technology leaders.
The $0.75% expense ratio reflects costs associated with a newer and more specialised active strategy.

Considerations

With $1.0 billion net assets, the fund is smaller than AIQ, potentially limiting trading liquidity.
Only launched on October 1, 2024, the fund lacks a long-term performance history for analysis.
VistaShares has a reported dividend yield of 0.00%, providing no current income distribution.

About AIQ and AIS

AIQ (AIQ)

The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF offers investors exposure to companies developing and applying artificial intelligence technology. With a focus on firms that utilise AI for goods and services, the fund tracks the performance of the AI and Tech index, reflecting the broader digital economy. This exchange-traded fund has a technology sector weighting and a moderate expense ratio of 0.68%. While it provides a diversified approach to the growing AI market with approximately 96 holdings, it typically does not pay dividends, though it maintains a small yield of 0.07%. Investors should be mindful that technology sector values can be volatile, and returns are not guaranteed.

AIS (AIS)

The VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS) is an exchange-traded fund focused on companies benefiting from the ongoing growth of artificial intelligence. Launched in October 2024, it holds a diversified portfolio of 63 stocks within the technology sector. Investors in this fund gain exposure to businesses involved in the development, infrastructure, and application of AI technologies. With an expense ratio of 0.75% and net assets of approximately USD 1.01 billion, it is designed to capture long-term opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The fund does not pay dividends, as its current dividend yield is 0.00%. It is important to remember that investments in emerging technology sectors can be volatile. Share prices can rise and fall, and returns are not guaranteed. This fund is suitable for investors seeking diversified exposure to the artificial intelligence theme rather than personalised financial advice.

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Holding	AIQ	AIS
INTCIntel Corporation	3.23%	3.45%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc.	3.03%	5.53%

AIQ vs AIS

Fund Snapshot