Artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding beyond simple search into various fields such as schedule management, business automation, and security. Forecasts indicate that not only semiconductor companies but also application, security, and data management firms will grow alongside AI. In response, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on investing in AI platform companies expected to benefit from this trend is set to be listed.
Hana Asset Management will launch the '1Q US AI Tech Platform TOP 10' ETF on the 27th. This ETF tracks the 'iSelect US AI Tech Platform TOP 10 Index' as its benchmark, investing in key companies across five areas: AI platforms and models, AI applications and agents, AI security, AI data management, and cloud and AI infrastructure.
As of September 30, major constituent stocks included Alphabet A (23.98% weight), Microsoft (22.99%), Amazon (17.09%), and Meta (11.88%), as well as Palantir, Snowflake, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, Cloudflare, and Datadog.
Ahn Sang-hyuk, deputy head of the 1Q ETF Solutions Division at Hana Asset Management, explained, "Unlike other AI-related ETFs that primarily invest in hardware companies such as memory semiconductors, the 1Q US AI Tech Platform TOP 10 focuses on investing in AI platform and software companies."
Hana Asset Management is paying attention to AI platforms because the AI industry is evolving beyond infrastructure development, such as semiconductors and data centers, to actual utilization in services and business operations. The company forecasts that demand for services necessary for AI adoption and operation, including AI agents that independently understand goals and plan and execute required tasks, data integration and analysis, and cybersecurity, will increase.
In fact, cases of AI companies collaborating with existing software firms to expand their ecosystems are on the rise. Salesforce, ServiceNow, SAP, Adobe, and others are partnering with OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and other firms to enhance AI-based applications and business automation features. Additionally, as concerns over hacking using AI have recently grown, the importance of cybersecurity companies is also increasing.
Deputy Head Ahn stated, "Just as the growth of the smartphone market in the past drew attention not only to hardware manufacturers but also to popular app companies, the AI market will change as well," adding, "We should pay attention to software companies that possess competitiveness in the AI era."
Another differentiating factor of this ETF is that it has established a separate inclusion review process to reflect newly listed companies in its benchmark index methodology. If major AI model development companies list on the US stock market in the future, their inclusion will be determined based on index inclusion criteria and the review results of the index committee. The review begins from the point when official documents related to the listing are disclosed. Once inclusion is decided, the stocks will be added in tranches over a total of three business days, starting from the opening of the US market on T+2 business days after the listing date (T-day) through T+4 business days.
Deputy Head Ahn said, "As changes are emerging among AI platform companies and new firms may appear, we will quickly reflect these in the ETF through the inclusion review process," adding, "At the same time, by adding new stocks in tranches over three business days, we will also diversify risk."
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