ROBT vs. ROBO

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT) and ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO).

ROBT and ROBO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ROBT is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the Nasdaq CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Index. It was launched on Feb 21, 2018. ROBO is a passively managed fund by Exchange Traded Concepts that tracks the performance of the ROBO Global Robotics and Automation TR Index. It was launched on Oct 22, 2013. Both ROBT and ROBO are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

ROBT vs. ROBO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT) and ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

ROBT vs. ROBO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
ROBT First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF	-11.00%	15.16%	-0.41%	27.77%	-34.94%	9.91%	46.18%	34.28%	-13.98%
ROBO ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF	-1.27%	23.71%	-1.28%	23.74%	-33.92%	15.34%	45.26%	29.51%	-23.73%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ROBT achieves a -11.00% return, which is significantly lower than ROBO's -1.27% return.

ROBT

• 1D: 4.15%
• 1M: -9.19%
• YTD: -11.00%
• 6M: -12.72%
• 1Y: 13.50%
• 3Y*: 2.99%
• 5Y*: -2.47%
• 10Y*: —

ROBO

• 1D: 4.04%
• 1M: -12.73%
• YTD: -1.27%
• 6M: 4.82%
• 1Y: 33.43%
• 3Y*: 8.10%
• 5Y*: 1.33%
• 10Y*: 11.09%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ROBT vs. ROBO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ROBT has a 0.65% expense ratio, which is lower than ROBO's 0.95% expense ratio.

ROBO

ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF

ROBT

First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF

Return for Risk

ROBT vs. ROBO — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ROBT

ROBT Risk / Return Rank: 28
ROBT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 29
ROBT Sortino Ratio Rank: 32
ROBT Omega Ratio Rank: 29
ROBT Calmar Ratio Rank: 26
ROBT Martin Ratio Rank: 26

ROBO

ROBO Risk / Return Rank: 74
ROBO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 75
ROBO Sortino Ratio Rank: 76
ROBO Omega Ratio Rank: 72
ROBO Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
ROBO Martin Ratio Rank: 72

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ROBT vs. ROBO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT) and ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	ROBT	ROBO	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	0.49	1.29	-0.80
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	0.89	1.85	-0.96
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.11	1.25	-0.14
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.55	1.81	-1.26
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1.78	6.94	-5.16
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ROBT vs. ROBO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ROBT Sharpe Ratio is 0.49, which is lower than the ROBO Sharpe Ratio of 1.29. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ROBT and ROBO, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ROBT	ROBO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.49	1.29	-0.80
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.10	0.06	-0.16
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.48	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.23	0.40	-0.17

Correlation

The correlation between ROBT and ROBO is 0.93, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

ROBT vs. ROBO - Dividend Comparison

ROBT has not paid dividends to shareholders, while ROBO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.43%.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ROBT First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.68%	0.23%	0.35%	0.06%	0.17%	0.42%	0.44%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ROBO ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF	0.43%	0.42%	0.55%	0.05%	0.00%	0.18%	0.20%	0.37%	0.37%	0.02%	0.19%	0.28%

Drawdowns

ROBT vs. ROBO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ROBT drawdown since its inception was -44.47%, roughly equal to the maximum ROBO drawdown of -43.65%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ROBT and ROBO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ROBT	ROBO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-44.47%	-43.65%	-0.82%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.66%	-17.35%	-4.31%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-43.26%	-43.65%	+0.39%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-43.65%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-21.09%	-14.01%	-7.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-16.09%	-13.08%	-3.01%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.73%	4.53%	+2.20%

Volatility

ROBT vs. ROBO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF (ROBT) is 8.78%, while ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO) has a volatility of 10.09%. This indicates that ROBT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ROBO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ROBT	ROBO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.78%	10.09%	-1.31%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.22%	17.13%	+1.09%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	27.73%	26.06%	+1.67%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.00%	23.32%	+1.68%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	25.50%	22.94%	+2.56%