AIQ ETF Rides the AI Wave: How Tech Stocks Delivered 31% Gains in 2025

The AI Boom Fueled Massive ETF Growth

The artificial intelligence rally that dominated 2025 didn’t just benefit individual stock pickers — it created substantial opportunities for passive investors too. The Global X Artificial Intelligence and Technology ETF (NASDAQ: AIQ), a tech ETF focused on next-generation computing, climbed 31% last year, outpacing broader market benchmarks and cementing its position as a go-to vehicle for AI exposure.

The fund’s performance tells a compelling story: while the Nasdaq Composite surged, AIQ managed to stay consistently ahead throughout the year, even during periods of market uncertainty surrounding the Liberation Day tariffs. This wasn’t luck — it was the result of a carefully constructed portfolio that tapped into the most powerful tech trends of 2025.

Why AIQ’s Diversification Made the Difference

With 86 holdings spread across chip manufacturers, software platforms, and semiconductor specialists, the AIQ tech ETF avoided the concentration risk that plagues many specialized funds. No single stock dominates: Samsung currently represents just 5.25% of total assets, despite being the largest position.

What really sets this tech ETF apart is its global reach. Unlike U.S.-focused Nasdaq or S&P 500 trackers, approximately 72% of AIQ’s portfolio consists of information technology stocks, with significant international representation. Three of the top five holdings — Samsung (South Korea), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Taiwan), and Alibaba (China) — operate outside the United States. Add SK Hynix at position #7, and you get a clear picture: AIQ provides investors with genuine geographic diversification that purely domestic tech funds cannot match.

The semiconductor exposure proved particularly valuable. AIQ’s substantial allocation to the memory chip ecosystem — including Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix — captured significant gains as these companies benefited from AI infrastructure buildouts and data center demand.

2026 Looks Promising for AI Tech Plays

The question investors are asking now: can this momentum continue? Early signs are encouraging. Through mid-January 2026, AIQ was already up 3%, suggesting the AI narrative remains intact. More importantly, many of the fund’s core holdings still trade at reasonable valuations despite their 2025 surge, leaving room for continued appreciation if the artificial intelligence investment cycle persists.

The tech ETF attempts to track the Indxx Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index, positioning it as a systematic way to capture structural AI trends rather than making individual stock bets.

The Bottom Line

For investors seeking broad AI exposure without stock-picking risk, the AIQ tech ETF demonstrated its value throughout 2025. Its combination of international diversification, semiconductor positioning, and technology sector focus created a powerful formula that outperformed traditional benchmarks. Whether 2026 delivers similar returns depends largely on whether the AI boom sustains — but AIQ’s current positioning suggests it’s well-placed to benefit if it does.