QTUM vs THNQ

QTUMADefiance Quantum ETF

THNQBROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF

In short

QTUM Live since 2018, QTUM turns the quantum-computing story into a plain index fund: about 90 global names spanning quantum hardware and machine learning, for 0.40% a year.

THNQ The AI ETF that skips the mega-cap shortcut: roughly 60 global names across the AI value chain, sorted by ROBO Global's own 11-subsector classification rather than a keyword screen.

Stated mandate

QTUM The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the total return of the BlueStar® Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index. It uses a passive indexing approach.

THNQ The Fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence Index.

Why people hold it

• QTUM 0.40% a year against a 0.68% median for its AI-theme cohort, and it undercuts peers like WTAI (0.45%) and ALAI (0.55%).
• Rules-based by design: it tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index, so no manager is hand-picking which quantum story wins.
• About 90 holdings across global markets, so the theme rides on a basket instead of two or three pure plays.
• Size and liquidity back it up: a multi-billion-dollar fund that trades actively, and one of the stronger implementations in its thematic peer group.

• THNQ Built around the global AI value chain instead of a few giants: about 60 holdings spanning large, mid and small caps, designed for minimal overlap with broad market indexes.vettafi.com
• Eligibility leans on revenue, not buzzwords. The index tracks companies drawing a significant share of revenue from AI, then classifies them through ROBO Global's proprietary subsector map.sec.govvettafi.com
• An early pure-play AI fund (2020 launch) that lands in the upper half of its AI peer group, with portfolio construction among its stronger traits.

Worth knowing

• QTUM Risk is the softest part of the profile. One narrow, early-stage theme in a single asset class means sharper swings than a broad-market fund.
• The index covers machine learning as well as quantum, so part of the basket is familiar AI exposure rather than quantum specialists.
• Distributions come quarterly, but a growth theme like this is not built around income.

• THNQ Costs 0.68% net of a waiver through August 31, 2027 (0.75% gross). That is near the category median, but above cheaper AI index rivals like XAIX at 0.35% and ARTY at 0.47%.
• Trades lighter than the category's biggest funds, so spreads and limit orders matter more at the point of entry and exit.
• Multi-cap by design means real small- and mid-cap weight, which moves differently from mega-cap AI exposure. Distributions come once or twice a year, not monthly.vettafi.com

Full QTUM profile⁠

Full THNQ profile⁠