Apr 14, 2025
Investing in the Future: In-Depth Analysis of the TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor ETF (ft. NVIDIA)
Sungwoo Bae
Thematic ETF Series
- Investing in the Future: In-Depth Analysis of the TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor ETF (ft. NVIDIA)
- Betting on the Future of Robots: A Deep Dive into the BOTZ ETF (ft. NVIDIA)
- How to Invest in the Real Energy Revolution, Not Just ESG? A Fresh Look at the ICLN ETF (ft. Iberdrola)
- How to Invest in the Giant Computer in the Sky? A Final Dissection of the WCLD ETF (ft. Okta)
"Which ETF has real potential?"
Among the many investment products available, ETFs that focus on specific themes are drawing intense interest from investors. In particular, the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor industries are regarded as key drivers of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and inquiries about related ETFs have been steadily increasing.
The ETF we will look at today is the TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor Nasdaq ETF. This ETF focuses on semiconductor companies that provide the core components essential for the development of AI technologies, and we will use NVIDIA (NVDA), which sits at the center of this ecosystem, to examine the ETF’s characteristics and the key considerations when investing.
Which companies does the TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor ETF hold?
The TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor Nasdaq ETF (497570) focuses on semiconductor companies that provide the core components essential for the development of AI technologies. Using NVIDIA (NVDA), which is at the heart of this market, we will take a closer look at the ETF’s features and what investors should keep in mind.
Key features:
- Asset manager: Mirae Asset Global Investments
- Management fee: 0.49% per year
- Listing date: November 26, 2024
- Underlying index: PHLX US AI Semiconductor Index (PR)
- Investment universe: U.S.-listed companies in the AI semiconductor value chain
- Top holdings (as of April 14, 2025, by weight):
Is the TIGER AI Semiconductor ETF a solid bet on the future?
The TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor Nasdaq ETF is an attractive product that offers the potential for high returns by concentrating on semiconductor companies seen as key beneficiaries of AI growth. The fact that it has a high weighting in market leaders such as NVIDIA, which dominate the AI semiconductor space, is a clear positive. However, before making an investment decision, you should consider the following aspects.
1. Could tracking the PHLX US AI Semiconductor Index create problems? Concentration in top names and valuation risk: The PHLX US AI Semiconductor Index tracked by the TIGER AI Semiconductor ETF is market-cap weighted, and the combined weight of the top three constituents (the three largest by market cap) exceeds 50%. This concentration risk means the performance of the index and the ETF can be heavily swayed by the share prices of a small number of large-cap stocks. In addition, lofty growth expectations for the AI semiconductor market can translate into stretched valuations for related companies, which may amplify the ETF’s volatility during periods of rising interest rates or market corrections.
2. The rise of chiplet technology and a paradigm shift in the semiconductor industry: As traditional approaches to improving semiconductor performance hit their limits, chiplet technology is emerging as a new alternative. Chiplets integrate multiple small semiconductor dies into a single package to enhance performance and yield. This approach increases design flexibility and can reduce costs, which is why it is being actively researched and developed in the AI semiconductor field as well. Among the holdings of the TIGER AI Semiconductor ETF, it is worth paying close attention to companies that are actively developing or deploying chiplet technology.
3. Diversification of AI accelerators and dependence on specific architectures: Depending on the nature of the AI workload, a variety of AI accelerators beyond GPUs—such as TPUs and NPUs—are being developed. The top holdings of the TIGER AI Semiconductor ETF are largely companies specializing in GPU design and manufacturing. This implies a high dependence on a specific AI accelerator architecture, and if other types of AI accelerators gain prominence in the market over time, it could negatively affect the ETF’s investment returns.
How the world views AI semiconductors
Here is how overseas experts view the AI semiconductor market and related ETFs.
Global investment bank Morgan Stanley describes the AI semiconductor market as follows:
"The long-term outlook for AI semiconductors remains incredibly strong, driven by the increasing demand for AI across various industries."
and evaluated its growth potential very highly.
However, the financial website Investopedia, regarding investments in semiconductor ETFs,
"Semiconductor ETFs can be highly volatile, and investors should be prepared for potential downturns in the market."
issued this warning, underscoring the importance of recognizing the investment risks.
The TIGER U.S. Philadelphia AI Semiconductor Nasdaq ETF is an attractive product that allows investors to gain exposure to a key beneficiary industry in the AI era. However, you should be aware that along with high growth expectations comes the risk of volatility, and make investment decisions carefully. Before investing, it is advisable to have a solid understanding of the AI and semiconductor industries and to consider a diversified investment strategy.
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