Thematic benchmarks
6 ETFIQ benchmarks for thematic, megatrend and innovation models. The rule, as the method states it, with x the stock share: “x% stock sleeve, (100 - x)% the US bonds sleeve.” Launched on Oct 3, 2026.
Over 10 years to Sep 30, 2026, the 6 thematic benchmarks returned +4.19% to +15.33% a year, hypothetical.
One sentence, recomputed every trading night. A benchmark is a rule, not a recommendation.
Family grid
Thematic family · weights in force since Jan 2, 2026Weights by sleeve and by fund, then total returns: YTD to Oct 7, 2026, the trailing windows to Sep 30, 2026, annualised over 3 years and more. A row marked * is hypothetical as a whole.
| Sleeve · fund | Thematic 20 | Thematic 40 | Thematic 60 | Thematic 80 | Thematic 95 | Thematic 100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Themes | 20% | 40% | 60% | 80% | 95% | 100% |
| MOO | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| AIQ | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| IBB | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| BLOK | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| MSOS | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ICLN | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| IGV | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| COPX | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| CIBR | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ITA | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| DTCR | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| GRID | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| IETC | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| USNZ | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| DRIV | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ARKF | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ESPO | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ARKG | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| GDX | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| PAVE | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ARKK | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| FDN | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| LIT | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| METV | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| XME | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| URA | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| QTUM | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| REMX | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| AIRR | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| BOTZ | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| SMH | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| SIL | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| ARKX | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| IHI | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| WOOD | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| LEGR | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| JETS | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| PEJ | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| PHO | 0.51% | 1.03% | 1.54% | 2.05% | 2.44% | 2.56% |
| US bonds | 80% | 60% | 40% | 20% | 5% | 0% |
| BND | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 2.5% | · |
| AGG | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 2.5% | · |
| Stocks · bonds | 20 · 80 | 40 · 60 | 60 · 40 | 80 · 20 | 95 · 5 | 100 · 0 |
| YTD* hypothetical | +0.50% | +3.62% | +6.74% | +9.86% | +12.19% | +12.97% |
| 1 year* hypothetical | +1.60% | +5.06% | +8.55% | +12.05% | +14.68% | +15.56% |
| 3 years, annualised* hypothetical | +8.42% | +12.82% | +17.24% | +21.69% | +25.04% | +26.16% |
| 5 years, annualised* hypothetical | +1.98% | +4.53% | +7.00% | +9.40% | +11.14% | +11.71% |
| 10 years, annualised* hypothetical | +4.19% | +7.17% | +10.03% | +12.75% | +14.70% | +15.33% |
| The reference | Strategic 20 | Strategic 40 | Strategic 60 | Strategic 80 | Strategic 95 | not published |
| 1 year, percentage points against the reference* hypothetical | 0.07 behind | 0.21 behind | 0.38 behind | 0.60 behind | 0.81 behind | not published |
Construction rule. The family’s rule, as the method states it, with x the stock share: “x% stock sleeve, (100 - x)% the US bonds sleeve.” Reset on the last trading day of each quarter; its set is chosen again on the last trading day of each December and trades at the close of the next, 16 sets since Jan 3, 2011. *Returns before Oct 5, 2026 are hypothetical. The reference: ETFIQ Strategic at each member’s stock share; at 100%, All US stocks or All stocks, by the measured US share of the member’s stocks. The difference is the member’s printed 1-year total return less the reference’s.
The six members through each stress window
Rule version 1 · 11 windows since Jan 4, 2010Every fall of VT of 10% or more and of AGG of 5% or more since Jan 4, 2010, found by a written rule on every run and chosen by no one. For each benchmark, its return from the close of the window’s first day to the close of its last, what $10,000 became, and its largest drawdown inside the window. A window outside a benchmark’s history, or only partly inside it, shows no figure for it: a window is never cut to fit.
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | not published | ||
| Thematic 40 | not published | ||
| Thematic 60 | not published | ||
| Thematic 80 | not published | ||
| Thematic 95 | not published | ||
| Thematic 100 | not published | ||
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | not published | ||
| Thematic 40 | not published | ||
| Thematic 60 | not published | ||
| Thematic 80 | not published | ||
| Thematic 95 | not published | ||
| Thematic 100 | not published | ||
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −0.81% | $9,919 | −2.74% |
| Thematic 40 | −6.78% | $9,322 | −7.51% |
| Thematic 60 | −12.59% | $8,741 | −12.79% |
| Thematic 80 | −18.23% | $8,177 | −18.23% |
| Thematic 95 | −22.35% | $7,765 | −22.35% |
| Thematic 100 | −23.71% | $7,629 | −23.71% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −2.88% | $9,712 | −4.61% |
| Thematic 40 | −0.58% | $9,942 | −5.50% |
| Thematic 60 | +1.75% | $10,175 | −6.42% |
| Thematic 80 | +4.10% | $10,410 | −7.33% |
| Thematic 95 | +5.88% | $10,588 | −8.00% |
| Thematic 100 | +6.47% | $10,647 | −8.22% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −4.42% | $9,558 | −5.82% |
| Thematic 40 | −10.72% | $8,928 | −12.21% |
| Thematic 60 | −16.77% | $8,323 | −18.35% |
| Thematic 80 | −22.60% | $7,740 | −24.24% |
| Thematic 95 | −26.82% | $7,318 | −28.51% |
| Thematic 100 | −28.20% | $7,180 | −29.90% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −4.17% | $9,583 | −4.27% |
| Thematic 40 | −8.65% | $9,135 | −8.65% |
| Thematic 60 | −13.08% | $8,692 | −13.08% |
| Thematic 80 | −17.45% | $8,255 | −17.45% |
| Thematic 95 | −20.69% | $7,931 | −20.69% |
| Thematic 100 | −21.77% | $7,823 | −21.77% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −8.21% | $9,179 | −12.28% |
| Thematic 40 | −15.30% | $8,470 | −18.41% |
| Thematic 60 | −22.35% | $7,765 | −24.54% |
| Thematic 80 | −29.36% | $7,064 | −30.66% |
| Thematic 95 | −34.59% | $6,541 | −35.23% |
| Thematic 100 | −36.33% | $6,367 | −36.80% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −12.17% | $8,783 | −12.17% |
| Thematic 40 | −15.71% | $8,429 | −15.71% |
| Thematic 60 | −19.46% | $8,054 | −19.46% |
| Thematic 80 | −23.44% | $7,656 | −23.44% |
| Thematic 95 | −26.59% | $7,341 | −26.59% |
| Thematic 100 | −27.67% | $7,233 | −27.67% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −13.00% | $8,700 | −20.56% |
| Thematic 40 | −7.60% | $9,240 | −24.13% |
| Thematic 60 | −2.34% | $9,766 | −27.93% |
| Thematic 80 | +2.74% | $10,274 | −31.65% |
| Thematic 95 | +6.38% | $10,638 | −34.38% |
| Thematic 100 | +7.57% | $10,757 | −35.28% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −19.44% | $8,056 | −19.55% |
| Thematic 40 | −23.28% | $7,672 | −23.28% |
| Thematic 60 | −27.04% | $7,296 | −27.04% |
| Thematic 80 | −30.71% | $6,929 | −30.71% |
| Thematic 95 | −33.42% | $6,658 | −33.42% |
| Thematic 100 | −34.31% | $6,569 | −34.32% |
| Member | Return | On $10,000 | Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic 20 | −4.07% | $9,593 | −4.36% |
| Thematic 40 | −8.95% | $9,105 | −8.95% |
| Thematic 60 | −13.64% | $8,636 | −13.64% |
| Thematic 80 | −18.15% | $8,185 | −18.15% |
| Thematic 95 | −21.42% | $7,858 | −21.42% |
| Thematic 100 | −22.49% | $7,751 | −22.49% |
Questions people ask about the thematic benchmarks
- What is an ETFIQ benchmark?
- A rule over broad, low-cost ETFs, written down before its returns were looked at, that measures model portfolios the way the S&P 500 measures large US stocks. Its weights, rule and returns are published.
- Can I invest in an ETFIQ benchmark?
- No. A benchmark is a published yardstick, not a fund, and ETFIQ publishes no trades for any of them. It takes no payment from the issuer of any fund a benchmark holds.
- Why are some returns hypothetical?
- Each family’s rule is frozen on a stated date. Returns before it apply today’s rule and funds to earlier prices, which is look-ahead; returns from it are tracked. The price source does not carry funds that closed before 2016, so nothing here is free of survivorship bias.
ETFIQ, Thematic benchmarks: all 6, data as of Oct 7, 2026. https://etfiq.com/benchmarks/thematic/
Free to use with attribution for figures ETFIQ computes; issuer data stays under its owner's terms. The underlying files are at Open data. Figures before Oct 5, 2026 are hypothetical.
Computed by ETFIQ from Tiingo daily prices. Data sourced by Tiingo.