ETF Managers Have Targeted AI Component Suppliers
New investment funds focusing on high-capacitance parts may affect how you access companies supplying the AI server market.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Investing
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Asset managers have begun registering new exchange-traded funds focused on the manufacturing of MLCCs, the essential components powering AI servers. This shift comes as surging demand and supply constraints have driven significant price increases across the industry.
Why it matters
The rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has created a bottleneck in the supply of high-capacitance capacitors, causing lead times to stretch to 22 weeks. Investors are now seeking exposure to firms managing this supply-demand imbalance as production capacity struggles to keep pace with AI-driven growth.
Average lead times for high-capacitance MLCCs have reached 22 weeks, while major manufacturers like Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Yageo have implemented price hikes between 30% and 50% recently. This reflects the intense demand for the 5,000 components required per next-generation GPU.
The players
Mirae Asset Global Investments
A global asset management firm that offers a variety of exchange-traded funds and mutual funds to institutional and individual investors.
Kiwoom Asset Management
An investment firm that manages specialized sector funds and provides financial products for retail and professional investors.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics
A major global producer of electronic components, including capacitors, that supplies parts to the semiconductor and AI hardware industries.
Yageo
A global electronic component manufacturer specializing in passive components that serves the automotive, industrial, and AI technology sectors.
The details
Manufacturers are currently reallocating production capacity from general-purpose electronics toward the specialized MLCCs required by AI servers. The assignment of standard codes for new funds, such as the TIGER Global MLCC & Substrate ETF, marks the final regulatory step for these products to enter the market. These funds typically concentrate portfolios on dominant industry players that now hold significant market shares in the AI server segment.
Timeline
July 2026: Yageo increased prices by approximately 50%.
August 2026: Samsung Electro-Mechanics raised MLCC prices by 30%.
Sept. 21, 2026: Kiwoom Asset Management completed its ETF registration.
Oct. 1, 2026: Mirae Asset Global Investments received a standard code for its new ETF.
October 2026: Expected debut of the Kiwoom Global MLCC & AI Substrate TOP4+ ETF.
Money Landscape
The emergence of these specialized ETFs follows the broader trend of financial firms pivoting portfolios to capture AI-related growth beyond traditional software. This development highlights the transition from investing in AI services to investing in the physical components and supply chains required for server infrastructure.
These new investment products may offer a way to gain exposure to the semiconductor supply chain, but they come with the volatility risks inherent to sector-focused funds. Before adjusting your portfolio, speak with a qualified financial professional to determine if these thematic ETFs align with your risk tolerance.
The takeaway
The surge in demand for AI components is driving a significant expansion in the supply chain, which is now being formalized through new sector-specific investment funds. Keep track of how these product launches influence the availability of thematic assets in your brokerage account.
Further reading
For more information on navigating sector-specific funds, visit our Investing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 기술로 세상을 바꾸는 사람들의 놀이터.
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