In my opinion, robotics and physical AI will be among the most significant fields of the future in the coming years. I’d like to follow this trend with my own portfolio of stocks, which I’ve carefully put together. (It contains only a few stocks from this sector—unfortunately, I can’t invest in everything.)
The focus is deliberately on higher-risk, opportunity-driven stocks—rather than on large, defensive names. Below, I’ll briefly outline the stocks I’ve already invested in or plan to invest in, and I’ll also highlight a few other alternatives.
I’d be very interested to know what stocks in this sector you’ve already invested in or plan to invest in.
I’ve decided on:
Nabtesco (rotary gearboxes)
THK (linear actuators)
Allegro (sensor technology)
UBTECH (high risk, ready-to-use robots)
Xpeng
Overview of the stocks + additional alternatives:
(Of course, there are many more. This is just a small selection of possible stocks.)
$6324 (+2.15%)
Harmonic Drive Systems (Japan)
• Global market leader in precision strain-wave gearing, an alternative to Nabtesco’s cycloidal gears
• Extremely common in robot joints, where low weight and high precision are required
• One of the companies that has already benefited the most from the robotics boom
Nabtesco (Japan)
• Global market leader in precision reduction gears (especially cycloidal gears)
• Found in the majority of industrial robot arms worldwide
• Highly focused business closely tied to robotics
THK (Japan)
• Inventor and market leader in linear guides and ball screws
• Enables precise, linear motion in robots, machine tools, and factory automation
• More diversified than pure gear manufacturers, with a strong presence in traditional mechanical engineering as well
Schaeffler (Germany)
• Traditional automotive supplier (rolling bearings, drivetrain technology)
• Has been strategically positioning itself toward robotics since 2025/26, including with a planetary gear actuator for humanoid robots
• The existing core automotive business drives the stock; robotics is an additional option
Allegro Microsystems (U.S.)
• Manufacturer of sensor technology, primarily magnetic sensors for engine control
• Crucial for precise motion control in robotic joints and the automotive sector
Ambarella (USA)
• Develops edge AI chips for image processing and computer vision
• Increasing focus on robotics and autonomous systems rather than just traditional surveillance cameras
Teradyne (U.S.)
• Originally a manufacturer of semiconductor test equipment
• Through acquisitions, owns Universal Robots (market leader in collaborative robots/cobots) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR, autonomous transport robots)
• Thus, a diversified approach to investing in commercial robotics applications without being a pure-play robotics company
UBTECH Robotics (China)
• Builds complete humanoid robots (e.g., Walker S); not a pure supplier
• Already undergoing initial industrial trials
• Listing in China introduces additional regulatory/geopolitical risk
Rainbow Robotics (South Korea)
• Korean manufacturer of humanoid and collaborative robots
• Samsung Electronics is the largest shareholder and is driving the integration into its own manufacturing operations
• A small, highly volatile small-cap stock with significant price movements since Samsung’s investment
Doosan Robotics (South Korea)
• Part of the Doosan Group, a manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots)
• Focus on industrial applications such as welding, palletizing, and food service automation
• Listed on the stock exchange since 2023; still a relatively new listing
XPeng (China)
• Primarily an electric vehicle manufacturer, but also operates a robotics division (humanoid robots) and is developing air taxis (XPeng AeroHT)
• The stock price depends largely on the low-margin core EV business; the robotics potential has had little impact so far
Nvidia (U.S.)
• Provides the computing platform behind Physical AI: Jetson chips and the Isaac platform for robot control and training
• A key “enabler” for virtually all robotics players, but itself a massive, broadly diversified chip company—no pure-play robotics exposure
Tesla (U.S.)
• Electric car manufacturer with its own humanoid robotics program (Optimus)
• Optimus is not yet in large-scale commercial use; it remains a growth opportunity alongside the core business
Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea)
• Core business is traditional automotive manufacturing; has held a majority stake in Boston Dynamics since 2021
• Boston Dynamics unveiled the new humanoid robot Atlas at CES 2026; mass production is planned to begin at the new U.S. factory in Georgia starting in 2028
• Here, too, robotics is a supplementary option alongside a large, established automotive business
Nidec (Japan)
• The world’s largest manufacturer of electric motors, ranging from micromotors to industrial drives
• Investing heavily in actuators specifically for humanoid robots—a gap that THK/Schaeffler (linear actuators) and Nabtesco/Harmonic Drive (gearboxes) have not yet filled
• Complements the drive chain with the missing core component: the actual motor
Cognex (U.S.)
• Global market leader in machine vision systems for manufacturing automation
• Considered “the eyes” of modern robotic cells in factories—detects, inspects, and positions components
Classification by Field
Gearboxes
Harmonic Drive, Nabtesco
Actuators / Linear and Drive Technology
THK, Schaeffler
Sensors / Chips / AI Computing Platform
Allegro Microsystems, Ambarella, Nvidia
Automation Equipment / Cobots (Close to suppliers, but diversified)
Teradyne
Pure-play or specialized robot manufacturers
UBTECH, Rainbow Robotics, Doosan Robotics
Large conglomerates with robotics as a secondary business (core business in auto/mobility)
XPeng, Tesla, Hyundai Motor Group
What do you think of this stock selection? Do you have any additions?
@Multibagger
@Tenbagger-Capital
Generated using AI. Not investment advice.
