3 Thematic ETF Segments to Watch in 2025

AI Infrastructure

There’s an old adage from the gold rush days: don’t invest in the miners, invest in the companies selling them picks and shovels. For artificial intelligence (AI), that often translates to investing in semiconductor companies supplying the tech that powers AI.

I take that idea one step further: why not invest in the companies providing the physical space needed for AI to thrive? Think data centers, cloud infrastructure, and edge computing facilities—essential elements for supporting AI’s massive computational demands.

These industries just received a major tailwind with the announcement of Trump’s $500 billion “Stargate” initiative, which aims to bolster AI infrastructure across the U.S. The initiative, with involvement from OpenAI’s Sam Altman, signals a significant push to scale the physical backbone of AI technology.

Instead of opting for traditional AI ETFs, I’m watching the Pacer Data & Infrastructure Real Estate ETF

. This ETF holds real estate investment trusts (REITs) like Digital Realty Trust, Equinix, and American Tower Corp., which own and operate the physical infrastructure AI depends on, from hyperscale data centers to edge computing facilities.

Reshoring

One upside of Trump’s nationalistic and isolationist policies is the boost they’re giving to ETFs targeting the reshoring theme. Simply put, reshoring is the process of bringing manufacturing, production, and supply chains back to the U.S. from overseas.

 For example, instead of relying on semiconductor plants in Taiwan, companies might invest in domestic facilities to ensure supply chain security. Or consider a manufacturer moving operations from China to the Midwest to reduce geopolitical risks.

This theme is driven by several factors. Geopolitical tensions, like rising conflict risks in key regions like the Middle East and Eastern Europe, have made businesses wary of over-reliance on global supply chains.

Supply chain security concerns are also top of mind—such as recent Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea, which disrupted shipping routes and highlighted vulnerabilities. Add to that rising labor costs in foreign markets, and the case for reshoring becomes even stronger.

The ETF I’m watching here is the Tema American Reshoring ETF

RSHO

. It takes an actively managed multi-industry approach, with exposure spanning industrials, transport, infrastructure, materials, and semiconductors—all key sectors benefiting from the reshoring megatrend.

Nuclear Energy

One overlooked aspect of Trump’s recently declared “national energy emergency” is the inclusion of nuclear energy as a priority.

While the order heavily emphasizes ramping up domestic oil and gas production, it also carves out room for nuclear as a lower-emission alternative. Unsurprisingly, wind and solar were left out, but nuclear energy, with its reliability and scalability, made the cut.

The growing need for nuclear is becoming clear as governments worldwide realize it’s the only viable, cost-effective, and large-scale substitute for fossil fuels in the foreseeable future.

Unlike intermittent renewables like solar or wind, nuclear provides consistent, base-load energy, which is critical for industrial and residential electricity demand.

Many investors in nuclear energy tend to focus solely on uranium miners, which I believe is an incomplete approach. While miners are crucial to the supply chain, the real opportunity lies in capturing the entire ecosystem.

That’s why I prefer the VanEck Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF

. This ETF not only holds uranium miners but also includes utilities and services that provide nuclear energy. Top holdings like Constellation Energy Corp. and Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. exemplify this broader approach.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not in any way constitute investment advice. The author may express their own opinions, which may not represent the opinions of ETF Central or its affiliated partners. It is essential that you seek advice from a registered financial professional prior to making any investment decisions.