Riding the trend! These fund managers predicted a boom in the robotics sector in the fourth quarter.

China Securities Journal, February 22 (Reporter Li Di) — The A-shares market is still closed, but the humanoid robot sector has already “gone viral.”

This trend was anticipated early by public fund managers. Some fund managers previously predicted that the humanoid robot sector could see more catalytic factors by 2026. Others explicitly stated that 2026 might become the year of mass production for humanoid robots, with potentially revolutionary robot models being released worldwide.

Despite the increasing industry enthusiasm, insiders emphasize that the sector may become more differentiated in the future. One fund manager pointed out that the robot sector is entering a new stage of shedding falsehoods and revealing truths, with capital rapidly flowing into leading companies. Notably, under this trend, some fund managers have adjusted their investment strategies in a timely manner, concentrating their holdings more on top-tier enterprises.

Fund Managers Bet on the Robot Boom, 2026 Could Be the Year of Mass Production

The Spring Festival holiday is still ongoing, and the A-shares market has not yet reopened, but the enthusiasm for the robot sector continues to rise. Industry insiders believe that the sector’s hotness is not solely driven by news and events; the core reason is that the industry has undergone long-term technological accumulation and is gradually reaching a critical turning point. Regarding the potential growth in popularity and development turning points this year, several fund managers have already made early predictions.

Great Wall Jiuxin Flexible Allocation Hybrid Fund’s Yu Huan previously forecasted that the robot sector would see many catalytic factors by 2026. In the fund’s 2025 Q4 report, he stated, “Looking ahead to 2026, we expect the industry to experience numerous catalysts and enter an accelerated phase of mass production and implementation.”

Yongying Advanced Manufacturing Intelligent Selection Hybrid’s Zhang Lu also projected the development trend of the robot sector in 2026 in the 2025 Q4 report, noting, “2026 may be the year of mass production for humanoid robots, with potentially revolutionary robot models being released globally. The industry will enter a period of mass production.”

Zhang Lu believes that as mass production approaches, the sector may become more certain, with companies possessing technological and channel advantages likely to benefit first. He also advised investors to pay attention to the progress of IPOs of key domestic robot companies, which could boost sector enthusiasm, and that the domestic robot industry chain may flourish.

AVIC Trend Leading Hybrid Initiator Wang Sen also predicted that 2026 could be a critical turning point for the large-scale delivery of humanoid robots. In his 2025 Q4 report, Wang stated that looking ahead, the humanoid robot industry is expected to usher in a deeper wave of industrialization in the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. 2026 is viewed as a key turning point for scaled delivery, with application scenarios expanding from current industrial manufacturing and specific commercial services to logistics, warehousing, high-risk special operations, and other more commercially valuable B-end scenarios.

Wang also mentioned that at the policy level, “embodied intelligence” has been incorporated into the country’s future industry priorities. The advancement of standardization work will help regulate competition and guide healthy industry development.

It is noteworthy that the forward-looking predictions of fund managers regarding the humanoid robot sector are not coincidental but are based on solid research and continuous tracking. A senior researcher from a major Beijing public fund told reporters, “From the fourth quarter last year to the beginning of this year, some targets in the humanoid robot sector have already shown performance, and related thematic ETFs have seen some capital inflows. In the past six months, both domestic and international humanoid robot industries have achieved certain technological breakthroughs, and the sector is approaching the final transition to mass production and a surge in popularity—it’s only a matter of time. The ability of fund managers to predict this trend early is due to close industry tracking and research.”

Capital May Accelerate Into Leading Companies, Multiple Fund Managers Adjust Holdings

Although the overall enthusiasm for the robot industry remains high, insiders expect that the sector will likely become more differentiated in the future, and investors should focus on leading companies with core advantages.

CFRA Asset Management’s Advanced Manufacturing Hybrid Fund’s Xu Jinzhe emphasized that after two years of value exploration, the development of the robot industry has moved out of its initial foggy stage. This means the market will enter a critical phase of “shedding falsehoods and revealing truths,” with capital likely to flow toward truly competitive leading enterprises.

Xu Jinzhe has also refined his investment strategy for the robot industry: on one hand, deeply integrating industrial investment thinking to select targets more aligned with industry evolution; on the other hand, focusing on technological frontiers, mainly holding leading companies that have a first-mover advantage in the latest technological trends and have built solid barriers in industry positioning and customer resources, aiming to grasp certainty opportunities in the new industry stage.

PuYin Ansheng High-End Equipment Hybrid Fund’s Li Haoxuan, after analyzing industry dynamics, also pointed out that the competition pattern of core hardware components in the robot industry is accelerating toward concentration among top players. Manufacturing giants with industry technology accumulation, through technology transfer and capacity synergy, are building strong barriers, with significant advantages in cost control and order acquisition, making them the primary beneficiaries of industry dividends.

Li Haoxuan focused on three core target types: first, mainframe manufacturers with ecosystem barriers and mass production capabilities; second, core hardware component companies that are linked to top clients, possess strong technology, and have excellent cost control; third, companies that master key software algorithms.

However, as an emerging industry, humanoid robots may experience significant fluctuations in the future. Industry insiders also advise investors to exercise caution, reasonably control their investment proportions in this field.

Wang Sen pointed out that the industry is still before the mass production stage, and robot businesses have not yet significantly impacted upstream component companies’ performance. He emphasized that emerging industries tend to be volatile, and investors should be aware of the possibility of increased valuation fluctuations.

HuaFu Technology Momentum Hybrid Fund manager Shen Cheng also warned that since the humanoid robot industry is in its early development stage, investments should be cautious of uncertainties in technological paths, the pace of technological innovation, and potential delays in large-scale production. Investors should adopt a rational attitude, avoid over-committing, and consider their risk tolerance when allocating investments in this field.