• Robo-Stox (NASDAQ: ROBO)
• NAV $26.30
• OPEN: $26.90
• 52-Week H/L $24.85-$27.23
• Total Assets: $25.8M

The only fund focused solely on robotics and automation-related companies is growing.

Since the debut of Robo-Stox Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (NASDAQ: ROBO) in October, MarketWatch now puts the fund?s total assets as $25.8M, which is impressive given how brief a time the fund has been in operation.

More than 140 new exchange traded funds (ETFs) and exchange traded notes (ETNs) were launched during 2013. Robo-Stox is the first and still the only fund dedicated to robotics.

Investing in 77 different companies helps mitigate risk

MARKETMUSE?The goal to invest in the best robotic technology companies is a very difficult goal to accomplish.

Investors in Mako Surgical can speak to this first hand, as they watched shares sell off by 56% since 2011 only to rebound after Stryker put a bid in for the company.

The Robo-Stox Global Robotics & Automation ETF attempts to solve for the risk associated with investing in robotics by giving investors a way to invest in 77 different companies directly or indirectly tied to the industry. Before this ETF, retail investors were limited to companies like iRobot , a consumer robotics play, ABB , an industrial robotics play, and Aerovironment, a defense robotics play to name a few.

Robo-Stox index also offers investors access to companies that are not on American exchanges, but are some of the biggest names in robotics, including, Yaskawa Electric, Fanuc, and KUKA.

Robo-Stox declares dividend for 2013

NASDAQ?Robo-Stox will begin trading ex-dividend on December 24, 2013. A cash dividend payment of $1E-06 per share is scheduled to be paid on December 31, 2013.

Shareholders who purchased ROBO stock prior to the ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment.

The previous trading day’s last sale of ROBO was $26.46, representing a -2.83% decrease from the 52 week high of $27.23 and a 6.48% increase over the 52 week low of $24.85.

See also: ROBO Dividend History

Going forward in 2014: Motley?s Blake Bos on Investing in Robotics