Important advances in the field of genomics—the study of an organism's complete DNA—may make it possible to customize drug therapies, diagnose diseases, and engineer enzymes for improved health care outcomes. It's no wonder, then, that biotech and pharmaceutical companies are moving quickly to capitalize on the space.
Despite the positive signs from a technical point of view, these industries remain very risky for investors. This is the reason why those willing to build exposure to genomics companies may be safer doing so with the broad access available through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Even given the small investment niche represented by genomics firms, there are still many options for ETFs that explore this theme. Some notable options below all offer diversification to investors within the space to help limit risk.
A Well-Priced Option for Investors Seeking Both Income and Performance
iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF NYSEARCA: IDNA is among the least expensive funds that provide targeted exposure to the genomics sector, with an expense ratio of 0.47%. This fund tracks the index of companies involved not only in the genomics industry, but also in immunology and bioengineering. Actually, this means just over 50 from the wider US biotech scene.
iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF Today
iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF
As of 06/5/2026 04:10 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $20.15
▼
$31.41
- Dividend Yield
- 1.03%
- Assets Under Administration
- $160.61 million
IDNA has big-name companies that might be familiar to investors who aren't deeply connected to the biotech world—including Moderna Inc. NASDAQ: MRNAthe second largest property in IDNA's portfolio—along with many smaller or larger firms. The portfolio is highly concentrated, with 10 stocks representing about half of the assets invested.
Year-to-date (YTD), IDNA has returned nearly 10%. However, look at the performance over the past 12 months, and this figure increases to 40%, outperforming the market. On top of this, IDNA also offers dividend payouts of around 1% to boost income.
This fund is not the most traded, with a one-month trading average in the 45,000 area, so it is possible that active traders will experience some liquidity concerns.
A High-Performance, Multi-Liquid Bag Comes at a Great Cost
One of the oldest funds in the genomics space—and, with about $1.3 billion in assets under management, among the largest—is the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF. BATS: ARKG. This fully managed fund comes at a higher price than IDN, which charges an annual fee of 0.75%. However, at this price, investors can expect to react to changing market conditions that usually only come with portfolios monitored by fund managers rather than those that target underlying indices.
ARK Genomic Revolution ETF today
ARK Genomic Revolution ETF
As of 06/5/2026 04:10 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $22.65
▼
$37.30
- Assets Under Administration
- $1.26 billion
ARKG has 33 North American companies in the field of genomics, including companies positioned to benefit from advances in stem cell therapy, gene editing and therapeutics, and diagnostics.
A smaller basket means higher concentration, and 10 companies make up more than 60 percent of the overall portfolio.
Nevertheless, the strategy paid off: ARKG beat the market with YTD gains of more than 15% and a 50% increase over the past year.
Investors trade ARKG more actively than IDNA—and other competitors in the genomics ETF space, for that matter. This fund has a one-month trading volume of over 2.5 million.
Global Focus on Low Value, But Liquidity May Stop Investors
Company rating Franklin Genomic Advances ETF BATS: HELX it is the smallest and least traded fund in this list, so investors should be aware of potential capital limitations before investing. This actively managed fund offers a broad portfolio of over 60 names representing genomics companies across developed markets.
Franklin Genomic Advances ETF today
Franklin Genomic Advancements ETF
As of 06/5/2026 04:10 PM Eastern
- 52 week interval
- $26.90
▼
$38.17
- Assets Under Administration
- $22.64 million
Expanding outside of North America may appeal to investors looking for a global focus, and HELX's expense ratio of 0.50% is still modest considering its niche strategy and broad geographic reach. Still, the fund's track record this year isn't all that compelling—HELX is down slightly YTD. Looking back over the past 12 months, this is getting better; HELX is up more than 30% during that time.
Of greater concern to investors, however, may be HELX's low asset base of just $23 million, and the fact that the fund only trades a few hundred shares a month on average. This may make it suitable for buy-and-hold investors, but those considering an active trading method may be skeptical, despite HELX's wider global reach compared to any of the above funds.
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