Investor Insights: The top 10 performing ETFs for ISAs in the last month

May produced strong returns for global markets as investors continued to put cash to work in equity markets.

As we enter June, we are looking at the best-performing Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) of the last month to show where investors have been looking and may continue to seek opportunity.

Themes of AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing were the headliners, but Space was the hottest topic of all in May.

Taking number one spot is the VanEck Space Innovators UCITS ETF, with a one-month total return of 42%. It's been very popular among investors seeking to tap into the interest around the SpaceX IPO and growing space tech economy. Built around sizeable stakes in retail favourites including Rocket Lab, Planet Labs, AST SpaceMobile and ViaSat among others. And we featured this ETF recently here.

Second is the GlobalX AI Semiconductor & Quantum UCITS ETF, which posted returns of 35%. Both the AI trade and growing interest around quantum computing technology have been two of the key themes over the last month so it’s not a surprise this ETF has performed well. This fund has heavy weightings in several of the best-performing AI-related stocks including Micron, AMD, SKY Hynix, ASML, TSMC, Broadcom, Intel, Cisco, Nvidia and Arm Holdings. We also saw the iShares MSCI Global Semiconductors UCITS ETF (+29%), and WisdomTree Quantum Computing UCITS ETF, with returns of +28%, making the top ten. Quantum stocks had a good month.

Third is the Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF with a return of almost 35%. Cybersecurity stocks had been caught up in an AI-fear-driven selloff in the software space as it was perceived that AI would undermine their businesses. But worries about what AI can do has spurred investors back into the cybersecurity space, with the ETF’s holdings including chunky stakes in Okta, CrowdStrike, Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks doing well last month. Fourth spot is taken by the First Trust Nasdaq Cyber Security UCITS ETF, which has posted returns of more than 32% in sterling terms. Also featuring in the top ten are the WisdomTree Cybersecurity USD (Acc) UCITS ETF, returns +30%; and the L&G Cyber Security UCITS ETF, returns +29%.

In fifth is the Invesco Solar Energy UCITS ETF, with a return of more than 31%. The combination of the Iran war pushing up oil and gas prices combined with the surging demand for energy to power AI demands lifted stocks in the renewables sector.

Also among the best performers was the Franklin FTSE Korea UCITS ETF, which performed strongly as South Korea’s KOSPI rallied over 30% for the month on surging AI demand for the likes of SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.

Top 10 performing ETFs of the last month:

1. VanEck Space Innovators UCITS ETF

2. Global X AI Semiconductor & Quantum UCITS ETF

3. Global X Cybersecurity UCITS ETF

4. First Trust Nasdaq Cyber Security UCITS ETF

5. Invesco Solar Energy UCITS ETF

6. WisdomTree Cybersecurity USD (Acc) UCITS ETF

7. Franklin FTSE Korea UCITS ETF

8. L&G Cyber Security UCITS ETF

9. iShares MSCI Global Semiconductors UCITS ETF

10. WisdomTree Quantum Computing UCITS ETF

Source: Saxo Investor screener snapshot 2 June 2026, 1m total return, equity ETFs only, ISA Eligible.