Martian Alpha Space ETFs vs Space Stocks: What You Actually Own
What a space ETF holds versus buying space stocks directly, using Procure's UFO as of Oct 2026: 67 holdings, SpaceX at 16.69%, and a 0.75% expense ratio.
A space ETF is a basket: you hold dozens of companies in one ticker, pay an annual fee, and get whatever the index or manager decided counts as "space". Buying space stocks directly means choosing each company yourself. The practical difference shows up in what's inside. On October 9, 2026, Procure's Space ETF (UFO) held 67 positions with a 0.75% expense ratio, and on October 12 its largest holding, SpaceX, was 16.69% of the fund. This is research, not financial advice.
What one space ETF actually holds#
The numbers below come from the fund's own page at procureetfs.com/ufo, read on October 12, 2026. Fund facts are dated October 9, 2026; the holdings table is dated October 12, 2026.
| Fund fact | UFO (Procure Space ETF) |
|---|---|
| Exchange | Nasdaq |
| Inception | April 11, 2019 |
| Expense ratio | 0.75% |
| Index provider | VettaFi (index ticker SPACE) |
| Number of holdings | 67 |
| Net assets | about $518.9 million |
Its ten largest holdings on October 12, 2026:
| Rank | Holding | Ticker | % of net assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Exploration Technologies Corp | SPCX | 16.69% |
| 2 | Rocket Lab Corp | RKLB | 5.36% |
| 3 | Trimble Inc | TRMB | 5.15% |
| 4 | EchoStar Corp | ECHO | 5.03% |
| 5 | Garmin Ltd | GRMN | 4.80% |
| 6 | Viasat Inc | VSAT | 4.73% |
| 7 | Sirius XM Holdings Inc | SIRI | 4.47% |
| 8 | AST SpaceMobile Inc | ASTS | 4.14% |
| 9 | Planet Labs PBC | PL | 3.55% |
| 10 | Globalstar Inc | GSAT | 3.24% |
Adding the weights, these ten make up 57.16% of the fund (our arithmetic). Three observations follow from the table itself:
- One name dominates. SpaceX is 16.69%, more than three times the next holding. If you already own SPCX, a fund like this adds to that exposure.
- "Space" is defined broadly. The list includes navigation, satellite-radio and consumer-electronics companies such as Trimble, Garmin and Sirius XM alongside launch and satellite names. Whether that matches what you mean by space is your call.
- Weights move. The fund's holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time, as Procure itself says, and shouldn't be taken as a recommendation.
A second fund, a different index#
State Street's SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (ROKT) tracks the S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index, per its fund page. The page, with figures dated August 28 to 31, 2026, shows 37 holdings, about $194.9 million in assets, a gross expense ratio of 0.45% and an inception date of October 22, 2018. Two ETFs with the same theme can have different numbers of holdings, fees and index rules, so read each fund's own documents. ARK's ARKX is actively managed rather than index-based; check its page for current holdings.
ETF or individual stocks: the trade-offs#
| Question | Space ETF | Individual stocks |
|---|---|---|
| How many companies | Dozens (67 for UFO) | The ones you pick |
| Cost | Annual expense ratio (0.75% for UFO, 0.45% gross for ROKT) | Trading costs only |
| Who decides the mix | Index provider or manager | You |
| Concentration | Set by the index; check the top holdings | Set by you |
| Research effort | Check holdings and rules | Read each company's filings |
| Single-company risk | Spread, but large positions can dominate (SPCX 16.69% in UFO) | Full exposure to each pick |
Neither is better in general. An ETF is a way to delegate selection and rebalancing; direct stocks give control and cost less in fees but need more research. Our filing-by-filing research guide shows what to read for individual companies, and how to verify ETF holdings shows how to check a fund's weights and dates.
How to check any space ETF before you buy#
- Open the issuer's page, not an aggregator, and note the "as of" dates on holdings and fund facts.
- Read the top 10 and the total number of holdings. Add up the top weights.
- Check for a single dominant position, and for whether it also matches stocks you own.
- Look at the index rules or the manager's mandate: what counts as space?
- Compare the expense ratio with how much research effort you'd otherwise spend.
Where Martian Alpha fits#
Martian Alpha doesn't offer ETFs or advice. For the direct-stock side, its free Compare page puts several space companies side by side on price, market cap, revenue growth and margins, and the free CANSLIM screener ranks the tracked space stocks. The dashboard shows Martian Alpha's own market-cap-weighted space composite against the S&P 500, which gives a picture of the group to hold next to any ETF.
FAQ#
Is a space ETF safer than buying space stocks?#
It spreads company-specific risk across many holdings, but the fund can still be concentrated: UFO's top ten holdings were 57.16% of the fund on October 12, 2026, and its largest was 16.69%.
What is the expense ratio of a space ETF?#
It varies by fund. Procure's UFO lists 0.75%; State Street's ROKT lists a gross expense ratio of 0.45%.
Do space ETFs hold only pure space companies?#
Not necessarily. The definition of space is set by the fund. UFO's top ten includes navigation and satellite-radio companies as well as launch and satellite operators.
Where do I find a space ETF's current holdings?#
On the issuer's website, which lists holdings with an "as of" date. Weights change, so check the date.
Is this financial advice?#
No. It explains how to read fund disclosures and compare them with owning stocks directly.
Sources#
- Procure ETFs, UFO fund facts and top 10 holdings (fund facts as of 10/09/2026; holdings as of 10/12/2026): https://www.procureetfs.com/ufo
- State Street Investment Management, SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (ROKT) (figures dated Aug 28-31, 2026): https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/spdr-sp-kensho-final-frontiers-etf-rokt
This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Do your own research before making any investment.