Key Takeaways
- ARK Invest liquidated $16.3 million worth of AMD stock across multiple ETFs on May 18
- The fund’s top acquisition was L3Harris Technologies at $3.18 million
- Additional purchases included Amazon, Archer Aviation, and Joby Aviation shares
- Chip sector exits extended to Taiwan Semiconductor and Teradyne
- Portfolio rebalancing signals ARK’s rotation from semiconductors to defense, retail tech, and urban air mobility
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest executed a notable set of transactions on Monday, May 18, 2026, as revealed in the company’s daily trading reports. These moves demonstrate a strategic pivot away from chip manufacturers and toward aerospace defense, online retail giants, and emerging aviation technology.
The most substantial divestment involved Advanced Micro Devices. ARK unloaded 38,529 shares totaling $16.3 million from its ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF portfolios. AMD has experienced remarkable growth this year, surging approximately 98% on robust AI chip demand and data center expansion.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., AMD
ARK simultaneously reduced its Taiwan Semiconductor holdings by $12.1 million. The chipmaker has climbed over 33% year-to-date, representing another semiconductor position ARK opted to reduce following substantial gains.
Teradyne marked a third exit from the chip sector. ARK disposed of approximately $14.7 million in the chip-testing equipment manufacturer’s stock. Teradyne has soared more than 74% this year amid accelerating AI-driven testing requirements.
Top ARK Acquisitions
The day’s premier purchase targeted L3Harris Technologies, a prominent defense industry contractor. ARK acquired roughly $3.18 million in shares via its ARKX ETF. The defense stock appreciated 2.5% on Monday, mirroring broader momentum in military spending investments.
ARK supplemented its holdings with approximately $1.84 million in Amazon stock. The e-commerce and cloud computing powerhouse operates Amazon Web Services and has advanced more than 14% year-to-date.
Archer Aviation secured about $1.7 million in fresh capital from ARK. Despite declining roughly 20% this year, the electric air taxi developer continues attracting analyst projections exceeding 100% potential upside.
Joby Aviation represented another urban air mobility investment. ARK purchased approximately $1.23 million in shares. Both Archer and Joby compete in the electric vertical takeoff and landing sector, commonly referenced as eVTOL.
Additional Portfolio Adjustments
ARK acquired 52,308 shares of Bullish valued at $1.87 million and 45,218 shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions totaling $2.36 million. These transactions expand ARK’s commitments to defense technology and financial technology sectors.
Regarding sales, ARK decreased its Roku stake by disposing of 45,320 shares worth $5.6 million. The fund also pared 145,039 shares of Rocket Lab, valued at approximately $5.6 million. Rocket Lab stock surged an additional 5% on Monday and has now climbed nearly 79% year-to-date.
The comprehensive trading activity from Monday reveals ARK capturing gains from semiconductor and aerospace stocks that delivered exceptional 2026 performance.
Proceeds are flowing toward defense industry players, aviation innovators, and established technology leaders like Amazon. This strategy aligns with ARK’s documented emphasis on transformative, innovation-driven industries.
Citi analyst Atif Malik elevated his AMD valuation target to $460 from $358 on Monday, highlighting expanding AI server CPU adoption. Notably, this bullish revision occurred simultaneously with ARK’s AMD liquidation.
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