Key Takeaways
- ARK Invest liquidated $16.3 million worth of AMD stock across three ETFs on May 18
- The largest purchase was L3Harris Technologies at $3.18 million
- ARK increased positions in Amazon, Archer Aviation, and Joby Aviation
- Additional semiconductor exits included Taiwan Semiconductor and Teradyne
- Portfolio rebalancing shows movement from chip stocks to defense, retail tech, and aviation
Cathie Wood’s investment firm, ARK Invest, executed several notable transactions on Monday, May 18, 2026, as revealed in the company’s public trade disclosures. The activity demonstrates a strategic pivot away from chip manufacturers toward defense technology, online retail, and emerging aviation platforms.
The most substantial divestment involved Advanced Micro Devices. ARK disposed of 38,529 shares valued at $16.3 million spread across its ARKK, ARKW, and ARKF exchange-traded funds. AMD has experienced remarkable growth this year with approximately 98% gains, fueled by robust AI chip demand and expanding data center infrastructure needs.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., AMD
ARK simultaneously reduced its Taiwan Semiconductor position, selling $12.1 million in holdings. The semiconductor giant has climbed more than 33% year-to-date, representing another semiconductor holding that ARK decided to pare back following impressive performance.
Teradyne represented a third semiconductor departure. ARK unloaded approximately $14.7 million in shares. The chip-testing equipment manufacturer has surged over 74% this year, benefiting from increased AI-driven demand.
Top ARK Purchases
The most significant acquisition was L3Harris Technologies, a prominent defense industry supplier. ARK purchased approximately $3.18 million in shares via its ARKX ETF. The defense stock climbed 2.5% on Monday, mirroring broader market enthusiasm for defense sector investments.
ARK also accumulated nearly $1.84 million in Amazon stock. The e-commerce and technology giant dominates cloud infrastructure through Amazon Web Services and has appreciated more than 14% year-to-date.
Archer Aviation secured roughly $1.7 million in fresh capital from ARK. The electric air taxi developer has declined approximately 20% this year, though market analysts continue forecasting potential gains exceeding 100%.
Joby Aviation represented another air taxi investment. ARK added approximately $1.23 million in holdings. Both Archer and Joby compete in the electric vertical takeoff and landing sector, commonly referred to as eVTOL.
Additional Portfolio Adjustments
ARK purchased 52,308 shares of Bullish valued at $1.87 million and acquired 45,218 shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions for $2.36 million. These transactions expand ARK’s presence in defense technology and financial technology sectors.
Regarding sales, ARK decreased its Roku holdings by disposing of 45,320 shares worth $5.6 million. The firm also reduced 145,039 shares of Rocket Lab, valued at approximately $5.6 million. Rocket Lab stock gained an additional 5% on Monday and has now rallied nearly 79% year-to-date.
The comprehensive trading pattern from Monday’s activity suggests ARK is capturing gains from semiconductor and aerospace stocks that have delivered exceptional 2026 returns.
Proceeds are being redeployed into defense industry firms, aviation technology ventures, and established technology leaders like Amazon. This aligns with ARK’s established investment philosophy emphasizing disruptive, innovation-driven industries.
Citi analyst Atif Malik increased his AMD price target to $460 from $358 on Monday, highlighting expanding AI server CPU requirements. The upgrade occurred coincidentally on the same day ARK was divesting the stock.
