ARKF vs ARKW
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs ARK Next Generation Technology ETF
Which is better, ARKF or ARKW?
Nearly the same fund. ARKF costs less.
ARKF has a lower expense ratio. ARKW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ARKF | ARKW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75%Best | 0.76% |
| AUM | $695M | $2.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 1.60% |
| Holdings | 81 | 86 |
| YTD Return | -11.61% | -2.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -19.43% | -9.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.27% | +35.75%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.78% | -0.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.8%Best | 39.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6%Best | -80.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,248 | $9,895Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Ark Invest |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Sep 30, 2014 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Nov 11, 2026 (7.8 years).
ARKF vs ARKW growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 7.8 years both funds cover.
ARKF vs ARKW Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and ARK Next Generation Technology ETF (ARKW) is an ETF from Ark Invest. Over the past year ARKF returned -19.43% while ARKW returned -9.93%. Year to date, ARKF is down 11.61% versus a loss of 2.35% for ARKW.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +27.27% per year against +35.75% for ARKW; over five years the annualized figures are -3.78% and -0.21% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, ARKW has the edge at +15.49% annualized vs +10.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.1% compared with 37.8% for ARKF. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -78.6% for ARKF and -80.0% for ARKW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while ARKW charges 0.76%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $76 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.10% against 1.60% for ARKW.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 36 holdings in ARKF and 39 in ARKW, totalling 90.3% and 94.9% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 24 positions appear in both.
24 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 39 in ARKW, against full books of 81 and 86.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARKF | Weight in ARKW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 8.89% | 4.67% | 4.22% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 7.80% | 3.36% | 4.44% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 5.02% | 5.35% | 0.33% |
| CRCLCircle Internet Group In | 5.97% | 4.12% | 1.85% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 5.25% | 4.13% | 1.12% |
| COINCoinbase Global, Inc. | 5.56% | 3.61% | 1.95% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.62% | 4.22% | 0.60% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc. | 4.79% | 2.93% | 1.86% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.06% | 4.19% | 1.13% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.90% | 2.96% | 1.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKF and ARKW you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ARKF or ARKW?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while ARKW charges 0.76%. ARKF is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or ARKW?
Over the past year ARKF returned -19.43% vs -9.93% for ARKW, so ARKW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +10.03% vs +15.49% for ARKW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or ARKW?
ARKW has been the more volatile fund at 39.1% annualized versus 37.8% for ARKF. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs ARKW -80.0%.
Should I hold both ARKF and ARKW?
ARKF and ARKW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or ARKW?
ARKF yields 0.10% while ARKW yields 1.60%, so ARKW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ARKW better than ARKF?
ARKF has a lower expense ratio. ARKW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.