ARKF vs SPY
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKF or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.1%.
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 | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $701M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 41 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.20% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.19% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.51%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.97% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.0% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,601 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.6 years).
ARKF vs SPY 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
ARKF vs SPY Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ARKF is down 2.20% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +30.51% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -2.97% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.85% annualized vs +11.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.0% compared with 16.4% for SPY. 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 -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.11% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
41.6% of ARKF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 16.3% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
11 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 503 in SPY, against full books of 41 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ARKF (83.1% of the fund), and 14 for ARKF that do not appear in SPY (33.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARKF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.96% | 7.71% | 4.75% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.00% | 4.08% | 0.08% |
| XYZBlock, Inc., 5951713.Sq.Fts.B | 6.51% | 0.07% | 6.44% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 5.24% | 0.56% | 4.68% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 5.38% | 0.11% | 5.27% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 3.38% | 1.94% | 1.44% |
| COINCoinbase Global, Inc., Class A | 4.94% | 0.05% | 4.89% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.27% | 2.18% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc - A | 2.23% | 0.32% | 1.91% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.97% | 0.09% | 1.88% |
41.6% of ARKF is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ARKF or SPY?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or SPY?
Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +11.77% vs +15.85% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or SPY?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 38.0% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKF and SPY?
ARKF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ARKF and SPY?
41.6% of ARKF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 16.3% of SPY's is in holdings ARKF also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or SPY?
ARKF yields 0.11% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.