ARKF vs VOO
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ARKF or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $701M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 41 | 509 |
| YTD Return | -2.20% | +13.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.19% | +20.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.51%Best | +21.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.97% | +12.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.0% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,601 | $18,335Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.1% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.6 years).
ARKF vs VOO 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 VOO Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% while VOO returned +20.08%. Year to date, ARKF is down 2.20% versus a gain of 13.37% for VOO.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +30.51% per year against +21.29% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -2.97% and +12.89% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +15.90% 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 VOO. 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 -34.3% for VOO. 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 VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.11% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
41.6% of ARKF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 15.7% of VOO's money is in holdings ARKF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ARKF as of Aug 17, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
11 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 505 in VOO, against full books of 41 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ARKF (83.8% of the fund), and 15 for ARKF that do not appear in VOO (35.1%).
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 VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.96% | 7.51% | 4.55% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.00% | 3.62% | 0.38% |
| SQBlock Inc | 6.51% | 0.06% | 6.45% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 5.24% | 0.42% | 4.82% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 5.38% | 0.12% | 5.26% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 3.38% | 1.92% | 1.46% |
| COINCoinbase Globa-A | 4.94% | 0.05% | 4.89% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.47% | 1.98% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc. Class A | 2.23% | 0.30% | 1.93% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.97% | 0.09% | 1.88% |
41.6% of ARKF is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ARKF or VOO?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or VOO?
Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% vs +20.08% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +11.77% vs +15.90% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or VOO?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 38.0% annualized versus 16.4% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ARKF and VOO?
ARKF and VOO 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 VOO?
41.6% of ARKF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 15.7% of VOO'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 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or VOO?
ARKF yields 0.11% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ARKF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, VOO over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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.