ARKF vs VTI
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ARKF or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, VTI over 1Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $701M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 41 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -5.46% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -20.98% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.08%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.08% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.9% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,472 | $18,286Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Oct 2, 2026 (7.7 years).
ARKF vs VTI 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 7.7 years both funds cover.
ARKF vs VTI Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKF returned -20.98% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, ARKF is down 5.46% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +35.08% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -1.08% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.06% annualized vs +11.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.9% compared with 16.8% for VTI. 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 -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while VTI 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 0.09% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.1% of VTI's money is in holdings ARKF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ARKF, our book for it covers 90.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and ARKF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, ARKF as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
20 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 41 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARKF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.13% | 6.40% | 3.27% |
| SQBlock Inc | 7.86% | 0.06% | 7.80% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.70% | 3.65% | 0.05% |
| CRCLCircle Internet Group In | 6.91% | 0.01% | 6.90% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 6.26% | 0.09% | 6.17% |
| COINCoinbase Globa-A | 5.60% | 0.04% | 5.56% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.61% | 1.70% | 1.91% |
| TOSTToast Inc | 4.52% | 0.02% | 4.50% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 4.08% | 0.37% | 3.71% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.71% | 1.08% | 0.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKF and VTI 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 VTI?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or VTI?
Over the past year ARKF returned -20.98% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +11.15% vs +15.06% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or VTI?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 37.9% annualized versus 16.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both ARKF and VTI?
ARKF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 VTI?
At least 14.1% of VTI's money is in holdings ARKF also owns. Our book for ARKF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or VTI?
ARKF yields 0.09% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ARKF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, VTI over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.