ARKF vs VYM
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ARKF or VYM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $701M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 2.24% |
| Holdings | 41 | 613 |
| YTD Return | -2.20% | +14.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.19% | +20.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.51%Best | +18.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.97% | +12.28%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,601 | $17,845Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.1% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.6 years).
ARKF vs VYM 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 VYM Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% while VYM returned +20.84%. Year to date, ARKF is down 2.20% versus a gain of 14.82% for VYM.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +30.51% per year against +18.64% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are -2.97% and +12.28% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, ARKF has the edge at +11.77% annualized vs +11.70%.
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 15.1% for VYM. 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 -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $4 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.11% against 2.24% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 38 holdings in ARKF and 603 in VYM, totalling 97.1% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ARKF as of Aug 17, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 603 in VYM, against full books of 41 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 570 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ARKF (97.4% of the fund), and 26 for ARKF that do not appear in VYM (76.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKF and VYM 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 VYM?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or VYM?
Over the past year ARKF returned -11.19% vs +20.84% for VYM, so VYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +11.77% vs +11.70% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or VYM?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 38.0% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both ARKF and VYM?
ARKF and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or VYM?
ARKF yields 0.11% while VYM yields 2.24%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ARKF?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y and the full window, VYM over 1Y and 5Y. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% 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.