ARKG vs SPY
ARK Genomic Revolution ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKG or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.7%.
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 | ARKG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 32 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +61.55%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +89.32%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.78% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -11.22% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 36.6% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $5,515 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.7% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.8 years).
ARKG 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
ARKG vs SPY Performance
ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG) 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 ARKG returned +89.32% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ARKG is up 61.55% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKG compounded at +13.78% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -11.22% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.68% annualized vs +8.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.6% compared with 14.9% 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 -83.6% for ARKG 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKG 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, ARKG currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
4.8% of ARKG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKG also owns.
ARKG and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in ARKG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 32 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ARKG (98.1% of the fund), and 29 for ARKG that do not appear in SPY (88.8%).
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 ARKG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 4.82% | 1.33% | 3.49% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKG and SPY 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, ARKG or SPY?
ARKG 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, ARKG or SPY?
Over the past year ARKG returned +89.32% vs +19.97% for SPY, so ARKG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ARKG annualized +8.43% vs +12.68% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKG or SPY?
ARKG has been the more volatile fund at 36.6% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKG -83.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKG and SPY?
ARKG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 ARKG and SPY?
4.8% of ARKG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's is in holdings ARKG also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in ARKG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKG or SPY?
ARKG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.