ARKK vs SPY
ARK Innovation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKK or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%.
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 | ARKK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 48 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.73% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.74% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.86%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -6.55% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 36.1% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,127 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | 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 11, 2026 (11.9 years).
ARKK 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
ARKK vs SPY Performance
ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) 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 ARKK returned +6.74% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, ARKK is up 6.73% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKK compounded at +23.86% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -6.55% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, ARKK has the edge at +13.63% annualized vs +12.59%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.1% 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 -80.9% for ARKK 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKK 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, ARKK currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
39.2% of ARKK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
14 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 48 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ARKK (72.0% of the fund), and 24 for ARKK that do not appear in SPY (50.8%).
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 ARKK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.00% | 7.71% | 4.71% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 8.96% | 1.38% | 7.58% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.61% | 4.08% | 1.47% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 5.15% | 0.11% | 5.04% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.74% | 2.97% | 1.23% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 3.15% | 1.27% | 1.88% |
| COINCoinbase Global, Inc. | 4.31% | 0.05% | 4.26% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.49% | 2.67% | 1.18% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.88% | 1.94% | 0.06% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 0.39% | 3.33% | 2.94% |
39.2% of ARKK 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, ARKK or SPY?
ARKK 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, ARKK or SPY?
Over the past year ARKK returned +6.74% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ARKK annualized +13.63% vs +12.59% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKK or SPY?
ARKK has been the more volatile fund at 36.1% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKK -80.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKK and SPY?
ARKK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 ARKK and SPY?
39.2% of ARKK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.6% of SPY's is in holdings ARKK also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKK or SPY?
ARKK yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.