ARKK vs VOO
ARK Innovation ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ARKK or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 3Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y and 5Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.08% |
| Holdings | 48 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.28% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.51% | +21.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.61%Best | +21.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -6.82% | +12.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 36.1% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,024 | $18,319Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.0% | 36.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2014 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2014 to Sep 3, 2026 (11.8 years).
ARKK 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
ARKK vs VOO Performance
ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKK returned +16.51% while VOO returned +21.53%. Year to date, ARKK is up 11.28% versus a gain of 13.81% for VOO.
Over three years, ARKK compounded at +25.61% per year against +21.46% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are -6.82% and +12.87% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, ARKK has the edge at +14.06% annualized vs +12.78%.
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 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 -80.9% for ARKK 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKK charges 0.75% per year while 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, ARKK currently yields 0.00% against 1.08% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
37.7% of ARKK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 27.2% of VOO's money is in holdings ARKK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ARKK 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.
14 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 505 in VOO, against full books of 48 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 483 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for ARKK (72.3% of the fund), and 26 for ARKK that do not appear in VOO (49.2%).
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 VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 9.40% | 1.84% | 7.56% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.27% | 7.51% | 5.24% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.67% | 3.62% | 0.95% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.59% | 1.47% | 2.12% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.80% | 2.59% | 0.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.28% | 2.77% | 1.49% |
| COINCoinbase Globa-A | 3.94% | 0.05% | 3.89% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 3.56% | 0.42% | 3.14% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 0.41% | 3.25% | 2.84% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 3.52% | 0.12% | 3.40% |
37.7% of ARKK 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ARKK or VOO?
ARKK 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, ARKK or VOO?
Over the past year ARKK returned +16.51% vs +21.53% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ARKK annualized +14.06% vs +12.78% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKK or VOO?
ARKK has been the more volatile fund at 36.1% annualized versus 14.9% for VOO. Worst drawdown: ARKK -80.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both ARKK and VOO?
ARKK and VOO 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 VOO?
37.7% of ARKK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 27.2% of VOO's is in holdings ARKK also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKK or VOO?
ARKK yields 0.00% while VOO yields 1.08%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than ARKK?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over 3Y and the full window, VOO over 1Y and 5Y. VOO is less concentrated, with 36.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.