ARKW vs SPY
ARK Next Generation Internet ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKW or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKW 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 48.0%.
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 | ARKW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 44 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.27% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.52% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +38.95%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.94% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 33.7% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,008 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.0% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.9 years).
ARKW 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.
ARKW vs SPY Performance
ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) 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 ARKW returned -2.52% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, ARKW is up 4.27% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKW compounded at +38.95% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.94% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, ARKW has the edge at +21.14% annualized vs +12.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.7% 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 -80.0% for ARKW 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKW charges 0.76% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $76 vs $9 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKW currently yields 1.49% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
51.3% of ARKW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.3% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKW also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 44 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ARKW (72.2% of the fund), and 19 for ARKW that do not appear in SPY (38.8%).
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 ARKW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.31% | 7.71% | 5.40% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 7.36% | 1.38% | 5.98% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 7.00% | 1.27% | 5.73% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.01% | 4.08% | 0.07% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.51% | 2.67% | 0.84% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.05% | 2.97% | 0.92% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 4.51% | 0.11% | 4.40% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 2.68% | 1.94% | 0.74% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 3.10% | 0.56% | 2.54% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 3.53% | 0.07% | 3.46% |
51.3% of ARKW 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, ARKW or SPY?
ARKW has an expense ratio of 0.76% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKW or SPY?
Over the past year ARKW returned -2.52% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ARKW annualized +21.14% vs +12.71% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKW or SPY?
ARKW has been the more volatile fund at 33.7% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKW -80.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKW and SPY?
ARKW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 ARKW and SPY?
51.3% of ARKW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.3% of SPY's is in holdings ARKW also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKW or SPY?
ARKW yields 1.49% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ARKW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKW 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 48.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.