ARKX vs SPY
ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKX or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKX led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.9%.
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 | ARKX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $760M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 37 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.06% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.51%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.67%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.04% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.6% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,414 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.9% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 30, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 30, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5.5 years).
ARKX 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
ARKX vs SPY Performance
ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (ARKX) 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 ARKX returned +22.51% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, ARKX is up 6.06% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKX compounded at +30.67% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.04% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.36% annualized vs +8.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.7% compared with 15.3% 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 -43.6% for ARKX and -24.5% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKX 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, ARKX currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
48.5% of ARKX's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 22.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKX also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARKX and 504 in SPY, against full books of 37 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ARKX (77.4% of the fund), and 12 for ARKX that do not appear in SPY (42.6%).
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 ARKX | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.69% | 7.71% | 4.02% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.32% | 4.08% | 0.24% |
| LHXL3Harris Technologies Inc. | 6.95% | 0.08% | 6.87% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.68% | 2.67% | 1.01% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 4.67% | 1.27% | 3.40% |
| DEDeere & Co. | 4.78% | 0.23% | 4.55% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.93% | 1.38% | 1.55% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 3.54% | 0.56% | 2.98% |
| TERTeradyne Inc | 3.95% | 0.09% | 3.86% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 0.25% | 3.33% | 3.08% |
48.5% of ARKX 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, ARKX or SPY?
ARKX 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, ARKX or SPY?
Over the past year ARKX returned +22.51% vs +17.51% for SPY, so ARKX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ARKX annualized +8.61% vs +14.36% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKX or SPY?
ARKX has been the more volatile fund at 27.7% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKX -43.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both ARKX and SPY?
ARKX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 ARKX and SPY?
48.5% of ARKX's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 22.1% of SPY's is in holdings ARKX also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARKX and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKX or SPY?
ARKX yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKX led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.