ARKX vs VYM
ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, ARKX or VYM?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ARKX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $760M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 37 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +6.06% | +13.91%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.51%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.67%Best | +18.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.04% | +12.17%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.7% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.6% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,414 | $17,758Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.9% | 25.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 30, 2021 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 30, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5.5 years).
ARKX vs VYM 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 VYM Performance
ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (ARKX) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKX returned +22.51% while VYM returned +17.57%. Year to date, ARKX is up 6.06% versus a gain of 13.91% for VYM.
Over three years, ARKX compounded at +30.67% per year against +18.12% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +9.04% and +12.17% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +12.19% 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 13.3% for VYM. 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 -15.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKX charges 0.75% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $4 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKX currently yields 0.00% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
10.7% of ARKX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.1% of VYM's money is in holdings ARKX also owns.
ARKX and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ARKX as of Aug 17, 2026 and VYM as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARKX and 603 in VYM, against full books of 37 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 563 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for ARKX (96.4% of the fund), and 24 for ARKX that do not appear in VYM (80.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKX and VYM 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, ARKX or VYM?
ARKX has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKX or VYM?
Over the past year ARKX returned +22.51% vs +17.57% for VYM, so ARKX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ARKX annualized +8.61% vs +12.19% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKX or VYM?
ARKX has been the more volatile fund at 27.7% annualized versus 13.3% for VYM. Worst drawdown: ARKX -43.6% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both ARKX and VYM?
ARKX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 VYM?
10.7% of ARKX's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 1.1% of VYM's is in holdings ARKX also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARKX and 603 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKX or VYM?
ARKX yields 0.00% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than ARKX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. ARKX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 25.9% 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.