CARK vs SPY
CastleArk Large Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CARK or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.0%.
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 | CARK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 29 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.98% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.21% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,741 | $17,255Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | CastleArk Management LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.8 years).
CARK 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
CARK vs SPY Performance
CastleArk Large Growth ETF (CARK) is an ETF from CastleArk Management LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CARK returned +9.21% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, CARK is up 7.98% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CARK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 11.8% 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 -25.2% for CARK and -18.8% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CARK charges 0.54% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $9 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CARK currently yields 0.01% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.4% of CARK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 40.5% of SPY's money is in holdings CARK also owns.
Most of CARK is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 29 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 470 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CARK (58.8% of the fund), and 1 for CARK that do not appear in SPY (3.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CARK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 13.97% | 8.01% | 5.96% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.60% | 7.26% | 0.66% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 9.54% | 2.99% | 6.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.82% | 5.66% | 0.84% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.71% | 2.66% | 2.05% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 5.43% | 1.40% | 4.03% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.70% | 3.79% | 1.09% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.76% | 0.94% | 3.82% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.79% | 0.55% | 4.24% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock | 5.02% | 0.30% | 4.72% |
95.4% of CARK 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, CARK or SPY?
CARK has an expense ratio of 0.54% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CARK or SPY?
Over the past year CARK returned +9.21% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CARK or SPY?
CARK has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 11.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CARK -25.2% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both CARK and SPY?
CARK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between CARK and SPY?
95.4% of CARK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 40.5% of SPY's is in holdings CARK also owns. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARK or SPY?
CARK yields 0.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CARK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.