CARK vs VOO
CastleArk Large Growth ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, CARK or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 29 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +7.23% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.48% | +17.03%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.08% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,640 | $17,319Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.0% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | CastleArk Management LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Sep 7, 2010 |
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 17, 2026 (2.8 years).
CARK 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
CARK vs VOO Performance
CastleArk Large Growth ETF (CARK) is an ETF from CastleArk Management LLC and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CARK returned +9.48% while VOO returned +17.03%. Year to date, CARK is up 7.23% versus a gain of 12.25% for VOO.
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 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 -25.2% for CARK and -18.7% 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 0.92. 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 VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $3 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CARK currently yields 0.01% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
95.4% of CARK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 40.5% of VOO's money is in holdings CARK also owns.
Most of CARK is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
27 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in CARK and 494 in VOO, against full books of 29 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 460 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for CARK (58.7% of the fund), and 1 for CARK that do not appear in VOO (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 VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 13.97% | 7.55% | 6.42% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.60% | 7.05% | 0.45% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 9.54% | 3.24% | 6.30% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.82% | 5.36% | 0.54% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.71% | 2.86% | 1.85% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 5.43% | 1.41% | 4.02% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.70% | 4.13% | 1.43% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.76% | 0.93% | 3.83% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.79% | 0.57% | 4.22% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock | 5.02% | 0.29% | 4.73% |
95.4% of CARK 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, CARK or VOO?
CARK has an expense ratio of 0.54% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CARK or VOO?
Over the past year CARK returned +9.48% vs +17.03% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CARK or VOO?
CARK has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 11.8% for VOO. Worst drawdown: CARK -25.2% vs VOO -18.7%.
Should I hold both CARK and VOO?
CARK and VOO 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 VOO?
95.4% of CARK's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 40.5% of VOO'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 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARK or VOO?
CARK yields 0.01% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than CARK?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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.