ADME vs ARKK
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF vs ARK Innovation ETF
Which is better, ADME or ARKK?
Each has led over a different period.
ARKK has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and 5Y, ARKK over 3Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.3%.
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 | ADME | ARKK |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.75%Best |
| AUM | $313M | $7.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 167 | 84 |
| YTD Return | +9.94%Best | +7.88% |
| 1Y Return | +10.86%Best | -2.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.81% | +29.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.38%Best | -5.92% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.7%Best | -80.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,276Best | $7,370 |
| Top 10 Weight | 40.3%Best | 50.3% |
| Fund Family | Aptus ETFs | Ark Invest |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jun 8, 2016 | Oct 31, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2016 to Oct 14, 2026 (10.3 years).
ADME vs ARKK 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
ADME vs ARKK Performance
Aptus Drawdown Managed Equity ETF (ADME) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs and ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an ETF from Ark Invest. Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% while ARKK returned -2.74%. Year to date, ADME is up 9.94% versus a gain of 7.88% for ARKK.
Over three years, ADME compounded at +16.81% per year against +29.97% for ARKK; over five years the annualized figures are +7.38% and -5.92% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, ARKK has the edge at +16.07% annualized vs +8.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.8% compared with 13.4% for ADME. 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 -28.7% for ADME and -80.9% for ARKK. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ADME charges 0.79% per year while ARKK charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $75 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ADME currently yields 0.36% against 0.00% for ARKK.
Holdings Overlap
27.0% of ADME's money is in holdings ARKK also owns. 37.5% of ARKK's money is in holdings ADME also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
11 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 41 in ARKK, against full books of 167 and 84.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 26 positions for ARKK that do not appear in our book for ADME (52.5% of the fund), and 152 for ADME that do not appear in ARKK (71.8%).
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 ADME | Weight in ARKK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.85% | 3.47% | 4.38% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.55% | 8.78% | 7.23% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 5.56% | 1.40% | 4.16% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.74% | 2.36% | 1.38% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 0.01% | 6.02% | 6.01% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 0.24% | 5.13% | 4.89% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.26% | 2.85% | 0.59% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.32% | 3.09% | 1.77% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.47% | 1.74% | 0.73% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.60% | 2.23% | 1.63% |
37.5% of ARKK is already inside ADME.
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, ADME or ARKK?
ADME has an expense ratio of 0.79% while ARKK charges 0.75%. ARKK is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ADME or ARKK?
Over the past year ADME returned +10.86% vs -2.74% for ARKK, so ADME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ADME annualized +8.38% vs +16.07% for ARKK. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ADME or ARKK?
ARKK has been the more volatile fund at 37.8% annualized versus 13.4% for ADME. Worst drawdown: ADME -28.7% vs ARKK -80.9%.
Should I hold both ADME and ARKK?
ADME and ARKK have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 ADME and ARKK?
37.5% of ARKK's money is in holdings ADME also owns. 37.5% of ARKK's is in holdings ADME also owns. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 164 positions we hold weights for in ADME and 41 in ARKK.
Which pays a higher dividend, ADME or ARKK?
ADME yields 0.36% while ARKK yields 0.00%, so ADME currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ARKK better than ADME?
ARKK has a lower expense ratio. ADME led over 1Y and 5Y, ARKK over 3Y and the full window. ADME is less concentrated, with 40.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.