ARKF vs MMAX
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF
Which is better, ARKF or MMAX?
Each has led over a different period.
MMAX has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over the full window, MMAX over 1Y.
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 | ARKF | MMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.50%Best |
| AUM | $831M | $74M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 0.76% |
| Holdings | 41 | 7 |
| YTD Return | -4.67% | +4.90%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.39% | +5.24%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +33.87% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.60% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 32.8% | 1.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.5% | -1.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,454Best | $10,944 |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Mar 31, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
ARKF vs MMAX 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
ARKF vs MMAX Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and iShares Large Cap Max Buffer Mar ETF (MMAX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ARKF returned -17.39% while MMAX returned +5.24%. Year to date, ARKF is down 4.67% versus a gain of 4.90% for MMAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 32.8% compared with 1.4% for MMAX. 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 -38.5% for ARKF and -1.9% for MMAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while MMAX charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $50 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.09% against 0.76% for MMAX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 37 holdings in ARKF and 3 in MMAX, totalling 90.3% and 112.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 3 in MMAX, against full books of 41 and 7.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKF and MMAX 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, ARKF or MMAX?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while MMAX charges 0.50%. MMAX is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or MMAX?
Over the past year ARKF returned -17.39% vs +5.24% for MMAX, so MMAX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ARKF annualized +21.87% vs +6.20% for MMAX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or MMAX?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 32.8% annualized versus 1.4% for MMAX. Worst drawdown: ARKF -38.5% vs MMAX -1.9%.
Should I hold both ARKF and MMAX?
ARKF and MMAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or MMAX?
ARKF yields 0.09% while MMAX yields 0.76%, so MMAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is MMAX better than ARKF?
MMAX has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over the full window, MMAX over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.