ARKF vs SPY
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKF or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $831M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 41 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -4.67% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.39% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +33.87%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.60% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.9% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,766 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.7 years).
ARKF 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 7.7 years both funds cover.
ARKF vs SPY Performance
ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) is an ETF from Ark Invest and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ARKF returned -17.39% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, ARKF is down 4.67% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, ARKF compounded at +33.87% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -2.60% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.63% annualized vs +11.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.9% compared with 16.3% 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 -78.6% for ARKF and -34.1% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKF charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKF currently yields 0.09% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 16.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ARKF, our book for it covers 90.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and ARKF share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 41 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARKF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.13% | 7.78% | 4.65% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 7.86% | 0.06% | 7.80% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.70% | 3.78% | 0.08% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 6.26% | 0.14% | 6.12% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.61% | 2.22% | 1.39% |
| COINCoinbase Global, Inc. | 5.60% | 0.06% | 5.54% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 4.08% | 0.61% | 3.47% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.71% | 1.22% | 0.49% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 2.06% | 0.36% | 1.70% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.75% | 0.11% | 1.64% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKF and SPY 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 SPY?
ARKF has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKF or SPY?
Over the past year ARKF returned -17.39% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ARKF annualized +11.22% vs +15.63% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKF or SPY?
ARKF has been the more volatile fund at 37.9% annualized versus 16.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKF -78.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKF and SPY?
ARKF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 ARKF and SPY?
At least 16.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ARKF also owns. Our book for ARKF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in ARKF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKF or SPY?
ARKF yields 0.09% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ARKF led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.