ARKK vs BAI
ARK Innovation ETF vs iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF
Which is better, ARKK or BAI?
Each has led over a different period.
BAI has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over the full window, BAI over 1Y. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% 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 | ARKK | BAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.55%Best |
| AUM | $7.9B | $14.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.26% |
| Holdings | 84 | 55 |
| YTD Return | +7.88% | +30.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.74% | +30.79%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.97% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.92% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.4% | 37.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $18,042Best | $18,007 |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.3% | 42.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2014 | Oct 21, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
ARKK vs BAI 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 years both funds cover.
ARKK vs BAI Performance
ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an ETF from Ark Invest and iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ARKK returned -2.74% while BAI returned +30.79%. Year to date, ARKK is up 7.88% versus a gain of 30.13% for BAI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.4% compared with 37.4% for BAI. 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 -39.6% for ARKK and -34.1% for BAI. 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
ARKK charges 0.75% per year while BAI charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $55 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKK currently yields 0.00% against 1.26% for BAI.
Holdings Overlap
31.8% of ARKK's money is in holdings BAI also owns. 27.9% of BAI's money is in holdings ARKK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 50 in BAI, against full books of 84 and 55.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 28 positions for BAI that do not appear in our book for ARKK (50.8% of the fund), and 29 for ARKK that do not appear in BAI (59.5%).
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 ARKK | Weight in BAI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Inc | 8.78% | 0.94% | 7.84% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 6.02% | 3.06% | 2.96% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.47% | 5.30% | 1.83% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.09% | 4.87% | 1.78% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.74% | 4.75% | 3.01% |
| 2330:TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 1.29% | 4.74% | 3.45% |
| CRWVCoreweave, Inc. | 2.92% | 1.81% | 1.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.36% | 2.05% | 0.31% |
| CBRSCerebras Systems Inc. | 2.14% | 0.43% | 1.71% |
31.8% of ARKK is already inside BAI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ARKK or BAI?
ARKK has an expense ratio of 0.75% while BAI charges 0.55%. BAI is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKK or BAI?
Over the past year ARKK returned -2.74% vs +30.79% for BAI, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ARKK annualized +34.32% vs +34.19% for BAI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKK or BAI?
ARKK has been the more volatile fund at 39.4% annualized versus 37.4% for BAI. Worst drawdown: ARKK -39.6% vs BAI -34.1%.
Should I hold both ARKK and BAI?
ARKK and BAI 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 ARKK and BAI?
31.8% of ARKK's money is in holdings BAI also owns. 27.9% of BAI's is in holdings ARKK also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ARKK and 50 in BAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARKK or BAI?
ARKK yields 0.00% while BAI yields 1.26%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is BAI better than ARKK?
BAI has a lower expense ratio. ARKK led over the full window, BAI over 1Y. BAI is less concentrated, with 42.0% 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.