ARKT vs SPY
ARK DIET Q4 Buffer ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ARKT or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | ARKT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.08% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 10 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +2.27% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.01% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,443 | $11,578Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
ARKT 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 1 years both funds cover.
ARKT vs SPY Performance
ARK DIET Q4 Buffer ETF (ARKT) 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 ARKT returned -6.01% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, ARKT is up 2.27% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARKT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 13.1% 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 -18.8% for ARKT and -8.9% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKT charges 0.89% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $9 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKT currently yields 0.08% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in ARKT and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.7% and 99.8% 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 1 positions we hold weights for in ARKT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 10 and 1,515.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKT 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, ARKT or SPY?
ARKT has an expense ratio of 0.89% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKT or SPY?
Over the past year ARKT returned -6.01% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ARKT annualized -5.57% vs +15.78% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKT or SPY?
ARKT has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ARKT -18.8% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both ARKT and SPY?
ARKT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, ARKT or SPY?
ARKT yields 0.08% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ARKT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.