ARKT vs VTI
ARK DIET Q4 Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ARKT or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.08% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 10 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.27% | +13.02%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.01% | +16.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $9,443 | $11,518Best |
| Fund Family | Ark Invest | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
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 VTI 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 VTI Performance
ARK DIET Q4 Buffer ETF (ARKT) is an ETF from Ark Invest and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARKT returned -6.01% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, ARKT is up 2.27% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
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 VTI. 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 VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARKT charges 0.89% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $3 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARKT currently yields 0.08% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in ARKT and 3,441 in VTI, totalling 98.7% and 98.1% 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 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 10 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARKT and VTI 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 VTI?
ARKT has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARKT or VTI?
Over the past year ARKT returned -6.01% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ARKT annualized -5.57% vs +15.18% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARKT or VTI?
ARKT has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 13.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ARKT -18.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both ARKT and VTI?
ARKT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 VTI?
ARKT yields 0.08% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ARKT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.