ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) belongs to the Aerospace & Defense category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with ARKX. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ARKX
ARKX charges 0.75% annually. There are 18 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.35%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xtrackers Europe Defense Technologies ETF | 0.35% | 4.24M | Feb 2026 | ARKX vs XDEF | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 0.35% | — | Oct 2024 | ARKX vs NATO | |
| SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.35% | 6.22B | Sep 2011 | ARKX vs XAR | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.38% | 14.23B | May 2006 | ARKX vs ITA | |
| WisdomTree Global Defense Fund | 0.45% | 5.37M | Sep 2025 | ARKX vs WDGF |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ARKX
ARKX has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 27. There are 7 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 53.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 53 | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | ARKX vs GCAD | |
| Procure Space ETF | 43 | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | ARKX vs UFO | |
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 38 | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | ARKX vs FOWF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 37 | 14.23B | May 2006 | ARKX vs ITA | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 35 | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | ARKX vs PPA |
Top Performing ARKX Alternatives (YTD)
ARKX is at 8.01% YTD. There are 8 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 17.90%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procure Space ETF | 17.90% | 1.12B | Apr 2019 | ARKX vs UFO | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 16.21% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | ARKX vs GCAD | |
| Truth Social American Security & Defense ETF | 14.93% | 12.67M | Dec 2025 | ARKX vs TSSD | |
| Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares | 13.04% | 390.92M | May 2017 | ARKX vs DFEN | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 9.63% | 14.23B | May 2006 | ARKX vs ITA |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ARKX
ARKX has 34.24% 1-year volatility. There are 13 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 14.64%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | 14.64% | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | ARKX vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | 20.48% | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | ARKX vs PPA | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | 20.66% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | ARKX vs GCAD | |
| Themes Transatlantic Defense ETF | 21.81% | — | Oct 2024 | ARKX vs NATO | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 22.10% | 14.23B | May 2006 | ARKX vs ITA |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ARKX
ARKX has a 1-year max drawdown of -20.42%. There are 7 ETFs in the Aerospace & Defense category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -10.08%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer Solactive Whitney Future of Warfare ETF | -10.08% | 15.56M | Dec 2024 | ARKX vs FOWF | |
| Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF | -13.71% | 8.22B | Oct 2005 | ARKX vs PPA | |
| Gabelli Commercial Aerospace & Defense ETF | -14.96% | 24.90M | Jan 2023 | ARKX vs GCAD | |
| iShares Defense Industrials Active ETF | -15.69% | 4.11B | May 2025 | ARKX vs IDEF | |
| iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | -15.82% | 14.23B | May 2006 | ARKX vs ITA |
Other ETFs from ARK
The 9 most viewed ARK ETFs shown here include ARKK, ARKQ, ARKW and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $7B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARK Innovation ETF | Technology Equities | 13 | 1.72% | 7.26B | Oct 2014 | ARKX vs ARKK | |
| ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF | Robotics, Technology Equities, Actively Managed | 33 | 5.27% | 2.22B | Sep 2014 | ARKX vs ARKQ | |
| ARK Next Generation Internet ETF | Mid Cap Growth Equities, Technology Equities | 9 | -1.18% | 1.83B | Sep 2014 | ARKX vs ARKW | |
| ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF | Cryptocurrency | 1 | -28.96% | 2.44B | Jan 2024 | ARKX vs ARKB | |
| ARK Fintech Innovation ETF | Blockchain | 5 | -13.25% | 834.90M | Feb 2019 | ARKX vs ARKF | |
| ARK Genomic Revolution Multi-Sector ETF | Health & Biotech Equities, Actively Managed | 50 | 40.11% | 1.31B | Oct 2014 | ARKX vs ARKG | |
| ARK Israel Innovative Technology ETF | Technology Equities | 20 | 1.97% | 151.90M | Dec 2017 | ARKX vs IZRL | |
| ARK The 3D Printing ETF | Technology Equities | 18 | 8.15% | 67.70M | Jul 2016 | ARKX vs PRNT | |
| ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy... | Cryptocurrency | — | — | 1.50M | Nov 2023 | ARKX vs ARKD |
Often Compared With ARKX
Investors most often compare ARKX with ROKT, DXYZ, JEDI.DE. These 20 comparison targets span 10 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ARKX with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ARKX with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ARKX with funds that move differently
ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ARKX.
Explore ARKX Diversifiers