^NDX vs. ARKK
^NDX (NASDAQ 100 Index) is an index, while ARKK (ARK Innovation ETF) is Technology Equities fund actively managed by ARK. Over the past 10 years, ^NDX returned 19.61%/yr vs 14.31%/yr for ARKK. Their 0.73 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently.
Performance
^NDX vs. ARKK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^NDX achieves a 11.98% return, which is significantly higher than ARKK's -7.38% return. Over the past 10 years, ^NDX has outperformed ARKK with an annualized return of 19.61%, while ARKK has yielded a comparatively lower 14.31% annualized return.
^NDX
- 1D
- 0.60%
- 1M
- -3.60%
- 6M
- 10.65%
- YTD
- 11.98%
- 1Y
- 24.21%
- 3Y*
- 21.62%
- 5Y*
- 13.58%
- 10Y*
- 19.61%
- ALL TIME*
- 14.54%
ARKK
- 1D
- -2.28%
- 1M
- -12.32%
- 6M
- -4.85%
- YTD
- -7.38%
- 1Y
- 0.11%
- 3Y*
- 13.25%
- 5Y*
- -9.65%
- 10Y*
- 14.31%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.17%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
^NDX NASDAQ 100 Index | $205.94T | $218.36T | $280.11T |
| $356.24M | $389.65M | $523.48M |
^NDX vs. ARKK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^NDX NASDAQ 100 Index | 11.98% | 20.17% | 24.88% | 53.81% | -32.97% | 26.63% | 47.58% | 37.96% | -1.04% | 31.52% |
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF | -7.38% | 35.49% | 8.40% | 69.04% | -66.97% | -23.60% | 152.71% | 35.08% | 3.52% | 87.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^NDX and ARKK is 0.75, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.75 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.73 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.76 |
Correlation (10Y) Provides a long-term view across more market conditions. | 0.75 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 31, 2014 | 0.73 |
The correlation between ^NDX and ARKK has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
^NDX vs. ARKK — Risk / Return Rank
^NDX
ARKK
^NDX vs. ARKK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NASDAQ 100 Index (^NDX) and ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^NDX | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.28 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.01 | +0.20 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.80 | -0.17 | +1.98 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.76 | -0.35 | +6.11 |
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Drawdowns
^NDX vs. ARKK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^NDX drawdown since its inception was -82.90%, roughly equal to the maximum ARKK drawdown of -80.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^NDX and ARKK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^NDX | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -82.90% | -80.97% | -1.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.12% | -31.35% | +19.23% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.93% | -39.56% | +16.63% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.56% | -76.27% | +40.71% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.56% | -80.97% | +45.41% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.78% | -53.87% | +46.09% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.55% | -30.38% | +5.83% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.79% | 15.57% | -11.78% |
Volatility
^NDX vs. ARKK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for NASDAQ 100 Index (^NDX) is 6.81%, while ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) has a volatility of 10.19%. This indicates that ^NDX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ARKK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^NDX | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.81% | 10.19% | -3.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.99% | 27.72% | -11.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.37% | 36.83% | -17.46% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.09% | 46.55% | -23.46% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.73% | 40.48% | -17.75% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^NDX and ARKK have a correlation of 0.75, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ARKK has higher volatility (10.19%) compared to ^NDX (6.81%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^NDX dropped -82.90% vs ARKK's -80.97%.
^NDX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.13 vs -0.15), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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