ARKK vs. SPY

Last updated Apr 12, 2026

ARKK (ARK Innovation ETF) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds — ARKK is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by ARK, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. ARKK is actively managed, while SPY is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ARKK returned 14.41%/yr vs 14.53%/yr for SPY. A 0.68 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ARKK charges 0.75%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

ARKK vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ARKK achieves a -9.92% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's -0.09% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with ARKK having a 14.41% annualized return and SPY not far ahead at 14.53%.

ARKK

• 1D: 0.54%
• 1M: -1.91%
• YTD: -9.92%
• 6M: -19.91%
• 1Y: 50.99%
• 3Y*: 21.69%
• 5Y*: -10.63%
• 10Y*: 14.41%

SPY

• 1D: -0.07%
• 1M: 2.29%
• YTD: -0.09%
• 6M: 4.64%
• 1Y: 28.71%
• 3Y*: 19.89%
• 5Y*: 12.07%
• 10Y*: 14.53%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ARKK vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF	-9.92%	35.49%	8.40%	69.04%	-66.97%	-23.60%	152.71%	35.08%	3.52%	87.33%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	-0.09%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between ARKK and SPY is 0.75, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.75
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.73
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.71
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 3, 2014	0.68

The correlation between ARKK and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.68 to 0.75 — a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

ARKK vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ARKK

ARKK Risk / Return Rank: 30
ARKK Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
ARKK Sortino Ratio Rank: 32
ARKK Omega Ratio Rank: 28
ARKK Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
ARKK Martin Ratio Rank: 26

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 70
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 80

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ARKK vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.

	ARKK	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.52	2.35	-0.83
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.15	3.26	-1.12
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.44	-0.19
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.27	4.32	-2.06
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	5.64	18.78	-13.14
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ARKK vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ARKK Sharpe Ratio is 1.52, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.35. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ARKK and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ARKK	SPY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.52	2.35	-0.83
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	-0.23	0.71	-0.94
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.36	0.81	-0.45
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.32	0.57	-0.25

Drawdowns

ARKK vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ARKK drawdown since its inception was -80.97%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARKK and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	ARKK	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-80.97%	-55.19%	-25.78%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-31.35%	-8.88%	-22.47%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-77.23%	-24.50%	-52.73%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-80.97%	-33.72%	-47.25%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-55.13%	-2.04%	-53.09%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-29.86%	-9.09%	-20.77%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	12.60%	2.05%	+10.55%

Volatility

ARKK vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) has a higher volatility of 11.74% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 5.74%. This indicates that ARKK's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ARKK	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.74%	5.74%	+6.00%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	26.96%	9.82%	+17.14%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	37.48%	14.06%	+23.42%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	46.35%	17.08%	+29.27%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	40.12%	17.93%	+22.19%

ARKK vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

ARKK has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

ARKK vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

ARKK has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.09%.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.70%	0.00%	0.55%	1.64%	0.38%	3.14%	1.32%	0.00%	2.27%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	1.09%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%