ARKX vs. RKLB
ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) is Aerospace & Defense fund actively managed by ARK, while RKLB (Rocket Lab USA, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 3 years, ARKX returned 33.13%/yr vs 176.99%/yr for RKLB. A 0.71 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
ARKX vs. RKLB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ARKX achieves a 17.46% return, which is significantly lower than RKLB's 57.80% return.
ARKX
- 1D
- -6.38%
- 1M
- 0.65%
- YTD
- 17.46%
- 6M
- 19.82%
- 1Y
- 62.33%
- 3Y*
- 33.13%
- 5Y*
- 10.39%
- 10Y*
- —
RKLB
- 1D
- -8.23%
- 1M
- 30.04%
- YTD
- 57.80%
- 6M
- 124.40%
- 1Y
- 316.18%
- 3Y*
- 176.99%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
ARKX vs. RKLB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ARKX ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF | 17.46% | 48.46% | 26.67% | 24.37% | -34.27% | -7.51% |
RKLB Rocket Lab USA, Inc. | 57.80% | 173.89% | 360.58% | 46.68% | -69.30% | 6.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between ARKX and RKLB is 0.80, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.80 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 25, 2021 | 0.71 |
The correlation between ARKX and RKLB has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
ARKX vs. RKLB — Risk / Return Rank
ARKX
RKLB
ARKX vs. RKLB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB). 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.
| ARKX | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.55 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.84 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.40 | -0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.07 | 7.41 | -4.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.23 | 17.27 | -9.04 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ARKX | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.89 | 3.44 | -1.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.74 | -0.36 |
Drawdowns
ARKX vs. RKLB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ARKX drawdown since its inception was -43.61%, smaller than the maximum RKLB drawdown of -82.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ARKX and RKLB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ARKX | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.61% | -82.96% | +39.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.42% | -43.01% | +22.59% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.47% | -55.49% | +30.02% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.61% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.80% | -26.73% | +16.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.97% | -51.43% | +31.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.60% | 18.41% | -10.81% |
Volatility
ARKX vs. RKLB - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF (ARKX) is 12.24%, while Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) has a volatility of 42.81%. This indicates that ARKX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than RKLB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ARKX | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 12.24% | 42.81% | -30.57% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 25.81% | 72.78% | -46.97% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.16% | 92.54% | -59.38% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.86% | 81.50% | -53.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.55% | 81.50% | -53.95% |
Dividends
ARKX vs. RKLB - Dividend Comparison
Neither ARKX nor RKLB has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
ARKX and RKLB have a correlation of 0.80, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
RKLB has higher volatility (42.81%) compared to ARKX (12.24%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ARKX dropped -43.61% vs RKLB's -82.96%.
RKLB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.44 vs 1.89), 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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