DFII vs. ARKD

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

DFII (FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF) and ARKD (ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF) are both Cryptocurrency funds. Both are actively managed. Their 0.60 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. DFII charges 0.85%/yr vs 0.90%/yr for ARKD.

Performance

DFII vs. ARKD - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF (DFII) and ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF (ARKD). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

DFII

• 1D: -2.83%
• 1M: 2.62%
• 6M: -23.81%
• YTD: -27.40%
• 1Y: -43.11%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: -17.93%

ARKD

• 1D: -0.97%
• 1M: -6.50%
• 6M: -2.80%
• YTD: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: —

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
ARKD ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF	$6.37K	$5.10K	$4.91K
DFII FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF	$88.68K	$90.02K	$142.07K

DFII vs. ARKD - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)
DFII FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF	-27.40%
ARKD ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF	-5.86%

Correlation

The correlation between DFII and ARKD is 0.60, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

	Correlation
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 2, 2026	0.60

Return for Risk

DFII vs. ARKD — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

DFII

DFII Risk / Return Rank: 1
DFII Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1
DFII Sortino Ratio Rank: 2
DFII Omega Ratio Rank: 2
DFII Calmar Ratio Rank: 2
DFII Martin Ratio Rank: 2

ARKD

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

DFII vs. ARKD - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF (DFII) and ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF (ARKD). 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.

	DFII	ARKD	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-1.06	—	—
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.59	—	—
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.82	—	—
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.88	—	—
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.36	—	—

Drawdowns

DFII vs. ARKD - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DFII drawdown since its inception was -51.04%, which is greater than ARKD's maximum drawdown of -14.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFII and ARKD.

Drawdown Indicators

	DFII	ARKD	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-51.04%	-14.03%	-37.01%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-51.04%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-47.83%	-8.96%	-38.87%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.41%	-5.86%	-16.55%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	33.07%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	DFII	ARKD	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.18%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	32.47%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	42.19%	19.99%	+22.20%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	40.35%	19.99%	+20.36%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	40.35%	19.99%	+20.36%

DFII vs. ARKD - Expense Ratio Comparison

DFII has a 0.85% expense ratio, which is lower than ARKD's 0.90% expense ratio.

Dividends

DFII vs. ARKD - Dividend Comparison

DFII's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 27.67%, while ARKD has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025
ARKD ARK 21Shares Digital Asset and Blockchain Strategy ETF	0.00%	0.00%
DFII FT Vest Bitcoin Strategy & Target Income ETF	24.34%	15.51%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both DFII and ARKD in my portfolio?

DFII and ARKD have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, DFII or ARKD?

On fees, DFII is cheaper at 0.85% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, DFII or ARKD?

DFII is cheaper with a 0.85% expense ratio, compared with 0.90% for ARKD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, DFII or ARKD?

DFII has the higher dividend yield at 24.34%, compared with 0.00% for ARKD.

What is the main difference between DFII and ARKD?

They also come from different issuers: First Trust and ARK. Their fees differ too: 0.85% for DFII and 0.90% for ARKD.