TLT vs. ARKK
TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) and ARKK (ARK Innovation ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - TLT is a Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index, while ARKK is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by ARK. TLT is passively managed, while ARKK is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, TLT returned -2.20%/yr vs 14.94%/yr for ARKK. At a correlation of -0.03, they often move in opposite directions. TLT charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for ARKK.
Performance
TLT vs. ARKK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, TLT achieves a -1.57% return, which is significantly higher than ARKK's -2.56% return. Over the past 10 years, TLT has underperformed ARKK with an annualized return of -2.20%, while ARKK has yielded a comparatively higher 14.94% annualized return.
TLT
- 1D
- -0.75%
- 1M
- -2.94%
- 6M
- -2.29%
- YTD
- -1.57%
- 1Y
- 2.90%
- 3Y*
- -2.24%
- 5Y*
- -7.64%
- 10Y*
- -2.20%
- ALL TIME*
- 3.56%
ARKK
- 1D
- -0.33%
- 1M
- -6.53%
- 6M
- -8.24%
- YTD
- -2.56%
- 1Y
- -3.45%
- 3Y*
- 16.39%
- 5Y*
- -9.13%
- 10Y*
- 14.94%
- ALL TIME*
- 12.69%
TLT vs. ARKK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -1.57% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF | -2.56% | 35.49% | 8.40% | 69.04% | -66.97% | -23.60% | 152.71% | 35.08% | 3.52% | 87.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between TLT and ARKK is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.01 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 31, 2014 | -0.03 |
The correlation between TLT and ARKK shifts across timeframes, from -0.03 (all time) to 0.18 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
TLT vs. ARKK — Risk / Return Rank
TLT
ARKK
TLT vs. ARKK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) 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.
| TLT | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.41 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.40 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.06 | 1.01 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.38 | -0.11 | +0.49 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.87 | -0.23 | +1.10 |
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Drawdowns
TLT vs. ARKK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum TLT drawdown since its inception was -48.35%, smaller than the maximum ARKK drawdown of -80.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TLT and ARKK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| TLT | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -48.35% | -80.97% | +32.62% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.58% | -31.35% | +23.77% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.91% | -39.56% | +21.65% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -43.70% | -76.27% | +32.57% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -48.35% | -80.97% | +32.62% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -41.21% | -51.47% | +10.26% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.95% | -30.31% | +16.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.35% | 15.08% | -11.73% |
Volatility
TLT vs. ARKK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) is 2.63%, while ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) has a volatility of 9.21%. This indicates that TLT 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
| TLT | ARKK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.63% | 9.21% | -6.58% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.82% | 27.14% | -20.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 9.41% | 36.37% | -26.96% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.75% | 46.49% | -30.74% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 14.84% | 40.43% | -25.59% |
TLT vs. ARKK - Expense Ratio Comparison
TLT has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than ARKK's 0.75% expense ratio.
Dividends
TLT vs. ARKK - Dividend Comparison
TLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.65%, while ARKK has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | 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% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.65% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
TLT and ARKK have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ARKK has higher volatility (9.21%) compared to TLT (2.63%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TLT dropped -48.35% vs ARKK's -80.97%.
On 10-year performance, ARKK leads with 14.94% vs -2.20% for TLT. On fees, TLT is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, TLT has been the lower-risk option at 2.63%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, ARKK has performed better with a 14.94% return vs -2.20%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
TLT is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for ARKK.
TLT has the higher dividend yield at 4.65%, compared with 0.00% for ARKK.
TLT is categorized as Government Bonds, while ARKK is Technology Equities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and ARK. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for TLT and 0.75% for ARKK.
TLT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.31 vs -0.10), 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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