What is the main difference in expense ratios between these two ETFs?

ARKK charges an expense ratio of 0.75%, while SPY charges 0.09%. This means SPY is significantly cheaper to hold annually. The 0.66 percentage point difference matters over long periods because lower fees allow more of your capital to remain invested and potentially compound. Investors should consider whether the higher fee for ARKK aligns with its active management style compared to SPY’s passive index-tracking approach.

How do these funds differ in their investment strategy?

ARKK is an actively managed mid-cap growth ETF focusing on disruptive technology innovations, often holding concentrated positions like Tesla. In contrast, SPY is a large blend ETF that tracks the S&P 500, providing broad exposure to large-cap US equities. ARKK seeks high-growth thematic returns through active selection, whereas SPY aims to replicate market performance with diversification across sectors.

Which fund offers a dividend yield?

SPY currently offers a dividend yield of 0.98%, reflecting distributions from its holdings, such as major tech companies. ARKK, however, has a dividend yield of 0.00%, as it typically reinvests capital into growth opportunities rather than distributing income. Investors seeking regular income may prefer SPY, while those focused on capital appreciation might look at ARKK’s reinvestment strategy, though neither is recommended.

How does ARKK’s asset size compare to SPY’s?

ARKK manages net assets of $8.0 billion, which supports liquidity but is smaller than SPY’s $785.0 billion. SPY’s larger size generally contributes to tighter bid-ask spreads and easier trading, though both funds are accessible through major exchanges. The difference in scale reflects SPY’s long history since 1993 versus ARKK’s inception in 2014, affecting market depth and investor confidence.

Do ARKK and SPY share any top holdings?

Yes, Tesla (TSLA) is a shared top-10 holding in both funds. In ARKK, Tesla represents 9.38% of the portfolio, reflecting its disruptive tech focus. In SPY, Tesla accounts for 1.56%, as part of a broader diversified basket. This overlap shows that growth companies can influence both thematic and broad-market indices, but the weighting differs significantly due to each fund’s strategy.

What type of investing goal is each fund typically associated with?

ARKK is generally associated with investors seeking high-growth potential through thematic exposure to disruptive technologies, accepting higher volatility and fees. SPY is typically linked with goals for broad market participation, income via dividends, and lower-cost diversified exposure to large US equities. These associations are descriptive; individual suitability depends on risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal financial circumstances.

What index does SPY track?

SPY is designed to track the performance of the S&P 500 index, which comprises 500 large-cap US companies. While the specific data field for the index name is marked 'not available' in the provided dataset, SPY’s category as 'Large Blend' and its holdings confirm its focus on broad market replication. This contrasts with ARKK, which is actively managed and does not track a specific index.

How concentrated are the top holdings in each fund?

ARKK exhibits higher concentration risk, with its top holding, Tesla, at 9.38%, and SpaceX at 6.51%. In contrast, SPY’s largest holding, NVIDIA, is 8.16%, followed by Apple at 7.44%, but these are part of a much broader 500-company portfolio. SPY’s top-10 holdings collectively represent a smaller portion of the total fund compared to ARKK’s more thematic, concentrated approach.

How do bid-ask spreads affect trading these ETFs?

SPY’s massive net assets of $785.0 billion typically result in high liquidity and narrow bid-ask spreads, making it cost-effective to trade. ARKK, with $8.0 billion in net assets, may have slightly wider spreads, especially during volatile periods, potentially increasing trading costs. Investors should be aware of these liquidity differences when executing trades, as they can impact the effective purchase price.

Is educational content on this page financial advice?

No, the information provided here is strictly for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice, recommendations, or calls to buy or sell ARKK or SPY. Data is sourced from Yahoo Finance as of 2026-09-22. Investors should conduct their own due diligence, consider their personal financial situation, and consult a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

ARKK vs SPY

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in October 2026.

Compare ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and S&P 500 ETF Trust SPDR (SPY). This page examines fees, holdings, dividends and how each fund tracks its market. ARKK charges a 0.75% expense ratio, while SPY charges 0.09%. Explore the differences in these two investment options. Educational content, not financial advice.

Compare ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) and S&P 500 ETF Trust SPDR (SPY). This page examines fees, holdings, dividends and how each fund tracks its market. ARKK charges a 0.75% expense ratio, while SPY char...

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

ARKK

Metric

SPY

0.75%

Expense Ratio

0.09%

0.00%

Dividend Yield

0.98%

$7.98B

Net Assets

$785.05B

46

Holdings

505

Oct 31, 2014

Inception Date

Jan 22, 1993

–

Index Tracked

–

Mid-Cap Growth

Fund Category

Large Blend

SPY costs about $66.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

Holding	ARKK	SPY
TSLATesla, Inc.	9.38%	1.56%

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Investment Analysis

ARKK

Pros

ARKK charges a 0.75% expense ratio while managing $8.0 billion in net assets for growth exposure.
The ETF holds Tesla, SpaceX, and other disruptive technology firms to target high-growth thematic returns.
Investors can access ARKK easily through major exchanges with $8.0 billion in net assets supporting liquidity.

Considerations

ARKK does not currently offer a dividend yield, distributing zero income to investors from its holdings.
The fund exhibits significant concentration risk with its top holdings including Tesla and SpaceX representing substantial weight.
A 0.75% expense ratio is considerably higher than standard large-cap ETFs for an actively managed strategy.

SPY

Pros

SPY charges a low 0.09% expense ratio while managing a vast $785.0 billion in net assets.
The ETF provides broad diversification across large US equities with a current 0.98% dividend yield.
SPY offers deep market access and high liquidity with an inception date dating back to 1993.

Considerations

SPY concentration in mega-cap tech stocks like NVIDIA and Apple increases sector-specific risk exposure.
The fund's structure may incur higher bid-ask spreads during volatile periods compared to newer alternatives.
Investors seeking targeted thematic growth might find SPY's broad market approach less responsive to specific trends.

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About ARKK and SPY

ARKK (ARKK)

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an actively managed exchange‑traded fund run by ARK Invest that targets companies believed to be developing disruptive innovation. It typically concentrates on areas such as genomics, automation and robotics, artificial intelligence, fintech, blockchain and energy storage. Unlike broad passive ETFs, ARKK holds a relatively small number of higher‑conviction positions and can show significant sector and stock concentration. That approach can deliver strong gains in favourable market regimes but also adds volatility and drawdown risk. ARKK charges a management fee and tends to have higher turnover than passive funds. Market cap is not applicable for this fund; investors should check assets under management and current holdings before deciding. This summary is for educational purposes only and not investment advice. Values can rise and fall, past performance is not a reliable guide, and this fund may not be suitable for all investors — consider your risk tolerance and consult a qualified adviser.

SPY (SPY)

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an exchange‑traded fund designed to track the S&P 500 index, offering investors broad exposure to large‑capitalisation US equities. It is widely used by retail and institutional investors for core portfolio allocation, tactical trading and hedging because of its deep liquidity and transparent holdings. SPY distributes dividends (typically quarterly) and reflects the performance of the underlying index, so returns move with the US large‑cap market. As with any equity product, value can fall as well as rise and past performance is not a guide to the future. Costs, tax considerations and suitability will depend on an individual’s circumstances; consult official documents and consider seeking independent advice where appropriate. This summary is general educational information and not personalised investment advice.

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