ETF Comparison

ARKX vs GALX: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF and VistaShares Space Supercycle® ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

ARKX has outpaced GALX over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 4.39% total return against -1.79%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	Since Jul 2026
ARKX	4.39%
GALX	-1.79%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Jul 2026” measures every fund from July 16, 2026 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	ARKX	GALX
Full name	ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF	VistaShares Space Supercycle® ETF
Issuer	ARK Invest	VistaShares
Last Close	$32.12 as of September 18, 2026	$23.00 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	—	—
Distribution Safety Score™	—	—
Expense ratio	0.75%	0.75%
AUM	$766M	$2.53M
Distribution frequency	None	Annual
Underlying index	—	Global space-economy value chain
Objective	Actively managed ETF focused on space exploration and innovation companies.	The VistaShares Space Supercycle® ETF seeks long-term capital appreciation by actively investing in a global portfolio of companies that build, launch, operate, and enable the space economy, from launch systems and satellite infrastructure to communications and enabling technologies.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	03/30/2021	07/15/2026
Beta	1.71	—

— Distribution rate, Safety-Adjusted Yield, last dividend, and ex-dividend date are not yet available because GALX launched July 2026; these fields will populate after the first distribution.

Bottom lineWe won't call this one: GALX launched July 2026, so there is not yet a track record to compare. Compare the strategy, cost and holdings in the sections above and treat any performance figures for the newer ETF as provisional.

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

ARK Invest

ETFs14

Total AUM$16.2B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

ARK Invest is known for actively managed ETFs focused on disruptive innovation and emerging technologies across digital assets and innovation themes. The firm operates a lineup of 7 funds targeting growth-oriented investors, including popular tickers like ARKK (flagship innovation fund), ARKG (genomics), ARKW (web innovation), and ARKF (fintech), among others. ARK's funds are characterized by concentrated portfolios of high-conviction stock picks and a research-driven approach to identifying companies positioned to benefit from technological transformation.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ARKX.

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VistaShares

ETFs11

Total AUM$2.22B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

VistaShares operates a focused lineup of 9 ETFs organized around thematic investment families including BitBonds, Supercycle, and Target 15, targeting investors seeking specialized exposure beyond traditional broad-market strategies. The firm's fund portfolio, featuring tickers such as ACKY, POW, and QUSA, emphasizes sector-specific and alternative investment themes rather than conventional dividend or income-focused approaches. VistaShares serves investors looking for differentiated exposure to emerging trends and niche market segments through a compact but specialized ETF offering.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on GALX.

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Quick verdict

ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) and GALX (VistaShares Space Supercycle® ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ARKX has $766M in assets vs $2.53M for GALX, but GALX only launched July 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ARKX has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while GALX has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, at current distribution rates.

ARKX yield—

GALX yield—

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ARKX would cost approximately $750 in fees vs $750 for GALX (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

ARKX ER0.75%

GALX ER0.75%

Strategy & risk

ARKX is an actively managed ETF, while GALX tracks Global space-economy value chain with an industrials approach.

ARKX beta1.71

GALX beta—

Fund details

ARKX is managed by ARK Invest (launched 03/30/2021) with $766M in assets. GALX is managed by VistaShares (launched 07/15/2026) with $2.53M in assets.

ARKX AUM$766M

GALX AUM$2.53M

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Frequently asked questions

Which of ARKX or GALX pays more dividend income?

GALX currently reports a distribution yield, while ARKX has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between ARKX and GALX?

ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) is an actively managed ETF, while GALX (VistaShares Space Supercycle® ETF) tracks Global space-economy value chain with an industrials approach. They are issued by ARK Invest and VistaShares respectively.

Can I hold both ARKX and GALX?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, ARKX or GALX?

ARKX and GALX both charge the same expense ratio of 0.75%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in ARKX vs GALX generate?

At current rates, ARKX has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. GALX has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available.

Which has performed better historically, ARKX or GALX?

ARKX has outpaced GALX over the shared window since Jul 2026, posting a 4.39% total return against -1.79%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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ARKX vs GALX — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

ARKX and GALX are both actively managed equity ETFs targeting the space economy, but they differ sharply in scale, track record, and geographic scope. ARKX, launched in March 2021, has accumulated $766M in assets and is ARK Invest's established play on space exploration and innovation companies. GALX, which launched in July 2026, is a newer VistaShares offering with $2.53M in AUM that explicitly spans the global space-economy value chain across launch systems, satellite infrastructure, and enabling technologies.

How they differ

The most significant difference is age and asset base. ARKX has more than 5 years and nearly 300 times the assets of GALX, which just began trading. ARKX has a published beta of 1.71, while GALX's beta is not reported, leaving its volatility characteristics unknown relative to broad equity benchmarks.

GALX: Fits investors drawn to a broader global space-supply-chain thesis or willing to accept the execution risk and limited history of a nascent fund in exchange for potential early positioning in thematic equity.

Key risks to know

Thematic concentration and secular timing risk. Both funds rely on the space economy scaling as expected; delays in commercial launches, satellite adoption, or defense spending could crimp returns for years.

Volatility and downside exposure. ARKX exhibits a beta of 1.71, indicating material sensitivity to equity market swings. GALX's volatility profile is unknown, introducing additional uncertainty about its behavior during market corrections.

Portfolio overlap risk. Both funds target the same nascent industry; their holdings likely overlap substantially, meaning investors holding both gain no meaningful diversification and amplify exposure to space-economy-specific disruptions. Past performance of either fund does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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