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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF and SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

  • ARKXInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • ROKTInvestors who want higher current income (0.18% while ARKX makes no distribution).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 lagged ROKT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.48% total return against 44.95%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: ROKT has compounded at 22.19% a year, against 9.41% for ARKX. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Mar 2021Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ARKX7.00%20.48%31.14%9.41%8.75%29.3%0.781.15-25.5%
ROKT19.58%44.95%38.07%22.19%20.07%25.5%1.091.64-23.5%

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 Mar 2021” measures every fund from March 30, 2021 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricARKXROKT
Full nameARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETFSPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF
IssuerARK InvestState Street
Last Close$32.12 as of September 18, 2026$105.76 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate—0.18%
Distribution Safety Score™ —78
Safety-Adjusted Yield —0.14%
Expense ratio0.75%0.45%
AUM$766M$181M
Distribution frequencyNoneQuarterly
Underlying index—S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index
ObjectiveActively managed ETF focused on space exploration and innovation companies.Tracks the S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index, providing exposure to companies driving innovation in deep space and deep sea frontiers.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/30/202110/19/2018
Beta1.711.46
Last dividend—$0.048
Ex-dividend date—06/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose ARKX if you want broad equity exposure. Choose ROKT if you want higher current income (0.18% while ARKX makes no distribution).

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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.

See all ARK Invest ETFs
State Street
ETFs179
Total AUM$2092B

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

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ROKT.

See all State Street ETFs

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Quick verdict

ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) and ROKT (SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF) are both ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ROKT currently shows a 0.18% distribution yield. ARKX has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

ROKT is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.45% compared to 0.75%.

ARKX is the larger fund by assets ($766M), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

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 ROKT would produce $1.50/month, at current distribution rates.

ARKX yield—
ROKT yield0.18%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ARKX would cost approximately $750 in fees vs $450 for ROKT (simplified, not compounded). The $300.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

ARKX ER0.75%
ROKT ER0.45%

Strategy & risk

ARKX is an actively managed ETF, while ROKT tracks S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index. Beta is 1.71 for ARKX and 1.46 for ROKT, making ROKT the less volatile of the two by this measure.

ARKX beta1.71
ROKT beta1.46

Fund details

ARKX is managed by ARK Invest (launched 03/30/2021) with $766M in assets. ROKT is managed by State Street (launched 10/19/2018) with $181M in assets.

ARKX AUM$766M
ROKT AUM$181M
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Frequently asked questions

Which of ARKX or ROKT pays more dividend income?

ROKT 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 ROKT?

ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) is an actively managed ETF, while ROKT (SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF) tracks S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index. They are issued by ARK Invest and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both ARKX and ROKT?

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 ROKT?

ARKX has an expense ratio of 0.75% while ROKT charges 0.45%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, ARKX has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in ROKT would produce about $1.50 per month ($18.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ARKX or ROKT?

ARKX has lagged ROKT over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.48% total return against 44.95%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: ROKT has compounded at 22.19% a year, against 9.41% for ARKX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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ARKX vs ROKT — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

ARKX and ROKT both track companies involved in space exploration and frontier innovation, but they differ fundamentally in approach and scope. The active versus passive split is the defining distinction.

How they differ

The biggest difference is management style. ARKX employs active stock-picking within the space-innovation theme, whereas ROKT mechanically tracks an index. ROKT also has a longer track record, with an 10/19/2018 inception date versus 03/30/2021 for ARKX. On volatility, ARKX carries a 1.71 beta compared to ROKT's 1.46, suggesting ARKX amplifies market moves more sharply.

Who each is best for

ARKX: Fits investors who believe active management and ARK's thematic conviction around space innovation justify higher volatility and cost; who are comfortable with concentrated, evolving holdings and prefer capital appreciation over current income; who have a long time horizon to weather the 1.71 beta swings.

Key risks to know

  • Thematic concentration risk: Both funds bet heavily on the space-innovation narrative. If investor appetite for these names cools or the sector underperforms broad equities, both stand to decline sharply. Their holdings likely overlap significantly—holdings-overlap data is not available here, but the thematic overlap is structural.
  • ARKX active-management risk: ARK's stock picks can diverge from index returns. If ARK's space-innovation thesis falls out of favor relative to the broader market, active underperformance could compound ARKX's higher 1.71.
  • Sector immaturity and profitability risk: Many space-frontier companies are pre-revenue or unprofitable. Valuation multiples depend on long-term growth expectations; rising interest rates or earnings disappointments could create sharp drawdowns. This is especially acute for early-stage holdings in ARKX.
  • ROKT index construction risk: The S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index methodology may exclude or under-weight established players while concentrating in speculative names. Index rebalancing could amplify turnover and tax inefficiency. Sustained redemptions could force portfolio liquidations, particularly in less liquid space-economy stocks.

Bottom line

If you prize active conviction and accept higher volatility, ARKX's thematic stock-picking and 1.71 beta may appeal; if you want lower fees, index discipline, and modest income, ROKT's 0.45% cost and 0.18% yield offer a more conservative entry. Both remain concentrated sector bets—neither is a core holding. Past performance 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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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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