ARKX
Not rated
No published distribution safety rating is available.
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.
Updated November 6, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Best for
- ARKXInvestors who want targeted space-industry exposure and accept its concentration.
- ROKTInvestors who want higher current income (0.21% while ARKX makes no distribution).
Price and total return
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Distribution Safety Score
An estimate of distribution reliability, not price or principal safety, a probability, or a guarantee. Score methodology.
ROKT
Caution
High confidence
Score snapshot as of . Method 1.11.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  ARKX |  ROKT |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF | SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF |
| Issuer | ARK Invest | State Street |
| Last Close | $28.42 as of November 6, 2026 | $96.55 as of November 6, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | — | 0.21% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | — | 0.22% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | — | 55 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | — | 0.12% |
| Expense ratio | 0.75% | 0.45% |
| AUM | $686M | $150M |
| Distribution frequency | None | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | Actively managed (no tracked index recorded) | S&P Kensho Final Frontiers Index |
| Objective | Actively 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 class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | 03/30/2021 | 10/19/2018 |
| Beta | 1.73 | 1.49 |
| Last dividend | — | $0.051 |
| Ex-dividend date | — | 09/21/2026 |
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
ARKX has lagged ROKT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -9.06% total return against 18.43%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: ROKT has compounded at 17.94% a year, against 5.27% for ARKX. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | Since Mar 2021 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARKX | -6.68% | -9.06% | 26.13% | 5.27% | 5.25% | 29.7% | 0.65 | 0.95 | -28.3% |
| ROKT | 9.76% | 18.43% | 32.92% | 17.94% | 16.91% | 26.0% | 0.94 | 1.38 | -31.7% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of November 5, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “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.
Not a distribution payer
ARKX (ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF) has no distribution rate on file and its distribution frequency is None. ARKX is not a payer. The blank yield is not a zero yield.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Bottom lineChoose ARKX if you want targeted space-industry exposure and accept its concentration. Choose ROKT if you want higher current income (0.21% while ARKX makes no distribution).
Income calculator
See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.
ETFs14
Total AUM$15.5B
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. 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.
ETFs186
Total AUM$2.15T
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
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.
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 0.21% 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 ($686M), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Top-holdings overlap
Positions that appear in every fund's top 10. Issuers disclose only the largest weights, so this captures the overlap of the concentrated end of each book — not the full portfolios.
0 shared positions
ARKX 0.0% of its top-10 weight
ROKT 0.0% of its top-10 weight
No overlap among the top-10 disclosed holdings of ARKX, ROKT. These funds draw from largely different positions at the top of their books.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment at current distribution rates, ARKX has no reported distribution yield yet, so a cash estimate is not available, while ROKT would pay about $21.00 a year (about $5.25 per quarterly distribution).
ARKX yield—
ROKT yield0.21%
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 1.73 for ARKX and 1.49 for ROKT, making ROKT the less sensitive to market moves of the two by this measure.
ARKX beta1.73
ROKT beta1.49
Fund details
ARKX is managed by ARK Invest (launched 03/30/2021) with $686M in assets. ROKT is managed by State Street (launched 10/19/2018) with $150M in assets.
ARKX AUM$686M
ROKT AUM$150M
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. Their disclosed top-10 holdings share no positions, so combining both spreads your money across different underlying names — see the holdings-overlap section above for the details. Overlap outside the disclosed top 10 can still exist.
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 distribution rates, ARKX does not pay distributions, so there is no cash income to estimate. $10,000 in ROKT would pay about $21.00 a year (about $5.25 per quarterly distribution).
Which has performed better historically, ARKX or ROKT?
ARKX has lagged ROKT over the trailing twelve months, posting a -9.06% total return against 18.43%. The lead holds up over 5 years too: ROKT has compounded at 17.94% a year, against 5.27% 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 November 1, 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 ROKT are both equity ETFs targeting space exploration and frontier-innovation companies, but they differ fundamentally in structure and approach. This distinction shapes their fee structure, volatility, and income approach.
How they differ
The biggest difference is management style: ARKX relies on active stock selection by ARK's portfolio managers, while ROKT follows a published index methodology that selects companies by innovation signal rather than human discretion. That active approach costs more—ARKX's expense ratio is 0.75%, versus 0.45% for ROKT, a 0.3 percentage-point gap. ROKT's modest yield reflects its index structure; ARKX's zero distribution policy suggests the fund prioritizes capital appreciation over income.
Third, ARKX is meaningfully more volatile: its beta of 1.73 indicates greater sensitivity to broad market swings than ROKT's 1.49. ARKX also carries a larger asset base at $686M compared to ROKT's $150M, though both remain relatively modest for ETFs in this space.
Who each is best for
ARKX: Fits investors who believe skilled managers can identify the most promising space-technology opportunities and are willing to accept higher volatility and no current income in pursuit of capital gains over a long holding period.
ROKT: Designed for investors seeking systematic exposure to space and deep-sea innovation with lower fees, a modest dividend component, and more moderate market sensitivity than an actively managed alternative.
Key risks to know
- Active-management risk (ARKX): ARK's space-focused stock picks may diverge from broader market trends, amplifying losses if the fund's thesis underperforms. Investors are betting on the managers' ability to identify winning companies in an emerging sector with limited operational history.
- Index concentration in emerging technologies (ROKT): The S&P Kensho methodology selects firms by innovation signals rather than financial stability, meaning holdings may be early-stage, unprofitable, or dependent on venture funding.
- Sector concentration and space-policy risk (both): Both ETFs are heavily concentrated in space-exploration holdings. Government spending, regulatory delays, or shifts in space policy could constrain the addressable market for these companies simultaneously.
- High beta volatility (ARKX): At 1.73, ARKX will amplify market downturns more sharply than ROKT. A 10% market decline could see losses exceed 17% in ARKX, creating timing and behavioral risks for investors.
- Emerging-sector profitability risk (both): Both funds hold companies in nascent industries with unproven or negative earnings. Space technology remains dependent on government contracts, venture funding, and technological breakthroughs that may not materialize.
Bottom line
If you value active management and believe ARK's stock-pickers can outperform in space technology, ARKX offers that conviction play—but at higher volatility, higher fees, and no dividend. If you prefer rules-based exposure with lower costs and a small income stream, ROKT's index approach delivers that at a more moderate beta. Both funds target an emerging sector with limited track records; neither should form the core of a portfolio. 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.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.