ETF Versus

ARKK vs IWF

ARK Innovation ETF vs iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

ARKK ARK

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) is an exchange-traded fund issued by ARK that provides exposure to thematic - innovation securities. It charges a high expense ratio of 0.75%. Launched in 2014, the fund has a 12-year track record.

AUM: $6.7B ER: 0.75% Yield: N/A Since: 2014-10-31
IWF iShares

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.19%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.39%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.

AUM: N/A ER: 0.19% Yield: 0.39% Since: 2000-05-26

Quick Verdict

IWF is significantly cheaper at 0.19% vs 0.75% expense ratio, saving you approximately $1,076 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, ARKK has significantly outperformed with a 38.6% return vs 17.0%.

Key Metrics

Metric ARKK IWF
Expense Ratio 0.75% 0.19%
Dividend Yield N/A 0.4%
Fund Family ARK iShares
Category Thematic - Innovation US Large Cap Growth

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

20 55 90 125 160 195 2021-04 2022-06 2023-10 2024-12 2026-04
ARKK -44.0%
IWF +70.9%

Performance Comparison

Period ARKK IWF Difference
1 Month -5.72% -4.36% -1.36%
3 Months -13.00% -9.04% -3.96%
6 Months -25.61% -9.26% -16.35%
YTD -13.00% -9.04% -3.96%
1 Year +38.62% +16.97% +21.65%
3 Years +72.13% +75.39% -3.26%
5 Years -43.99% +70.86% -114.85%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period ARKK Fees IWF Fees You Save
$10,000 10 years $1,453 $377 $1,076
$10,000 20 years $6,064 $1,613 $4,451
$10,000 30 years $18,984 $5,178 $13,806
$50,000 10 years $7,266 $1,884 $5,382
$50,000 30 years $94,918 $25,888 $69,030
$100,000 30 years $189,836 $51,776 $138,060

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric ARKK IWF
Annualized Volatility 46.4% 21.4%
Max Drawdown -77.3% -33.1%
Sharpe Ratio -0.12 0.40

Dividend Comparison

Metric ARKK IWF
Annual Dividend (per share) $0.00 $1.69
Dividend Yield 0.00% 0.39%
Distribution Frequency None Quarterly

Top Holdings

ARKK Top Holdings

NameWeight
Tesla Inc1088.03%
CRISPR Therapeutics AG548.07%
Roku Inc500.14%
Tempus AI Inc487.20%
Coinbase Global Inc462.29%
Shopify Inc424.50%
Robinhood Markets Inc399.82%
Advanced Micro Devices Inc397.53%
Teradyne Inc357.06%
Beam Therapeutics Inc353.11%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose IWF if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose ARKK if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

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