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XARvsARKXETF Comparison
SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) belongs to the US Large Cap segment. ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (ARKX) is part of the Multiple Trends segment. XAR's top 3 sector exposures are Industrials, Materials and Information Technology. In contrast, ARKX's top sector exposures are Industrials, Information Technology and Communication Services. XAR is less expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.35%, versus 0.76% for ARKX. XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD) with +$898M in YTD flows. ARKX performs worse with 5.2% YTD performance, and +$177M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of XAR and ARKX below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
XAR vs ARKX performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAR ARKX | +3.90%-1.43% | +16.25%+9.39% | +15.19%+5.20% | +76.15%+73.50% | +147.29%+134.85% | +128.62%n/a |
| Flows | XAR ARKX | +$358M-$20M | +$950M+$228M | +$898M+$177M | +$1.55B+$269M | +$2.05B+$198M | +$2.24B- |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | XAR ARKX | +30.70%+35.37% | +27.13%+32.34% | +21.61%+25.78% | +22.54%n/a |
| Max drawdown | XAR ARKX | -11.13%-14.39% | -14.79%-19.13% | -19.74%-25.02% | -32.38%n/a |
| Max drawdown duration | XAR ARKX | 51d50d | 31d89d | 109d130d | 904dn/a |
XAR | ARKX | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 1:30 PM | $268.68 | $31.08 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $277.45 | $31.64 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
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XAR | ARKX | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
XAR | ARKX | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $268.68 | $31.08 |
| 1D performance | -3.16% | -1.77% |
| AuM | $6.30 B | $718.72 M |
| E/R | 0.35% | 0.76% |
XAR | ARKX | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Active |
| Provider | SPDR | Ark Investment |
| Benchmark | S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index | - |
| N° of holdings | 35 | 28 |
| Asset class | Equities | - |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | September 28, 2011 | March 30, 2021 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the XAR and ARKX ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR is up 15.19% year-to-date (YTD), while ARKX has returned 5.2%. That puts XAR better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: XAR or ARKX?
Year-to-date, the XAR ETF saw +$898M in flows, compared to +$177M for ARKX.
Which ETF is more volatile: XAR or ARKX?
Over the past year, XAR had a volatility of 27.13%, while ARKX experienced 32.34%.
Which ETF is bigger: XAR or ARKX?
As of March 11, 2026, XAR holds $6.30 B in assets under management (AUM), while ARKX manages $718.72 M.
What sectors do the XAR and ARKX ETFs invest in?
XAR leans toward sectors like Industrials. Meanwhile, ARKX focuses on Industrials and Information Technology.
What are the top holdings of the XAR ETF and ARKX ETF?
XAR top holdings include US4859241048, US7731211089 and LOCKHEED MARTIN. ARKX holds in its top three: L3 HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, KRATOS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SOLS and TERADYNE.
Which ETF is more diversified: XAR or ARKX?
XAR holds 40 securities with 54.75% of its assets in the top 15. ARKX has 28 securities and a top 15 weight of 68.94%.
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