Tech Stock Investments · Tool Face-Off

ARK Invest ARKK ETF vs Cathie Wood ARKQ ETF

Quick answer

ARKK is Cathie Wood's flagship disruptive-innovation fund while ARKQ focuses on autonomous tech and robotics — both are high-volatility bets, but ARKK casts a wider net while ARKQ is the niche play for robot enthusiasts.

Our pick

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)

The OG disruptive-tech ETF that made Cathie Wood a household name

3.5★

ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF (ARKQ)

Betting on the robots, drones, and self-driving cars of tomorrow

3.3★

Expense Ratio

0.75% annually

Primary Theme

Broad disruptive innovation (genomics, fintech, AI, space)

Autonomous vehicles, robotics, 3D printing, drones

Number of Holdings

~35-40 stocks

~35-45 stocks

Top Holding (approx.)

Tesla (~10%)

Tesla (~10%+)

AUM (Assets Under Mgmt)

~$6-8B

~$800M-1.2B

Average Daily Volume

High — millions of shares/day

Low-moderate — tens of thousands/day

Bid-Ask Spread

Very tight (~$0.01)

Wider (~$0.05-0.15)

Peak-to-Trough Drawdown (2021-2022)

~-75% from peak

~-60% from peak

Sector Overlap with Tesla

Moderate (~10% weight)

Heavy (~10-12% weight)

International Exposure

Mostly US, some global

More international (Japan, China robotics)

Dividends

Negligible / none

Options Market Availability

Yes — active options chain

Limited / illiquid options

ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)

Liquidity★★★★★

Thematic Focus★★★½☆

Cost Efficiency★★★☆☆

Diversification★★★½☆

Growth Potential★★★★☆

Volatility Management★★☆☆☆

ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF (ARKQ)

Liquidity★★★½☆

Thematic Focus★★★★½

Cost Efficiency★★★☆☆

Diversification★★★☆☆

Growth Potential★★★½☆

Volatility Management★★½☆☆

Worth knowing

ARKK gained ~150% in 2020, then lost ~75% peak-to-trough by 2022 — a rollercoaster that made and broke many portfolios.
ARKQ holds companies like UiPath, Kratos Defense, and Trimble — giving it a quirky defense-meets-robots flavor.
Both ETFs are actively managed, meaning Cathie Wood's team trades holdings regularly — unusual for ETFs.
ARKK's AUM has fallen from a peak of ~$28B in 2021 to a fraction of that, reflecting investor outflows post-crash.
ARKQ's robotics focus means it could benefit more directly from AI-driven manufacturing booms than ARKK's broader mandate.

ARKK was so popular in 2020 that memes circulated calling Cathie Wood 'the female Warren Buffett' — a title that aged about as well as a 2021 SPAC investment.

If you want

You want maximum exposure to disruptive tech with high liquidity

ARKK's larger AUM, tighter spreads, and active options market make it far easier to enter, exit, and hedge.

→ Pick ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)

If you want

You specifically believe in the robotics and autonomous vehicle revolution

ARKQ's laser focus on automation, drones, and self-driving gives you purer thematic exposure without genomics or fintech dilution.

→ Pick ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF (ARKQ)

If you want

You want slightly lower drawdown risk within the ARK family

ARKQ dropped less than ARKK during the 2022 tech rout — still brutal, but marginally less so.

→ Pick ARK Autonomous Tech & Robotics ETF (ARKQ)

If you want

You want to trade actively or use options strategies

ARKK's volume and active options chain make it the only realistic choice for anything beyond simple buy-and-hold.

→ Pick ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK)

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