ARKK vs QQQ Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
ARKK and QQQ are both technology-oriented ETFs, but ARKK is a high-conviction actively managed fund focused on early-stage disruptive companies, while QQQ passively tracks the Nasdaq-100's large profitable technology giants. ARKK offers potentially higher returns during disruptive innovation cycles but has exhibited 75%+ drawdowns; QQQ provides steady large-cap tech compounding with much lower volatility at lower cost.
ARKK vs QQQ is the definitive active-vs-passive debate in technology investing — ARKK bets on identifying the next generation of platform companies before they become Nasdaq giants, while QQQ captures the returns of the companies that have already won that competition.
QQQ holds the edge across 5 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. QQQ has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+4.30% vs -13.93% for ARKK).
- prefer active stock selection focused on early-stage disruptive innovation across AI, genomics, fintech, and autonomous vehicles
- value thematic exposure to companies that are not yet large enough for Nasdaq-100 inclusion
- want the potential for outsized returns if ARK's high-conviction picks become the dominant platforms of the future
- are comfortable with 50–75% drawdowns during rising-rate environments when speculative growth multiples compress
- prefer passive Nasdaq-100 exposure to the largest and most profitable technology companies
- value low-cost (0.20%) disciplined index tracking without active management fees or stock selection risk
- want the deepest options market for covered call income or portfolio hedging strategies
- are comfortable with megacap tech concentration in exchange for lower volatility and proven long-term compound returns
| Metric | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 26.7 | 27.4 |
| Latest closei | $73.15 | $647.05 |
| 1M returni | -19.16% | -14.82% |
| 3M returni | -3.41% | -9.36% |
| 6M returni | -6.13% | -6.69% |
| 1Y returni | -13.93% | +4.30% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $8.61K (-13.9%) started 2025-11-05 | $10.48K (+4.8%) started 2025-11-05 |
| 5Y ago | $6.13K (-38.7%) started 2021-11-08 | $17.26K (+72.6%) started 2021-11-08 |
| 10Y ago | $43.49K (+334.9%) started 2016-11-07 | $63.82K (+538.2%) started 2016-11-07 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.75% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $6.12B | $463.83B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 47.21 | 26.65 |
| Betai | 2.07 | 1.26 |
| 52-week change | -13.93% | 4.30% |
| Metric | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | -13.93% | +4.30% |
| 6M returni | -6.13% | -6.69% |
| 3M returni | -3.41% | -9.36% |
| 1M returni | -19.16% | -14.82% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | -0.32 | 0.09 |
| Betai | 2.07 | 1.26 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| 5Y CAGR | -9.65% | +10.89% |
Over the past year, ARKK and QQQ have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.78), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | -13.93% | +4.30% |
| CAGRi | -13.94% | +4.30% | |
| Volatilityi | 38.17% | 21.23% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | -0.32 | 0.09 | |
| Sortino ratioi | -0.44 | 0.13 | |
| Max drawdowni | 25.26% | 14.82% | |
| Current drawdowni | 21.16% | 14.82% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 8.87% | 3.19% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 10.40% | 4.20% | |
| Max daily dropi | 8.98% | 6.49% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 14.91% | 9.55% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | -39.73% | +67.48% |
| CAGRi | -9.65% | +10.89% | |
| Volatilityi | 47.10% | 23.29% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | -0.08 | 0.37 | |
| Sortino ratioi | -0.11 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdowni | 75.78% | 35.12% | |
| Current drawdowni | 39.73% | 14.82% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 52.47% | 9.25% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 54.61% | 13.62% | |
| Max daily dropi | 10.10% | 6.49% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 29.56% | 11.98% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +300.03% | +495.10% |
| CAGRi | +14.88% | +19.54% | |
| Volatilityi | 40.92% | 22.72% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.43 | 0.70 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.62 | 0.99 | |
| Max drawdowni | 80.91% | 35.12% | |
| Current drawdowni | 52.50% | 14.82% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 35.22% | 6.26% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 45.78% | 10.39% | |
| Max daily dropi | 15.57% | 11.98% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 29.56% | 16.20% |
| Category | ARKK | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | ARK Innovation ETF | Invesco QQQ Trust |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.75% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $6.12B | $463.83B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.00% | 0.45% |
- Active management allows concentrated bets on specific disruptive innovation companies not well represented in passive indices
- Full daily holdings transparency is unusual for active ETFs, allowing investors to monitor specific positions
- Thematic focus on disruptive technology provides differentiated exposure from standard large-cap tech indices
- Passive Nasdaq-100 tracking ensures exposure to whichever large-cap tech company wins — winners compound while laggards get replaced
- 0.20% expense ratio provides disciplined cost minimization for technology sector exposure
- Deepest options market among non-S&P 500 ETFs, with multiple expirations and strikes available for hedging or income strategies
- Declined over 75% from 2021 peak through 2022–2023 trough, demonstrating extreme drawdown risk in rising-rate environments
- 0.75% expense ratio is 3.75x more expensive than QQQ's 0.20%, creating a high performance hurdle for active management to clear
- Concentrated positions in speculative growth companies create severe underperformance when interest rates rise and growth multiples compress
- Heavily concentrated in the top 5–10 megacap tech stocks (FAANGMTN), reducing effective diversification despite 100 holdings
- Passive methodology means QQQ holds losing companies at full weight until they fall out of the top 100 rather than cutting them
- Underperforms in small-cap growth and thematic innovation cycles where the next generation of disruptors has not yet scaled to Nasdaq-100 size
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