ARK Space & Defense or SPDR Aerospace & Defense: Which ETF Can Power Your Portfolio?
ARKX delivers higher returns but charges double the fees and carries greater volatility. XAR offers lower costs and broader diversification across 50 holdings.
Overview
The ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF (NYSEMKT:ARKX) offers active management in space technology, while State Street SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEMKT:XAR) provides lower-cost, equal-weighted exposure to established industry leaders.
The aerospace and defense industry represents an intersection of government spending and technical innovation. Investors can choose between actively managed portfolios targeting space-specific tech or broader index-based funds. This comparison looks at how a high-conviction, space-focused strategy stacks up against a diversified, equal-weighted industry benchmark.
Details
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield as of the close of trading on Sept. 28, 2026.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.