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ARKX vs MARS

ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF

ARKXCCboe

Roundhill Space & Technology ETF

MARSDCboe

Overlap

18.2%by weight

Expense ratio

Same figure. Both funds show the same value, so neither comes out ahead.

ARKX0.75%MARS0.75%

Avg volume · 30D

ARKX 8.0×the volume

ARKX589KMARS73.7K

ARKX vs MARS Performance

Jul 31, 2026 – Oct 30, 2026

−2.6%ARKX−4.9%MARS

Jul 31, 2026 to Oct 30, 2026. ARKX −2.6%. MARS −4.9%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.5%10%15%20%25%Jul 2026Sep 2026Oct 2026
Expense ratio
ARKX 0.75%
MARS 0.75%
Fund size
ARKX $737M
MARS $40M
1Y total return
ARKX −5.0%
MARS No data
Holdings
ARKX 33
MARS 29
Avg volume (30D)
ARKX 589K sh, better
MARS 73.7K sh
NAV per share
ARKX $29.83
MARS $22.35
52W range

ETF.net Grade

ARKX: Cost 29, Risk 68, Mission not scored, Tradability 86, Holdings 48, Durability 83. MARS: Cost 29, Risk 43, Mission not scored, Tradability 47, Holdings 39, Durability 65.
Pillar letters and Scores for ARKX, MARS, with each pillar’s weight
PillarARKXMARS
Cost30% weightD29D29
Mission25% weightNot scoredNot scored
Risk15% weightB68HigherC43
Tradability15% weightA86HigherC47
Holdings10% weightC48HigherD39
Durability5% weightA83HigherB65

Rank among Space funds

How we build Categories ›
Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. ARKX and MARS are both graded against the same 15 Space funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Space⁠

Category · 15 funds
See all 15 ›

ARKX ranks 3rd and MARS 12th of 15 funds in the Space Category.

  1. Rank 1AUFOXDefiance Space and Connective Tech ETFScore 84
  2. Rank 2AROKTState Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETFScore 80
  3. Rank 3CARKXARK Space & Defense Innovation ETFScore 54
  4. Rank 4CORBXGlobal X Space Tech ETFScore 51
  5. Rank 8CWSPCWisdomTree Space Economy FundScore 40
  6. Rank 12DMARSRoundhill Space & Technology ETFScore 38
  7. Rank 12DXSPCVegaShares SpaceX & Beyond Earth ETFScore 38

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

ARKXCARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF

MARSDRoundhill Space & Technology ETF

In short

ARKX ARK's only space fund, and one of the rare ones in its niche run by stock pickers instead of an index. Roughly 40 global names spanning rockets, the technology that makes them work, and the companies that quietly cash in.

MARS No data

Stated mandate

ARKX The fund seeks long-term capital growth by actively investing mainly in domestic and foreign equity securities of companies involved in space and defense innovation, including aerospace, enabling technologies, and aerospace beneficiaries.

MARS No data

Why people hold it

  • ARKX Actively managed rather than index-tracked: ARK's team hand-picks roughly 40 names instead of buying whatever screens as 'space'.ark-funds.com
  • The mandate reaches past rocket builders to enabling technologies and aerospace beneficiaries, companies that profit from orbit without ever leaving the ground.
  • Global by charter, holding both US and foreign shares, so the theme isn't capped at American launch providers and defense primes.
  • Running since 2021 and actively traded at a decent size, which puts it in the upper half of the space-fund group on the practical stuff.

MARS No data

Worth knowing

  • ARKX The 0.75% fee sits right at the median for space funds and above index-based rivals such as ROKT (0.45%) and ORBX (0.50%).
  • Roughly 40 holdings plus a human making the calls means single positions and ARK's stock-picking judgment both carry real weight here.
  • The stated goal is long-term capital growth, not income; the fund has not been making regular distributions.

MARS No data

Full ARKX profile⁠

Full MARS profile⁠

ARKX vs MARS Holdings

How ARKX and MARS differ

Overlap by weight

18.2%

Shared holdings make up 35.9% of MARS and 18.3% of ARKX.

Level by level

  • Holdings3 in both18.2%
  • Countryby domicile79.9%
  • Asset classEquity100%

Sector

No Sector split for MARS.

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in ARKX and MARS, widest gap first
CountryMore in ARKXMore in MARS
United StatesARKX +14.4 points
CanadaMARS +5.8 points
GermanyMARS +4.8 points
JapanMARS +4.7 points
ItalyMARS +2.4 points
SwitzerlandARKX +1.5 points
IsraelARKX +1.3 points
FranceMARS +1.3 points
Other countries (4)ARKX +1.7 points

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

  • ARKX58.7%
  • MARS68.6%

Securities held

  • ARKX33
  • MARS29

Asset class

ARKX
Equity
MARS
Equity

Holdings

  • Only in ARKX30
  • In both3
  • Only in MARS26

Only in ARKX

30 securities, 81.7% of ARKX by weight

  • L3HARRIS Technologies Inc7.47%
  • Kratos Defense & Security6.19%
  • Aerovironment Inc5.94%

Only in MARS

26 securities, 64.1% of MARS by weight

  • Viasat Inc5.81%
  • Globalstar Inc5.70%
  • AST SpaceMobile Inc5.53%

Weight gaps

All 3 Holdings in both funds, largest gap first.

Holding weights in ARKX and MARS, widest gap first
HoldingMore in ARKXMore in MARS
Space Exploration Techn-Cl ASPCXMARS +14.05 points
Rocket Lab CorpRKLBMARS +3.60 points
Intuitive Machines IncLUNRARKX +0.03 points

All 45 ARKX holdings⁠All MARS holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

ARKX vs MARS Cost

Same expense ratio

$14,482

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • ARKX 0.75%

    $14,482

  • MARS 0.75%

    $14,482

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • ARKX 0.75%
  • MARS 0.75%
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$5K$10K$15K051015202530ARKX $14,482MARS $14,482

Year by year

YearARKXMARS
10$1,336$1,336
20$5,078$5,078
30$14,482$14,482

Expense ratio

  • 0.75%ARKX
  • 0.75%MARS
  • Middle half of Space funds
  • Median 0.75%

ARKX 8th cheapest of 15 funds

MARS 8th cheapest of 15 funds

ARKX vs MARS Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Payout (12M)
ARKX None
MARS None

Distribution history

ARKXAll ARKX payments⁠

No distribution history available.

MARSAll MARS payments⁠

No distribution history available.

ARKX vs MARS Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

This chart needs five years of history for both funds.

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
ARKX 29.1%MARS No data
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
ARKX 0.96MARS No data
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
ARKX −43.5%since Nov 2021MARS No data
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
ARKX 1.64MARS 4.86

ARKX and MARS in the news

All news⁠

Popular comparisons

  • ARKXCvsUFOXA

    ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF · Defiance Space and Connective Tech ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.30%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • MARSDvsUFOXA

    Roundhill Space & Technology ETF · Defiance Space and Connective Tech ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.30%
    Category
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  • ARKXCvsROKTA

    ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF · State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.45%
    Category
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  • MARSDvsROKTA

    Roundhill Space & Technology ETF · State Street SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.45%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • ARKXCvsORBXC

    ARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF · Global X Space Tech ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.50%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

  • MARSDvsORBXC

    Roundhill Space & Technology ETF · Global X Space Tech ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.75% · 0.50%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.