ARKX vs UFO

ARKXCARK Space & Defense Innovation ETF

UFOCProcure Space 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.

UFO UFO buys the space economy through a purpose-built benchmark, VettaFi's Space Index (formerly S-Network's), holding roughly 50 companies worldwide instead of leaning on a broad aerospace-and-defense proxy.

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.

UFO The fund aims to track the performance of the VettaFi Space Index, previously known as the S-Network Space Index, before accounting for fees and expenses.

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.

• UFO Rules-based, not vibes-based: exposure comes from a published space index, the VettaFi Space Index, so the roster follows index methodology rather than a manager's hunches.
• Global mandate, not a US-only roster, so satellite and launch names listed overseas are in scope.
• Roughly 50 holdings keeps the theme concentrated rather than diluted across hundreds of tangentially related names.
• A billion-dollar-plus fund that trades actively for such a narrow theme, which generally means easier entries and exits than a thin thematic sleeve. Upper half of its space peer group.

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.

• UFO 0.75% a year sits at the space-cohort median, and cheaper index routes exist: ROKT at 0.45%, ORBX at 0.50%.
• One theme, about 50 stocks. Contract wins, launch schedules and satellite demand drive the whole portfolio, so moves can be sharper than a broad global equity fund.
• Distributions arrive once or twice a year at most. This is structured as a thematic equity holding, not an income vehicle.

Full ARKX profile⁠

Full UFO profile⁠