ARKX vs XOVR: The Famous Space ETF vs the One That Actually Holds SpaceX
Everyone searching for SpaceX exposure finds ARKX. It does not hold SpaceX. XOVR does, as its top position, but you pay 1.81% for it. Here is the honest comparison.
ARKX is Cathie Wood's space and innovation ETF. It holds roughly 35 publicly traded companies across space, aerospace, 3D printing, and autonomous technology, charges 0.75%, and does not currently hold SpaceX, which is still private. XOVR is a different kind of fund: a private-public crossover ETF whose largest holding is a stake in SpaceX at about 14% of assets, bought on the secondary market. It charges 1.81%, more than double ARKX, which is the cost of an active fund that buys into private companies. So the choice is not really ARKX or XOVR on the same terms. If you specifically want SpaceX exposure today, ARKX does not give it to you and XOVR does, with the trade-offs that come with a 1.81% fee, a concentrated position, and a private valuation that is marked periodically rather than priced live. If you want a diversified, cheaper bet on the broad space and innovation theme, ARKX is the lower-cost vehicle. After the SpaceX IPO, ARK has signaled it expects to add SpaceX, and over time broad-market funds will hold it cheaply by default, which weakens the long-term case for paying 1.81% to own it early.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
📋 ARKX vs XOVR — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | ARKX | XOVR |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | ARK Space Exploration & Innovation ETF | ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF |
| Issuer | ARK Invest | ERShares |
| Tracks Index | Active (space & innovation) | Active (private + public crossover) |
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% ✓ | 1.81% |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $75.00 | $181.00 |
| AUM | $1.0B | $2.2B |
| Holdings | 35 | 33 |
| Inception | 2021 | 2017 |
| 1-Year Return | +51.20% | +9.40% |
| 3-Year Return | — | — |
| 5-Year Return | — | — |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.04% | 0.09% |
Data from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 ARKX vs XOVR — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Should You Buy ARKX or XOVR?
- You want the lowest fees — saves ~$106/yr per $10K vs XOVR
- You already use ARK Invest and prefer staying within their fund family
- You already use ERShares and prefer staying within their fund family
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❓ ARKX vs XOVR — Frequently Asked Questions
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