WTAI delivers 43% year-to-date returns at 0.45% expense ratio, contrasting ARKK’s 33% five-year loss and 0.75% fee.
The iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (NASDAQ:WTAI) has returned 43% year-to-date, charging 0.45% in fees, while ARK Innovation ETF (NYSEARCA:ARKK) posts a 33% loss over five years with a 0.75% expense ratio. WTAI holds profitable AI leaders like Micron, up 229% this year, and Palo Alto Networks, which grew revenue 31% amid rising AI infrastructure spending.
ARKK, managing $8.24 billion across 50 holdings, trades at a 54 PE and remains heavily concentrated in high-beta stocks. Its top 10 positions, including Tesla (9.87%) and Tempus AI (5.76%), account for 49.85% of assets, diluting its AI exposure with biotech and crypto-related holdings. The fund’s strategy targets unprofitable, high-growth names, appealing to investors seeking disruptive innovation.
Investors seeking AI exposure without moonshot risk are shifting toward WTAI, which offers a lower-cost alternative with a focus on established, profitable companies in the sector.