Cathie Wood’s Ark Innovation ETF lags the S&P 500 in 2026 despite strong AI-driven sector inflows.
Ark Invest CEO Cathie Wood acquired $6.5 million in shares of a megacap tech firm, continuing her rotation among artificial intelligence leaders. The move follows a period of mixed performance for her flagship Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK), which trails the broader market this year.
ARKK is up 5.24% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500’s 10.73% gain. While the fund surged 35.49% in 2025, its five-year annualized return stands at -5.92%, underperforming the S&P 500’s 12.51% over the same period.
Wood’s strategy focuses on high-growth tech sectors like AI and robotics, which have driven volatility in her funds. Two Ark ETFs ranked among the worst performers in Q1 2026, according to Morningstar data.