# ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD): ETF Facts & Distributions > Markdown mirror of https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd for AI agents. Same live data as the HTML page, regenerated on the same refresh cycle. Not investment advice. - Issuer: ARK · Asset class: Equity - Strategy: Buffered · Inception: 2026-01-02 The ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) is an actively managed fund designed to offer a modified return experience compared to the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). Each January, ARKD initiates a new annual cycle with the objective of mitigating ARKK's potential losses by roughly 50%. In exchange for this downside protection, ARKD's potential gains are capped once ARKK's performance exceeds a 5% threshold. ARKK itself invests in a global portfolio of companies spearheading disruptive innovation across fields like genomics, artificial intelligence, robotics, and fintech. To achieve its buffered outcome,... ## Key Facts | Metric | Value | |---|---| | Price | $20.42 | | Expense Ratio | 0.89% | | Assets Under Management | $1.1M | | NAV | $20.48 | | Holdings Count | 0 | | Distribution Yield (TTM) | — | | Annual Distribution (TTM) | — /share | | Distribution Frequency | — | | 52-Week Range | $18.00 – $21.96 | | Beta | 0.80 | ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does ARKD invest in? The ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) is an actively managed fund designed to offer a modified return experience compared to the ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). Each January, ARKD initiates a new annual cycle with the objective of mitigating ARKK's potential losses by roughly 50%. In exchange for this downside protection, ARKD's potential gains are capped once ARKK's performance exceeds a 5% threshold. ARKK itself invests in a global portfolio of companies spearheading disruptive innovation across fields like genomics, artificial intelligence, robotics, and fintech. To achieve its buffered outcome, ARKD holds shares of ARKK, while simultaneously engaging in an options strategy: it sells at-the-money call options, purchases at-the-money put options to cover half of its net asset value, and then uses any remaining premium to acquire out-of-the-money call options. This last step allows ARKD to participate in ARKK's upside performance beyond the initial 5% hurdle. Investors should be aware that all performance figures are stated before the deduction of fees and expenses, which will reduce actual returns. Furthermore, ARKD shareholders do not receive any dividends that might be paid by the underlying ARKK shares. This strategy is most effective for investors who intend to hold their shares for the entirety of each one-year outcome period; buying or selling mid-period will lead to different results. ### What is the expense ratio of ARKD? ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) charges an expense ratio of 0.89%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations. ### How big is ARKD? ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) manages $1.1M in total assets. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure. Funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation. ### Is ARKD actively managed or an index fund? ARKD's management style is described in the fund's prospectus. See the description on the Summary tab for the published strategy. ### When was ARKD launched? ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) launched in January 2026 and is managed by ARK. ### How has ARKD performed? ARKD's total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon. ### Does ARKD pay a dividend? ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF (ARKD) currently distributes little or no income. Trailing-twelve-month yield is —. Investors looking for income should consider income-focused alternatives. See the Peers tab. ### How often does ARKD pay dividends? ARK DIET Q1 Buffer ETF pays dividends on its published schedule. Each ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date is listed in the dividend history table on this page. ### What is ARKD's dividend yield? ARKD's trailing-twelve-month yield is —, calculated from the sum of dividends over the past year divided by the current price. ### When is ARKD's next ex-dividend date? ARKD hasn't announced its next ex-date yet. Once declared it'll appear at the top of the dividend history table on this page. ### How much will ARKD's expense ratio cost me over 30 years? On a $10,000 investment compounding at 7% gross return, a 0.89% expense ratio quietly compounds against your balance every year. The Fee Compounding Forecast card above projects the dollar drag for any holding period and assumption you pick. The typical result for a 1.0% expense ratio on a 30-year hold is roughly 25% of the final balance lost to fees. ### How does ARKD charge its expense ratio? The expense ratio is deducted in tiny daily slices from ARKD's net asset value (NAV). You never see a bill. The price quoted on every exchange is already net of fees. There's no "fee day" to avoid; the cost is continuous and built into the trading price. ### Why does ARKD cost more than a fund like VOO? ARKD's strategy (current expense ratio 0.89%) is different from a broad-market index tracker like VOO, so its fee belongs to a different cohort. The Cost Verdict card above shows you where ARKD sits within its own category, which is the comparison that actually matters. ### Are there cheaper alternatives to ARKD? The Lower-Fee Alternatives card above lists ETFs following the same investment strategy as ARKD (0.89%) but at a lower expense ratio. Each row shows the fee gap, the peer's AUM as a liquidity sanity-check, and a direct link to that fund's analysis page. Cheaper price doesn't automatically mean better. Verify the peer holds what you actually want. ## More on Dividend Data - Overview (HTML): https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd - Distribution history: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd/dividend - Holdings & diversification: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd/diversification - Fees & cheaper alternatives: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd/expenses - Peer comparison: https://www.dividenddata.com/funds/arkd/peers Data sourced from primary filings and market data providers; see https://www.dividenddata.com/methodology.