best space etf
10/23/2025 10:07am
**Best-in-Class Pick: Procure Space ETF (UFO)** 🚀🌌
Over the last 12 months, UFO has delivered the highest total return (+91.8 %) and the strongest risk-adjusted performance (Sharpe ≈ 2.54) among the major space-themed ETFs we screened, edging out ARKX and ROKT. While its volatility is the highest of the trio, your stated high risk tolerance and five-year horizon make UFO a compelling core vehicle for accessing the booming space economy.
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### How the Leading Space ETFs Stack Up
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[{"type":"table-json","id":21}]
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Key observations
• **Performance** – UFO tops both absolute and risk-adjusted returns, with ARKX a close second and ROKT lagging but still strong. Data cover 22 Oct 2024 → 22 Oct 2025.
• **Volatility** – ROKT’s narrower remit (space + deep-sea exploration) keeps its annualized volatility ~26 %, versus ~33–35 % for UFO/ARKX.
• **Cost & Structure** –
– UFO: Passive index, 0.75 % expense ratio, ~35 holdings.
– ARKX: Actively managed by Cathie Wood’s ARK, 0.75 % fee, 35–55 holdings skewed to “space-enabled” tech like drones & AI.
– ROKT: Passive AI-driven index, 0.45 % fee, ~30 holdings, AUM ~$30 M (lowest liquidity).
• **Holdings Tilt** –
– UFO emphasizes satellite operators (IRDM, LORL), launch & communications.
– ARKX blends pure space with adjacent “aero/AI” disruptors (RKLB, PLTR).
– ROKT adds a unique deep-sea component but still captures big names like BA & LMT.
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### 1-Year Relative Price Performance
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[{"type":"plotly-json","id":10}]
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### Putting It All Together
1. **Core Choice – UFO**: Highest Sharpe, pure-play space index, but brace for swings. Pair with broader tech/industrial exposure (e.g., VGT, ITA) to diversify.
2. **Satellite Position – ARKX**: If you want an active manager hunting earlier-stage “space-enabled” themes (AI drones, hypersonics), ARKX can juice growth but charges the same 0.75 % fee as UFO and sometimes overlaps your existing growth picks (e.g., KTOS, PLTR).
3. **Cost-Conscious Buffer – ROKT**: Lowest fee (0.45 %) and volatility; suitable if you prefer a steadier ride or plan to size up your allocation without inflating expenses.
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### Next Steps 🗺️
• **Sizing & Rebalancing** – Consider an initial 5 % weight in UFO, with optional 2–3 % in ARKX for active alpha, and/or a 3–5 % sleeve in ROKT for cost/vol dampening.
• **Monitor Catalysts** – Watch for satellite-launch cadence, defense-budget updates, and quarterly rebalances (ARKX trades actively; ROKT equal-weights quarterly).
• **Set Guardrails** – Given 30 %+ volatility, employ trailing stops or options collars if you’d like downside buffers while preserving upside.
• **Stay Fee-Aware** – Over a 5-year horizon, a 0.30 – 0.45 % fee gap compounds; weigh any active-management edge versus cost drag.
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💬 **Your Turn:** Would a blended “core + satellite” approach—UFO for core space exposure plus a smaller ARKX or ROKT sleeve—fit your early-financial-independence plan, or do you prefer concentrating on a single fund? Let me know, and we can map out precise position sizes and entry timing!