Cathie Wood Is a Historic Fund Manager with Viral Fame. That Doesn’t Make Her ARK ETFs Good Buys Now.

Investment managers are now easier to discover, thanks to social media. Names like Ark Invest founder Cathie Wood are well-known, but this fame does not guarantee good performance for her ETFs. The ARK ETFs have mixed long-term records, with some showing minimal gains or even losses. While ARKK, the flagship ETF, had a notable sixfold increase from 2017 to 2020, it has since struggled, with only modest returns since April 2025.

The other ETFs in ARK's portfolio have also underperformed or shown no significant gains. This highlights the importance of separating celebrity status from actual financial performance. In a bull market, everyone seems successful, but in a bear market, the truth becomes clearer.