Anti-ARKK ETF Shines as Spiking Yields Drag Down Expensive Tech Stocks

(Bloomberg) -- The ETF designed to bet against Cathie Wood is starting to deliver as a jump in Treasury yields -- the bogeyman stalking growth shares -- slams her flagship fund.

The Tuttle Capital Short Innovation ETF (ticker SARK) has gained roughly 14% since launching two weeks ago. SARK -- originally named the Short ARKK ETF -- seeks to track the inverse performance of Wood’s ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) through swap contracts.

Fueling SARK is a sell-off in the highly valued tech companies that populate Wood’s biggest ETF, which commands $18 billion in assets. President Joe Biden’s renomination of Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chairman sparked a surge in yields, hitting duration-sensitive growth shares.  Powell is perceived by market-watchers as more likely to raise rates than mooted rival Lael Brainard.

While SARK has only accumulated about $7.6 million since launching, its recent run-up should help attract cash, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. 

“Timing is everything for new ETF launches and SARK got lucky in that department. To pop 10% right off the bat should help it get going and attract audience,” BI senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said. “Beyond performance chasing, its main value add is convenience -- it makes betting against Cathie Wood a mere click of a button.”

Short interest in ARKK is currently 5.1% of shares outstanding, down slightly from a record 5.5% reached earlier this month, according to data from IHS Markit Ltd.

Wood’s bets have misfired as of late after ARKK’s dominant 150% rally in 2020. The ETF has slipped over 13% so far this year. Despite the drop, investors have continued to pour money into ARKK, which is on track for a $4.8 billion inflow in 2021. 

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