Cathie Wood buys $1.9 million of megacap tech stock

Core Insights - Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Investment Management, has recently invested in a major technology leader ahead of its February earnings, reflecting her strategy of balancing small- and mid-cap technology stocks with larger growth stocks to enhance fund stability [1] Performance Overview - The Ark Innovation ETF achieved a remarkable 153% return in 2020 and a 35.49% return in the previous year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which returned 17.88% during the same period [2] - However, the ETF experienced a decline of over 60% in 2022, highlighting the volatility of Wood's investment style [2] - As of January 30, the Ark Innovation ETF has a five-year annualized return of -11.29%, contrasting with the S&P 500's annualized return of 14.99% over the same timeframe [3] Investment Philosophy - Wood focuses on emerging high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, biomedical technology, and robotics, believing these areas hold significant long-term growth potential despite their inherent volatility [4] - She does not anticipate an imminent AI "bubble," asserting that the most powerful capital spending cycle in history is forthcoming, driven by advancements in various technologies [7] Market Sentiment - Despite Wood's optimism, the Ark Innovation ETF faced approximately $1.11 billion in net outflows over the 12 months leading up to January 28, indicating skepticism among some investors [8] - As of January 30, the ETF is down 3.85% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 has increased by 1.37% during the same period [8] Wealth Impact - From 2014 to 2024, the Ark Innovation ETF has resulted in a loss of $7 billion in investor wealth, ranking it as the third-largest wealth destroyer among mutual funds and ETFs according to Morningstar's analysis [5]