Cathie Wood Reverses AI Stock Bet: Buys Millions After Selling

Cathie Wood, head of Ark Investment Management, has demonstrated her characteristic agility in tech stock trading by reversing a recent decision on CoreWeave. Just days after divesting, Ark acquired $19.2 million worth of the AI stock. This week's transaction underscores the volatile nature of Wood's high-conviction investments.

The Ark Innovation ETF, Wood's flagship fund, achieved a 35.49% return in 2025, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 17.88%. As of September 20, 2026, the ETF has seen a 14.04% increase year-to-date, again surpassing the S&P 500's 11.38% gain.

Despite Wood's recent success, her fund's long-term performance has been mixed, with a five-year annualized return of -6.32% as of September 17, 2026, compared to the S&P 500's 11.49%. Wood remains a staunch proponent of artificial intelligence, viewing it as a critical catalyst for future productivity, economic expansion, and corporate profitability.

She has actively dismissed concerns about AI posing an existential threat, suggesting such headlines are orchestrated. Wood acknowledges AI's potential for misuse but emphasizes the importance of understanding its risks. She also noted that U.S. corporate profits remain robust, partly due to companies leveraging AI for productivity gains.