AAPU vs SCHD
Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X ETF vs Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF
Which is better, AAPU or SCHD?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Value.
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AAPU led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAPU | SCHD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $173M | $112.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.08% | 3.13% |
| Holdings | 11 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +25.47% | +27.56%Best |
| 1Y Return | +53.03%Best | +30.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.03%Best | +16.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 43.4% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.6% | -16.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $24,453Best | $16,237 |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Charles Schwab Asset Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Aug 9, 2022 | Oct 20, 2011 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 9, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.1 years).
AAPU vs SCHD growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 4.1 years both funds cover.
AAPU vs SCHD Performance
Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X ETF (AAPU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management. Over the past year AAPU returned +53.03% while SCHD returned +30.29%. Year to date, AAPU is up 25.47% versus a gain of 27.56% for SCHD.
Over three years, AAPU compounded at +29.03% per year against +16.37% for SCHD. Across the full 4-year window we track, AAPU has the edge at +24.37% annualized vs +12.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAPU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 43.4% compared with 14.6% for SCHD. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -58.6% for AAPU and -16.1% for SCHD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAPU charges 0.96% per year while SCHD charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $6 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAPU currently yields 6.08% against 3.13% for SCHD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 5 holdings in AAPU and 100 in SCHD, totalling 100.7% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 5 positions we hold weights for in AAPU and 100 in SCHD, against full books of 11 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 99 positions for SCHD that do not appear in our book for AAPU (99.9% of the fund), and 5 for AAPU that do not appear in SCHD (100.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAPU and SCHD you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAPU or SCHD?
AAPU has an expense ratio of 0.96% while SCHD charges 0.06%. SCHD is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAPU or SCHD?
Over the past year AAPU returned +53.03% vs +30.29% for SCHD, so AAPU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), AAPU annualized +24.37% vs +12.55% for SCHD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAPU or SCHD?
AAPU has been the more volatile fund at 43.4% annualized versus 14.6% for SCHD. Worst drawdown: AAPU -58.6% vs SCHD -16.1%.
Should I hold both AAPU and SCHD?
AAPU and SCHD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAPU or SCHD?
AAPU yields 6.08% while SCHD yields 3.13%, so AAPU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCHD better than AAPU?
SCHD has a lower expense ratio. AAPU led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.