AAPU vs SPY
Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AAPU or SPY?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
SPY 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 | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $158M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.85% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 22 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +34.48%Best | +14.30% |
| 1Y Return | +44.97%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.52%Best | +23.23% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 41.9% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.9% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.2 years | $20,734Best | $20,069 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 9, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 9, 2022 to Oct 5, 2026 (4.2 years).
AAPU vs SPY 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 4.2 years both funds cover.
AAPU vs SPY Performance
Direxion Daily AAPL Bull 2X ETF (AAPU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AAPU returned +44.97% while SPY returned +16.61%. Year to date, AAPU is up 34.48% versus a gain of 14.30% for SPY.
Over three years, AAPU compounded at +26.52% per year against +23.23% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, AAPU has the edge at +18.96% annualized vs +18.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAPU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.9% compared with 14.0% for SPY. 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 -59.9% for AAPU and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAPU charges 0.96% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $9 annually, a gap of $87 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAPU currently yields 6.85% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.5% of SPY's money is in holdings AAPU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AAPU, our book for it covers 89.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and AAPU share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in AAPU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 22 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAPU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 20.99% | 7.45% | 13.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAPU and SPY 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 SPY?
AAPU has an expense ratio of 0.96% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $87 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAPU or SPY?
Over the past year AAPU returned +44.97% vs +16.61% for SPY, so AAPU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), AAPU annualized +18.96% vs +18.04% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAPU or SPY?
AAPU has been the more volatile fund at 41.9% annualized versus 14.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AAPU -59.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both AAPU and SPY?
AAPU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAPU and SPY?
At least 7.5% of SPY's money is in holdings AAPU also owns. Our book for AAPU is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in AAPU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAPU or SPY?
AAPU yields 6.85% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AAPU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AAPU?
SPY 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.