AIBU vs VYM
Direxion Daily AI and Big Data Bull 2X ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, AIBU or VYM?
Leverage Strategy against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIBU led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.4%.
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 | AIBU | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $83.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.65% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 76 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +45.91%Best | +9.22% |
| 1Y Return | +34.43%Best | +12.81% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +18.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.39% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 55.2% | 10.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.2% | -14.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.4 years | $29,118Best | $13,727 |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.4% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Leverage Strategy | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | May 15, 2024 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026 (2.4 years).
AIBU vs VYM 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 2.4 years both funds cover.
AIBU vs VYM Performance
Direxion Daily AI and Big Data Bull 2X ETF (AIBU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIBU returned +34.43% while VYM returned +12.81%. Year to date, AIBU is up 45.91% versus a gain of 9.22% for VYM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIBU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 55.2% compared with 10.5% for VYM. 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 -51.2% for AIBU and -14.5% for VYM. 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
AIBU charges 0.96% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $4 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIBU currently yields 1.65% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
17.2% of AIBU's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.5% of VYM's money is in holdings AIBU also owns.
AIBU and VYM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, AIBU as of Sep 15, 2026 and VYM as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in AIBU and 557 in VYM, against full books of 76 and 608.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 523 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for AIBU (87.5% of the fund), and 24 for AIBU that do not appear in VYM (78.5%).
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 AIBU and VYM 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, AIBU or VYM?
AIBU has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIBU or VYM?
Over the past year AIBU returned +34.43% vs +12.81% for VYM, so AIBU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AIBU annualized +56.10% vs +14.11% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIBU or VYM?
AIBU has been the more volatile fund at 55.2% annualized versus 10.5% for VYM. Worst drawdown: AIBU -51.2% vs VYM -14.5%.
Should I hold both AIBU and VYM?
AIBU and VYM 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.
What is the holdings overlap between AIBU and VYM?
17.2% of AIBU's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 9.5% of VYM's is in holdings AIBU also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in AIBU and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIBU or VYM?
AIBU yields 1.65% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than AIBU?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. AIBU led over 1Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.