DUSL vs SPY

DUSL vs SPY

Which is better, DUSL or SPY?

Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. DUSL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: DUSL

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

MetricDUSLSPY
Expense Ratio0.97%0.09%Best
AUM$49M$814.4B
Dividend Yield8.08%1.01%
Holdings89505
YTD Return+19.58%Best+13.78%
1Y Return+37.02%Best+21.44%
3Y Return (annualized)+40.07%Best+21.38%
5Y Return (annualized)+17.74%Best+12.80%
Volatility (annualized)59.8%15.9%Best
Max Drawdown-86.1%-34.1%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$22,627Best$18,262
Fund FamilyDirexion Shares ETF TrustState Street Investment Management
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleTrading-Leveraged EquityLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 3, 2017Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 3, 2017 to Sep 3, 2026 (9.3 years).

DUSL 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 9.3 years both funds cover.

DUSL vs SPY Performance

Direxion Daily Industrials Bull 3X ETF (DUSL) 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 DUSL returned +37.02% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, DUSL is up 19.58% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.

Over three years, DUSL compounded at +40.07% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +17.74% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, DUSL has the edge at +16.46% annualized vs +14.33%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

DUSL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 59.8% compared with 15.9% 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 -86.1% for DUSL and -34.1% 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

DUSL charges 0.97% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $97 vs $9 annually, a gap of $88 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DUSL currently yields 8.08% against 1.01% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

SPY already in DUSL8.8%

At least 8.8% of SPY's money is in holdings DUSL also owns.

Stated as a floor: for DUSL, our book for it covers 94.3% 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 DUSL share little of their money.

83 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in DUSL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 89 and 505.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in DUSLWeight in SPYDifference
CATCaterpillar, Inc.4.75%0.61%4.14%
GEGeneral Electric Co.4.63%0.59%4.04%
RTXRaytheon Co.3.45%0.44%3.01%
GEVGE Vernova Inc. CDR (CAD Hedged)3.22%0.41%2.81%
BABoeing Co2.20%0.28%1.92%
UNPUnion Pacific Corp2.07%0.26%1.81%
ETNEaton Corp Plc2.03%0.26%1.77%
DEDeere & Co Sedol 22612031.83%0.23%1.60%
UBERUber Technologies Inc1.72%0.22%1.50%
PHParker-Hannifin Corp.1.47%0.19%1.28%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of DUSL and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

DUSLSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, DUSL or SPY?

DUSL has an expense ratio of 0.97% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $88 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, DUSL or SPY?

Over the past year DUSL returned +37.02% vs +21.44% for SPY, so DUSL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), DUSL annualized +16.46% vs +14.33% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, DUSL or SPY?

DUSL has been the more volatile fund at 59.8% annualized versus 15.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DUSL -86.1% vs SPY -34.1%.

Should I hold both DUSL and SPY?

DUSL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 DUSL and SPY?

At least 8.8% of SPY's money is in holdings DUSL also owns. Our book for DUSL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 83 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in DUSL and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, DUSL or SPY?

DUSL yields 8.08% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DUSL currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than DUSL?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. DUSL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.