FAS vs VOO
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, FAS or VOO?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FAS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VOO over 5Y.
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 | FAS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $1.0T |
| Dividend Yield | 8.89% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 183 | 519 |
| YTD Return | +0.91% | +8.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.85%Best | +10.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +46.89%Best | +20.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.08% | +10.97%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 52.2% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -86.0% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,433 | $16,828Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 6, 2008 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Nov 6, 2026 (16.2 years).
FAS vs VOO 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 16.2 years both funds cover.
FAS vs VOO Performance
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X ETF (FAS) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FAS returned +14.85% while VOO returned +10.96%. Year to date, FAS is up 0.91% versus a gain of 8.52% for VOO.
Over three years, FAS compounded at +46.89% per year against +20.51% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.08% and +10.97% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, FAS has the edge at +21.34% annualized vs +13.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FAS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 52.2% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -86.0% for FAS and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FAS charges 0.88% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $3 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FAS currently yields 8.89% against 1.05% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 9.9% of VOO's money is in holdings FAS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FAS, our book for it covers 73.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VOO and FAS share little of their money.
74 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in FAS and 506 in VOO, against full books of 183 and 519.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FAS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 8.07% | 1.33% | 6.74% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 6.17% | 0.91% | 5.26% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 4.51% | 0.68% | 3.83% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 3.04% | 0.54% | 2.50% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 2.35% | 0.37% | 1.98% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.27% | 0.37% | 1.90% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 1.97% | 0.34% | 1.63% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.87% | 0.32% | 1.55% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 1.50% | 0.24% | 1.26% |
| BLKBlackrock Inc | 1.46% | 0.23% | 1.23% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FAS and VOO 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, FAS or VOO?
FAS has an expense ratio of 0.88% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FAS or VOO?
Over the past year FAS returned +14.85% vs +10.96% for VOO, so FAS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), FAS annualized +21.34% vs +13.02% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FAS or VOO?
FAS has been the more volatile fund at 52.2% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: FAS -86.0% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both FAS and VOO?
FAS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 FAS and VOO?
At least 9.9% of VOO's money is in holdings FAS also owns. Our book for FAS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 74 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in FAS and 506 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, FAS or VOO?
FAS yields 8.89% while VOO yields 1.05%, so FAS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than FAS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. FAS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VOO over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.