IVV vs LABU
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3X ETF
Which is better, IVV or LABU?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, LABU over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | IVV | LABU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $580M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.34% |
| Holdings | 508 | 165 |
| YTD Return | +12.39% | +67.11%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.61% | +212.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38% | +45.79%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.51%Best | -25.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 85.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9% | - |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,844Best | $2,237 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | May 28, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2015 to Sep 18, 2026 (11.3 years).
IVV vs LABU 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 11.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs LABU Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3X ETF (LABU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% while LABU returned +212.10%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.39% versus a gain of 67.11% for LABU.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +21.38% per year against +45.79% for LABU; over five years the annualized figures are +13.51% and -25.88% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.72% annualized vs -19.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LABU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 85.1% compared with 15.2% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while LABU charges 0.96%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $96 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.34% for LABU.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.8% of IVV's money is in holdings LABU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for LABU, our book for it covers 90.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
IVV and LABU share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 150 in LABU, against full books of 508 and 165.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in LABU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 0.07% | 2.04% | 1.97% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.68% | 0.70% | 0.02% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.35% | 0.79% | 0.44% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 0.27% | 0.75% | 0.48% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 0.21% | 0.77% | 0.56% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.12% | 0.83% | 0.71% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 0.03% | 0.72% | 0.69% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 0.05% | 0.68% | 0.63% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and LABU 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, IVV or LABU?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while LABU charges 0.96%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or LABU?
Over the past year IVV returned +16.61% vs +212.10% for LABU, so LABU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IVV annualized +12.72% vs -19.46% for LABU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or LABU?
LABU has been the more volatile fund at 85.1% annualized versus 15.2% for IVV.
Should I hold both IVV and LABU?
IVV and LABU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 IVV and LABU?
At least 1.8% of IVV's money is in holdings LABU also owns. Our book for LABU is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 150 in LABU.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or LABU?
IVV yields 1.06% while LABU yields 0.34%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is LABU better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, LABU over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.