IVV vs PALU
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Direxion Daily PANW Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, IVV or PALU?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. PALU led over 1Y 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 | IVV | PALU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 1.08% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $34M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 4.08% |
| Holdings | 508 | 11 |
| YTD Return | +12.27% | +234.62%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.04% | +146.93%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.24% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.08% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 130.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.7%Best | -62.2% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,675 | $26,650Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Mar 26, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.5 years).
IVV vs PALU 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
IVV vs PALU Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Direxion Daily PANW Bull 2X ETF (PALU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year IVV returned +17.04% while PALU returned +146.93%. Year to date, IVV is up 12.27% versus a gain of 234.62% for PALU.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PALU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 130.6% compared with 12.0% for IVV. 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 -12.7% for IVV and -62.2% for PALU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while PALU charges 1.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $108 annually, a gap of $105 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 4.08% for PALU.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of IVV's money is in holdings PALU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for PALU, our book for it covers 96.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 4 in PALU, against full books of 508 and 11.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in PALU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 0.47% | 14.33% | 13.86% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and PALU 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 PALU?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while PALU charges 1.08%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $105 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or PALU?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.04% vs +146.93% for PALU, so PALU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IVV annualized +23.20% vs +92.22% for PALU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or PALU?
PALU has been the more volatile fund at 130.6% annualized versus 12.0% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -12.7% vs PALU -62.2%.
Should I hold both IVV and PALU?
IVV and PALU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or PALU?
IVV yields 1.06% while PALU yields 4.08%, so PALU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is PALU better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. PALU led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.