IVV vs RETL
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF
Which is better, IVV or RETL?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.4%.
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 | IVV | RETL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.96% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $25M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.56% |
| Holdings | 508 | 82 |
| YTD Return | +11.03%Best | -22.26% |
| 1Y Return | +15.62%Best | -30.59% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.81%Best | +7.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.61%Best | -29.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2%Best | 70.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -92.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,109Best | $1,789 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 39.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jul 14, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2010 to Sep 16, 2026 (16.2 years).
IVV vs RETL 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.
IVV vs RETL Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF (RETL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year IVV returned +15.62% while RETL returned -30.59%. Year to date, IVV is up 11.03% versus a loss of 22.26% for RETL.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +20.81% per year against +7.98% for RETL; over five years the annualized figures are +12.61% and -29.12% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.21% annualized vs +11.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RETL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 70.4% compared with 14.2% 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 -33.9% for IVV and -92.0% for RETL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while RETL 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 0.56% for RETL.
Holdings Overlap
6.2% of IVV's money is in holdings RETL also owns. 17.3% of RETL's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
RETL and IVV share little of their money.
17 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 77 in RETL, against full books of 508 and 82.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 59 positions for RETL that do not appear in our book for IVV (82.2% of the fund), and 465 for IVV that do not appear in RETL (92.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in RETL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.84% | 1.06% | 2.78% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.63% | 0.95% | 0.32% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.69% | 0.87% | 0.18% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | 0.11% | 1.27% | 1.16% |
| DGDollar General Corp. | 0.04% | 1.18% | 1.14% |
| DLTRDollar Tree Inc. | 0.03% | 1.18% | 1.15% |
| ULTAUlta Beauty Inc. | 0.04% | 1.15% | 1.11% |
| CVNACarvana Co | 0.08% | 1.07% | 0.99% |
| TSCOTractor Supply Co. | 0.03% | 1.12% | 1.09% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.02% | 1.08% | 1.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and RETL 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 RETL?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while RETL charges 0.96%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or RETL?
Over the past year IVV returned +15.62% vs -30.59% for RETL, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IVV annualized +13.21% vs +11.53% for RETL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or RETL?
RETL has been the more volatile fund at 70.4% annualized versus 14.2% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -33.9% vs RETL -92.0%.
Should I hold both IVV and RETL?
IVV and RETL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 RETL?
17.3% of RETL's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 17.3% of RETL's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 77 in RETL.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or RETL?
IVV yields 1.06% while RETL yields 0.56%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RETL better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.