NAIL vs SPY
Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NAIL or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | NAIL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $502M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.83% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 54 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -39.05% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | -64.20% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -23.57% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -16.77% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 86.7% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -93.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $3,994 | $18,173Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2015 to Sep 9, 2026 (11.1 years).
NAIL 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
NAIL vs SPY Performance
Direxion Daily Homebuilders & Supplies Bull 3X ETF (NAIL) 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 NAIL returned -64.20% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, NAIL is down 39.05% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, NAIL compounded at -23.57% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -16.77% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.20% annualized vs -1.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NAIL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 86.7% compared with 15.1% 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 -93.8% for NAIL 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NAIL charges 0.96% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $9 annually, a gap of $87 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NAIL currently yields 0.83% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings NAIL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NAIL, our book for it covers 93.9% 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 NAIL share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NAIL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 54 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NAIL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHIDr Horton Inc. | 11.28% | 0.06% | 11.22% |
| PHMPultegroup Inc. | 7.13% | 0.04% | 7.09% |
| LENLennar Corp. Class A | 5.33% | 0.03% | 5.30% |
| NVRNvr Inc . | 4.81% | 0.03% | 4.78% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 3.40% | 0.52% | 2.88% |
| SHWSherwin Williams Co/the | 3.70% | 0.12% | 3.58% |
| LOWLowes Cos., Inc. | 3.14% | 0.18% | 2.96% |
| MASMasco Corp. | 2.23% | 0.02% | 2.21% |
| LIILennox International Inc | 2.02% | 0.02% | 2.00% |
| BLDRBuilders Firstsource Inc | 1.16% | 0.01% | 1.15% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NAIL and SPY 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, NAIL or SPY?
NAIL has an expense ratio of 0.96% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $87 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NAIL or SPY?
Over the past year NAIL returned -64.20% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), NAIL annualized -1.95% vs +13.20% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NAIL or SPY?
NAIL has been the more volatile fund at 86.7% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NAIL -93.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both NAIL and SPY?
NAIL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 NAIL and SPY?
At least 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings NAIL also owns. Our book for NAIL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NAIL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NAIL or SPY?
NAIL yields 0.83% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NAIL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.