NFXL vs VTI
Direxion Daily NFLX Bull 2X ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, NFXL or VTI?
Leverage Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 | NFXL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.05% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $132M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.31% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 20 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -54.64% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -74.08% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 72.5% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.4% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $5,642 | $13,832Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Leverage Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 3, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 3, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (2 years).
NFXL vs VTI 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 2 years both funds cover.
NFXL vs VTI Performance
Direxion Daily NFLX Bull 2X ETF (NFXL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NFXL returned -74.08% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, NFXL is down 54.64% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NFXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 72.5% compared with 12.9% for VTI. 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 -81.4% for NFXL and -19.3% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.20. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NFXL charges 1.05% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $105 vs $3 annually, a gap of $102 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NFXL currently yields 10.31% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings NFXL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NFXL, our book for it covers 88.5% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, NFXL as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in NFXL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 20 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NFXL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 15.92% | 0.42% | 15.50% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NFXL and VTI 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, NFXL or VTI?
NFXL has an expense ratio of 1.05% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $102 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NFXL or VTI?
Over the past year NFXL returned -74.08% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NFXL annualized -24.89% vs +17.61% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NFXL or VTI?
NFXL has been the more volatile fund at 72.5% annualized versus 12.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: NFXL -81.4% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both NFXL and VTI?
NFXL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.20, 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, NFXL or VTI?
NFXL yields 10.31% while VTI yields 1.03%, so NFXL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than NFXL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.