PALD vs SPY

PALD vs SPY

Which is better, PALD or SPY?

Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPY

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

MetricPALDSPY
Expense Ratio1.02%0.09%Best
AUM$3M$804.7B
Dividend Yield6.15%0.98%
Holdings8505
YTD Return-52.85%+12.47%Best
1Y Return-48.04%+17.51%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.18%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.88%
Volatility (annualized)49.0%12.0%Best
Max Drawdown-67.4%-12.7%Best
$10,000 over 1.5 years$4,601$13,741Best
Fund FamilyDirexion Shares ETF TrustState Street Investment Management
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleTrading-Leveraged EquityLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMar 26, 2025Jan 22, 1993

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 11, 2026 (1.5 years).

PALD 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 1.5 years both funds cover.

PALD vs SPY Performance

Direxion Daily PANW Bear 1X ETF (PALD) 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 PALD returned -48.04% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, PALD is down 52.85% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

PALD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 49.0% compared with 12.0% 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 -67.4% for PALD and -12.7% 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 -0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PALD charges 1.02% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $102 vs $9 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PALD currently yields 6.15% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 3 holdings in PALD and 504 in SPY, totalling 107.7% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 3 positions we hold weights for in PALD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 8 and 505.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of PALD and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

PALDSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PALD or SPY?

PALD has an expense ratio of 1.02% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, PALD or SPY?

Over the past year PALD returned -48.04% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PALD annualized -40.40% vs +23.60% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, PALD or SPY?

PALD has been the more volatile fund at 49.0% annualized versus 12.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PALD -67.4% vs SPY -12.7%.

Should I hold both PALD and SPY?

PALD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.30, 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, PALD or SPY?

PALD yields 6.15% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PALD currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than PALD?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.