PALU vs VTI
Direxion Daily PANW Bull 2X ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PALU or VTI?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
VTI 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 | PALU | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.08% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $34M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.08% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 11 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +234.62%Best | +12.28% |
| 1Y Return | +146.93%Best | +16.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 130.6% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.2% | -13.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $26,650Best | $13,655 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
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).
PALU 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
PALU vs VTI Performance
Direxion Daily PANW Bull 2X ETF (PALU) 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 PALU returned +146.93% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, PALU is up 234.62% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
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 11.9% 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 -62.2% for PALU and -13.0% 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PALU charges 1.08% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $108 vs $3 annually, a gap of $105 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PALU currently yields 4.08% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VTI'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 4 positions we hold weights for in PALU and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 11 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PALU | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 14.33% | 0.38% | 13.95% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PALU 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, PALU or VTI?
PALU has an expense ratio of 1.08% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $105 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PALU or VTI?
Over the past year PALU returned +146.93% vs +16.78% for VTI, so PALU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), PALU annualized +92.22% vs +23.08% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PALU or VTI?
PALU has been the more volatile fund at 130.6% annualized versus 11.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PALU -62.2% vs VTI -13.0%.
Should I hold both PALU and VTI?
PALU and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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, PALU or VTI?
PALU yields 4.08% while VTI yields 1.03%, so PALU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PALU?
VTI 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.