PILL vs VOO
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, PILL or VOO?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%.
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 | PILL | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 71 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +61.81%Best | +14.14% |
| 1Y Return | +155.04%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +37.55%Best | +23.04% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.63% | +13.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 60.0% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.9% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,386 | $18,944Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.8% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2017 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2017 to Sep 22, 2026 (8.9 years).
PILL vs VOO 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
PILL vs VOO Performance
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF (PILL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PILL returned +155.04% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, PILL is up 61.81% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, PILL compounded at +37.55% per year against +23.04% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +2.63% and +13.63% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +14.33% annualized vs -1.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PILL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 60.0% compared with 16.3% for VOO. 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 -88.9% for PILL and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PILL charges 0.98% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $3 annually, a gap of $95 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PILL currently yields 0.33% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
8.2% of PILL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.4% of VOO's money is in holdings PILL also owns.
PILL and VOO share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 67 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 494 in VOO, against full books of 71 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for PILL (95.8% of the fund), and 56 for PILL that do not appear in VOO (87.2%).
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
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PILL and VOO 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, PILL or VOO?
PILL has an expense ratio of 0.98% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $95 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PILL or VOO?
Over the past year PILL returned +155.04% vs +17.31% for VOO, so PILL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PILL annualized -1.81% vs +14.33% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PILL or VOO?
PILL has been the more volatile fund at 60.0% annualized versus 16.3% for VOO. Worst drawdown: PILL -88.9% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both PILL and VOO?
PILL and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 PILL and VOO?
8.2% of PILL's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.4% of VOO's is in holdings PILL also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 67 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, PILL or VOO?
PILL yields 0.33% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than PILL?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VOO over 5Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.