PILL vs VTI
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, PILL or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.8%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 142 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +27.48%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +80.21%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.03%Best | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.01% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 60.3% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,583 | $17,869Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2017 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2017 to Oct 1, 2026 (8.9 years).
PILL 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
PILL vs VTI Performance
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF (PILL) 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 PILL returned +80.21% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, PILL is up 27.48% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, PILL compounded at +31.03% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -3.01% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.53% annualized vs -4.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PILL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 60.3% compared with 16.7% 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 -88.9% for PILL and -35.0% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PILL charges 0.98% per year while VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
66.6% of PILL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.2% of VTI's money is in holdings PILL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, PILL 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.
58 positions in common, counted across the 65 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 142 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,137 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for PILL (94.3% of the fund), and 4 for PILL that do not appear in VTI (32.3%).
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
| Stock | Weight in PILL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMLXAmylyx Pharmaceuticals Inc | 2.92% | 0.00% | 2.92% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.17% | 1.35% | 0.18% |
| MBXMbx Biosciences Inc | 2.25% | 0.00% | 2.25% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.31% | 0.86% | 0.45% |
| OMEROmeros Corp Com | 2.00% | 0.00% | 2.00% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.42% | 0.45% | 0.97% |
| ELVNEnliven Therapeutics Inc | 1.72% | 0.00% | 1.72% |
| CORTCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 1.67% | 0.01% | 1.66% |
| EWTXEdgewise Therapeutics Inc. | 1.59% | 0.00% | 1.59% |
| ETONEton Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 1.59% | 0.00% | 1.59% |
66.6% of PILL is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, PILL or VTI?
PILL has an expense ratio of 0.98% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $95 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PILL or VTI?
Over the past year PILL returned +80.21% vs +15.23% for VTI, so PILL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PILL annualized -4.41% vs +13.53% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PILL or VTI?
PILL has been the more volatile fund at 60.3% annualized versus 16.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: PILL -88.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both PILL and VTI?
PILL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 VTI?
66.6% of PILL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.2% of VTI's is in holdings PILL also owns. They hold 58 positions in common, counted across the 65 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, PILL or VTI?
PILL yields 0.33% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than PILL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.