PILL vs VYM
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, PILL or VYM?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% 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 | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 71 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +61.81%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +155.04%Best | +15.42% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +37.55%Best | +17.78% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.63% | +12.05%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 60.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.9% | -35.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,386 | $17,663Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.8% | 26.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Nov 15, 2017 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2017 to Sep 22, 2026 (8.9 years).
PILL vs VYM 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 VYM Performance
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X ETF (PILL) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PILL returned +155.04% while VYM returned +15.42%. Year to date, PILL is up 61.81% versus a gain of 10.96% for VYM.
Over three years, PILL compounded at +37.55% per year against +17.78% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +2.63% and +12.05% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, VYM has the edge at +9.69% 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 15.1% for VYM. 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 -35.7% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PILL charges 0.98% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $4 annually, a gap of $94 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PILL currently yields 0.33% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
9.5% of PILL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.2% of VYM's money is in holdings PILL also owns.
PILL and VYM share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 67 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 557 in VYM, against full books of 71 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 520 positions for VYM that do not appear in our book for PILL (91.9% of the fund), and 55 for PILL that do not appear in VYM (85.8%).
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 VYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.20% | 2.51% | 1.31% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.33% | 1.31% | 0.02% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 1.27% | 0.54% | 0.73% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 1.18% | 0.58% | 0.60% |
| PRGOPerrigo Company Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.36% | 0.01% | 1.35% |
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 1.11% | 0.08% | 1.03% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc, Class A | 1.00% | 0.13% | 0.87% |
| OGNOrganon & Co | 1.08% | 0.01% | 1.07% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PILL and VYM 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 VYM?
PILL has an expense ratio of 0.98% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $94 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PILL or VYM?
Over the past year PILL returned +155.04% vs +15.42% for VYM, so PILL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), PILL annualized -1.81% vs +9.69% for VYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PILL or VYM?
PILL has been the more volatile fund at 60.0% annualized versus 15.1% for VYM. Worst drawdown: PILL -88.9% vs VYM -35.7%.
Should I hold both PILL and VYM?
PILL and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 VYM?
9.5% of PILL's money is in holdings VYM also owns. 5.2% of VYM's is in holdings PILL also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 67 positions we hold weights for in PILL and 557 in VYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, PILL or VYM?
PILL yields 0.33% while VYM yields 2.22%, so VYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than PILL?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. PILL led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. VYM is less concentrated, with 26.1% 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.