RETL vs VTI
Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, RETL or VTI?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RETL led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | RETL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $31M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 165 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | -5.08% | +8.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.53%Best | +11.14% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.05% | +20.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -29.18% | +9.84%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 70.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -92.0% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $1,781 | $15,988Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 14, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2010 to Nov 6, 2026 (16.3 years).
RETL 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 16.3 years both funds cover.
RETL vs VTI Performance
Direxion Daily Retail Bull 3X ETF (RETL) 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 RETL returned +19.53% while VTI returned +11.14%. Year to date, RETL is down 5.08% versus a gain of 8.54% for VTI.
Over three years, RETL compounded at +16.05% per year against +20.29% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -29.18% and +9.84% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, RETL has the edge at +12.80% annualized vs +12.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RETL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 70.3% compared with 14.6% 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 -92.0% for RETL 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RETL charges 0.96% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $3 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RETL currently yields 0.80% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 5.6% of VTI's money is in holdings RETL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RETL, our book for it covers 63.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and RETL share little of their money.
73 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in RETL and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 165 and 3,542.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RETL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.86% | 3.30% | 2.44% |
| WMTWalmart Inc | 0.95% | 0.62% | 0.33% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.93% | 0.55% | 0.38% |
| GMEGamestop Corp | 1.20% | 0.01% | 1.19% |
| TJXTjx Cos., Inc. | 0.98% | 0.20% | 0.78% |
| OLLIOllie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc | 1.13% | 0.01% | 1.12% |
| KSSKohl's Corp. | 1.09% | 0.00% | 1.09% |
| ETSYEtsy Inc | 1.07% | 0.01% | 1.06% |
| EBAYEbay Inc. | 1.02% | 0.06% | 0.96% |
| VSCOVictoria'S Secret & Co Common Stock USD 0.01 | 1.02% | 0.01% | 1.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RETL 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, RETL or VTI?
RETL has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RETL or VTI?
Over the past year RETL returned +19.53% vs +11.14% for VTI, so RETL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), RETL annualized +12.80% vs +12.69% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RETL or VTI?
RETL has been the more volatile fund at 70.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: RETL -92.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both RETL and VTI?
RETL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 RETL and VTI?
At least 5.6% of VTI's money is in holdings RETL also owns. Our book for RETL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 73 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in RETL and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, RETL or VTI?
RETL yields 0.80% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than RETL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. RETL led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.