SPUU vs SPY
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPUU or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPUU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.1%.
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 | SPUU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $284M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.28% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 510 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +20.47%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +27.27%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.83%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.99%Best | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.3% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,854Best | $18,728 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.1% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 28, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.3 years).
SPUU vs SPY 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
SPUU vs SPY Performance
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF (SPUU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPUU returned +27.27% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, SPUU is up 20.47% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, SPUU compounded at +35.83% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +18.99% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPUU has the edge at +18.40% annualized vs +12.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPUU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.3% compared with 14.7% for SPY. 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 -59.4% for SPUU and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPUU charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPUU currently yields 1.28% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.5% of SPUU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SPUU also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside SPUU. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
498 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPUU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 510 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SPUU (1.4% of the fund), and 7 for SPUU that do not appear in SPY (11.3%).
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 SPUU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.31% | 8.01% | 0.70% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.63% | 7.26% | 0.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.17% | 5.66% | 0.49% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.46% | 3.79% | 0.33% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.73% | 2.99% | 0.26% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.43% | 2.66% | 0.23% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.18% | 2.39% | 0.21% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.76% | 1.93% | 0.17% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.46% | 1.60% | 0.14% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.39% | 1.52% | 0.13% |
98.1% of SPY is already inside SPUU.
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, SPUU or SPY?
SPUU has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPUU or SPY?
Over the past year SPUU returned +27.27% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPUU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SPUU annualized +18.40% vs +12.55% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPUU or SPY?
SPUU has been the more volatile fund at 30.3% annualized versus 14.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPUU -59.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SPUU and SPY?
SPUU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPUU and SPY?
98.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SPUU also owns. 98.1% of SPY's is in holdings SPUU also owns. They hold 498 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPUU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPUU or SPY?
SPUU yields 1.28% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPUU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPUU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPUU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.