SPUU vs VTI

SPUU vs VTI

Which is better, SPUU or VTI?

Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.

VTI 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. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.1%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: SPUULess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricSPUUVTI
Expense Ratio0.60%0.03%Best
AUM$284M$666.9B
Dividend Yield1.28%1.03%
Holdings5103,543
YTD Return+17.48%Best+11.06%
1Y Return+24.80%Best+15.41%
3Y Return (annualized)+34.59%Best+20.48%
5Y Return (annualized)+17.11%Best+11.52%
Volatility (annualized)30.3%15.2%Best
Max Drawdown-59.4%-35.0%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$22,028Best$17,249
Top 10 Weight42.1%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyDirexion Shares ETF TrustVanguard (US)
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleMulti AlternativeLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 28, 2014May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2014 to Sep 16, 2026 (12.3 years).

SPUU 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 12.3 years both funds cover.

SPUU vs VTI Performance

Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF (SPUU) 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 SPUU returned +24.80% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, SPUU is up 17.48% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.

Over three years, SPUU compounded at +34.59% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +17.11% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPUU has the edge at +18.17% annualized vs +12.03%.

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 15.2% 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 -59.4% for SPUU 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 0.99. 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 VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $3 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPUU currently yields 1.28% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

SPUU already in VTI89.5%
VTI already in SPUU87.1%

89.5% of SPUU's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 87.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SPUU also owns.

Most of SPUU is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

496 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPUU and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 510 and 3,543.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 659 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SPUU (10.5% of the fund), and 9 for SPUU that do not appear in VTI (11.2%).

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

StockWeight in SPUUWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp7.31%6.40%0.91%
AAPLApple, Inc6.63%6.29%0.34%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.17%4.79%0.38%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc3.46%3.65%0.19%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A2.73%2.90%0.17%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.43%2.56%0.13%
GOOGAlphabet Inc2.18%2.31%0.13%
METAMeta Platforms Inc1.76%1.70%0.06%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.1.46%1.29%0.17%
JPMJpmorgan Chase1.32%1.31%0.01%

89.5% of SPUU 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.

SPUUVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPUU or VTI?

SPUU has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPUU or VTI?

Over the past year SPUU returned +24.80% vs +15.41% for VTI, so SPUU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SPUU annualized +18.17% vs +12.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SPUU or VTI?

SPUU has been the more volatile fund at 30.3% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SPUU -59.4% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both SPUU and VTI?

SPUU and VTI 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 VTI?

89.5% of SPUU's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 87.1% of VTI's is in holdings SPUU also owns. They hold 496 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPUU and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, SPUU or VTI?

SPUU yields 1.28% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SPUU currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than SPUU?

VTI 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. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% 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.