SPUU vs VXUS
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPUU or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SPUU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $284M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.28% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 510 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +20.71%Best | +14.48% |
| 1Y Return | +29.02%Best | +22.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.53%Best | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.83%Best | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.3% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.4% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,713Best | $15,323 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 28, 2014 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026 (12.3 years).
SPUU vs VXUS 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 VXUS Performance
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF (SPUU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPUU returned +29.02% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, SPUU is up 20.71% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Over three years, SPUU compounded at +35.53% per year against +20.00% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +17.83% and +8.91% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPUU has the edge at +18.45% annualized vs +5.43%.
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 VXUS. 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 -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPUU charges 0.60% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $5 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPUU currently yields 1.28% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of SPUU's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
5 positions in common, counted across the 507 positions we hold weights for in SPUU and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 510 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPUU and VXUS 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, SPUU or VXUS?
SPUU has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPUU or VXUS?
Over the past year SPUU returned +29.02% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so SPUU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SPUU annualized +18.45% vs +5.43% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPUU or VXUS?
SPUU has been the more volatile fund at 30.3% annualized versus 14.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SPUU -59.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPUU and VXUS?
SPUU and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPUU or VXUS?
SPUU yields 1.28% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SPUU?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SPUU led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.