SPXL vs VTI
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SPXL or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SPXL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | SPXL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.8B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.50% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 515 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +28.20%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +39.83%Best | +17.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +48.36%Best | +20.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.63%Best | +11.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 46.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,502Best | $17,514 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 5, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 5, 2008 to Sep 11, 2026 (17.8 years).
SPXL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPXL vs VTI Performance
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X ETF (SPXL) 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 SPXL returned +39.83% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, SPXL is up 28.20% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, SPXL compounded at +48.36% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +19.63% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, SPXL has the edge at +28.49% annualized vs +12.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 46.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -76.9% for SPXL 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
SPXL charges 0.84% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $3 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPXL currently yields 0.50% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 507 holdings in SPXL and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 92.5% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 462 positions appear in both.
462 positions in common, counted across the 507 positions we hold weights for in SPXL and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 515 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPXL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.40% | 6.32% | 0.92% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.78% | 5.84% | 1.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.85% | 3.81% | 0.04% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.86% | 3.17% | 0.31% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.33% | 2.88% | 0.55% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.08% | 2.46% | 0.38% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.87% | 2.27% | 0.40% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.06% | 1.79% | 0.73% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.97% | 1.63% | 0.66% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.93% | 1.40% | 0.47% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPXL 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, SPXL or VTI?
SPXL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPXL or VTI?
Over the past year SPXL returned +39.83% vs +17.22% for VTI, so SPXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), SPXL annualized +28.49% vs +12.81% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPXL or VTI?
SPXL has been the more volatile fund at 46.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SPXL -76.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both SPXL and VTI?
SPXL 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPXL or VTI?
SPXL yields 0.50% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SPXL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SPXL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.