SPY vs WANT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Direxion Daily Consumer Discretionary Bull 3X ETF
Which is better, SPY or WANT?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | SPY | WANT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.00% |
| AUM | $777.9B | $20M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.92% |
| Holdings | 1,011 | 110 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | -10.63% |
| 1Y Return | +12.45%Best | -15.43% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.45%Best | +19.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.87%Best | -13.93% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 69.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -85.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,521Best | $4,723 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 29, 2018 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2018 to Nov 11, 2026 (8 years).
SPY vs WANT 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 8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WANT Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Direxion Daily Consumer Discretionary Bull 3X ETF (WANT) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year SPY returned +12.45% while WANT returned -15.43%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a loss of 10.63% for WANT.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.45% per year against +19.73% for WANT; over five years the annualized figures are +11.87% and -13.93% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.79% annualized vs +7.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WANT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 69.6% compared with 16.6% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -85.9% for WANT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WANT charges 1.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $100 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.00% against 0.92% for WANT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 8.7% of SPY's money is in holdings WANT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for WANT, our book for it covers 67.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and WANT share little of their money.
47 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 47 in WANT, against full books of 1,011 and 110.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in WANT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.75% | 15.61% | 11.86% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.56% | 11.78% | 10.22% |
| HDHome Depot Inc | 0.44% | 3.54% | 3.10% |
| MCDMcdonald'S Corp | 0.25% | 2.89% | 2.64% |
| TJXTjx Cos., Inc. | 0.24% | 2.90% | 2.66% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 0.18% | 2.27% | 2.09% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp | 0.16% | 2.01% | 1.85% |
| LOWLowes Cos., Inc. | 0.16% | 2.00% | 1.84% |
| MARMarriott Intl-a | 0.12% | 1.50% | 1.38% |
| HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | 0.11% | 1.40% | 1.29% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and WANT 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, SPY or WANT?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WANT charges 1.00%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WANT?
Over the past year SPY returned +12.45% vs -15.43% for WANT, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), SPY annualized +14.79% vs +7.61% for WANT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WANT?
WANT has been the more volatile fund at 69.6% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs WANT -85.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and WANT?
SPY and WANT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 SPY and WANT?
At least 8.7% of SPY's money is in holdings WANT also owns. Our book for WANT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 47 in WANT.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or WANT?
SPY yields 1.00% while WANT yields 0.92%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WANT better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.