DECM vs NUGT
FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - December vs Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, DECM or NUGT?
Each has led over a different period.
DECM has a lower expense ratio. DECM led over 1Y, NUGT over 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 | DECM | NUGT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85%Best | 1.13% |
| AUM | $35M | $993M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| Holdings | 10 | 20 |
| YTD Return | +4.70%Best | -27.70% |
| 1Y Return | +6.60%Best | -17.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +64.31% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5%Best | 96.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.0%Best | -67.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $11,155 | $36,693Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2024 | Dec 8, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
DECM vs NUGT 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.
DECM vs NUGT Performance
FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - December (DECM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year DECM returned +6.60% while NUGT returned -17.67%. Year to date, DECM is up 4.70% versus a loss of 27.70% for NUGT.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUGT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 96.5% compared with 2.5% for DECM. 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 -3.0% for DECM and -67.4% for NUGT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.05. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DECM charges 0.85% per year while NUGT charges 1.13%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $113 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DECM currently yields 0.00% against 0.75% for NUGT.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DECM and NUGT 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, DECM or NUGT?
DECM has an expense ratio of 0.85% while NUGT charges 1.13%. DECM is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DECM or NUGT?
Over the past year DECM returned +6.60% vs -17.67% for NUGT, so DECM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), DECM annualized +6.26% vs +105.90% for NUGT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DECM or NUGT?
NUGT has been the more volatile fund at 96.5% annualized versus 2.5% for DECM. Worst drawdown: DECM -3.0% vs NUGT -67.4%.
Should I hold both DECM and NUGT?
DECM and NUGT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.05, 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, DECM or NUGT?
DECM yields 0.00% while NUGT yields 0.75%, so NUGT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NUGT better than DECM?
DECM has a lower expense ratio. DECM led over 1Y, NUGT over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.