FEBM vs NUGT
FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - February vs Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, FEBM or NUGT?
Each has led over a different period.
FEBM has a lower expense ratio. FEBM 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 | FEBM | NUGT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85%Best | 1.13% |
| AUM | $46M | $993M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| Holdings | 10 | 20 |
| YTD Return | +4.57%Best | -27.70% |
| 1Y Return | +6.24%Best | -17.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +64.31% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.4%Best | 100.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.6%Best | -67.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,009 | $26,105Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Feb 21, 2025 | Dec 8, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.6 years).
FEBM 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.
FEBM vs NUGT Performance
FT Vest US Equity Max Buffer ETF - February (FEBM) 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 FEBM returned +6.24% while NUGT returned -17.67%. Year to date, FEBM is up 4.57% 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 100.0% compared with 2.4% for FEBM. 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 -2.6% for FEBM 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 0.11. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FEBM 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, FEBM currently yields 0.00% against 0.75% for NUGT.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FEBM 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, FEBM or NUGT?
FEBM has an expense ratio of 0.85% while NUGT charges 1.13%. FEBM is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FEBM or NUGT?
Over the past year FEBM returned +6.24% vs -17.67% for NUGT, so FEBM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FEBM annualized +6.19% vs +82.16% for NUGT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FEBM or NUGT?
NUGT has been the more volatile fund at 100.0% annualized versus 2.4% for FEBM. Worst drawdown: FEBM -2.6% vs NUGT -67.4%.
Should I hold both FEBM and NUGT?
FEBM and NUGT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.11, 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, FEBM or NUGT?
FEBM yields 0.00% while NUGT yields 0.75%, so NUGT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NUGT better than FEBM?
FEBM has a lower expense ratio. FEBM 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.