GMAR vs NUGT
FT Vest US Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March vs Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, GMAR or NUGT?
Each has led over a different period.
GMAR has a lower expense ratio. GMAR led over 1Y, NUGT over 3Y 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 | GMAR | NUGT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85%Best | 1.13% |
| AUM | $428M | $993M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.75% |
| Holdings | 10 | 20 |
| YTD Return | +10.92%Best | -27.70% |
| 1Y Return | +13.38%Best | -17.67% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.33% | +64.31%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 79.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1%Best | -67.4% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $15,276 | $35,607Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 17, 2023 | Dec 8, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 20, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.6 years).
GMAR 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.
GMAR vs NUGT Performance
FT Vest US Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - March (GMAR) 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 GMAR returned +13.38% while NUGT returned -17.67%. Year to date, GMAR is up 10.92% versus a loss of 27.70% for NUGT.
Over three years, GMAR compounded at +12.33% per year against +64.31% for NUGT. Across the full 4-year window we track, NUGT has the edge at +42.30% annualized vs +12.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUGT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 79.9% compared with 4.8% for GMAR. 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 -9.1% for GMAR 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 0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GMAR 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, GMAR currently yields 0.00% against 0.75% for NUGT.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GMAR 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, GMAR or NUGT?
GMAR has an expense ratio of 0.85% while NUGT charges 1.13%. GMAR is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GMAR or NUGT?
Over the past year GMAR returned +13.38% vs -17.67% for NUGT, so GMAR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), GMAR annualized +12.49% vs +42.30% for NUGT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GMAR or NUGT?
NUGT has been the more volatile fund at 79.9% annualized versus 4.8% for GMAR. Worst drawdown: GMAR -9.1% vs NUGT -67.4%.
Should I hold both GMAR and NUGT?
GMAR and NUGT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.03, 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, GMAR or NUGT?
GMAR yields 0.00% while NUGT yields 0.75%, so NUGT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is NUGT better than GMAR?
GMAR has a lower expense ratio. GMAR led over 1Y, NUGT over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.