IVV vs LABU
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3X ETF
Which is better, IVV or LABU?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, LABU over 1Y and 3Y. LABU is less concentrated, with 32.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%.
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 | IVV | LABU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.93% |
| AUM | $896.5B | $562M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 0.34% |
| Holdings | 508 | 325 |
| YTD Return | +13.59% | +33.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.54% | +96.63%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.46% | +47.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.28%Best | -28.40% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 85.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9% | - |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,654Best | $1,882 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9% | 32.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | May 28, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2015 to Oct 14, 2026 (11.4 years).
IVV vs LABU 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
IVV vs LABU Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3X ETF (LABU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% while LABU returned +96.63%. Year to date, IVV is up 13.59% versus a gain of 33.35% for LABU.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +22.46% per year against +47.83% for LABU; over five years the annualized figures are +13.28% and -28.40% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.74% annualized vs -20.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LABU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 85.1% compared with 15.1% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while LABU charges 0.93%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $93 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.10% against 0.34% for LABU.
Holdings Overlap
1.8% of IVV's money is in holdings LABU also owns. 9.6% of LABU's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
LABU and IVV share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 161 in LABU, against full books of 508 and 325.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 146 positions for LABU that do not appear in our book for IVV (86.9% of the fund), and 492 for IVV that do not appear in LABU (97.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IVV | Weight in LABU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.69% | 1.21% | 0.52% |
| MRNAModerna | 0.11% | 1.62% | 1.51% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc | 0.33% | 1.19% | 0.86% |
| GILDGild Gilead Sciences Inc. | 0.28% | 1.15% | 0.87% |
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc - Common | 0.19% | 1.12% | 0.93% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. | 0.05% | 1.21% | 1.16% |
| REGNRegeneron Parmaceuticals Inc. | 0.11% | 1.05% | 0.94% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 0.03% | 1.06% | 1.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and LABU 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, IVV or LABU?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while LABU charges 0.93%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or LABU?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.54% vs +96.63% for LABU, so LABU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IVV annualized +12.74% vs -20.93% for LABU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or LABU?
LABU has been the more volatile fund at 85.1% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV.
Should I hold both IVV and LABU?
IVV and LABU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 IVV and LABU?
9.6% of LABU's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 9.6% of LABU's is in holdings IVV also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 161 in LABU.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or LABU?
IVV yields 1.10% while LABU yields 0.34%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is LABU better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 5Y and the full window, LABU over 1Y and 3Y. LABU is less concentrated, with 32.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.