NUGT vs SPUU
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF vs Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF
Which is better, NUGT or SPUU?
Each has led over a different period.
SPUU has a lower expense ratio. NUGT led over 3Y and 5Y, SPUU over 1Y 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 | NUGT | SPUU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.13% | 0.60%Best |
| AUM | $993M | $296M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 1.31% |
| Holdings | 20 | 1,020 |
| YTD Return | -21.62% | +22.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.11% | +28.66%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +68.72%Best | +38.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +23.69%Best | +18.23% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 100.2% | 30.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -99.0% | -59.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $28,952Best | $23,101 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Direxion Shares ETF Trust |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2010 | May 28, 2014 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2014 to Oct 15, 2026 (12.4 years).
NUGT vs SPUU 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 12.4 years both funds cover.
NUGT vs SPUU Performance
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 2X ETF (SPUU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust. Over the past year NUGT returned -17.11% while SPUU returned +28.66%. Year to date, NUGT is down 21.62% versus a gain of 22.88% for SPUU.
Over three years, NUGT compounded at +68.72% per year against +38.44% for SPUU; over five years the annualized figures are +23.69% and +18.23% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPUU has the edge at +18.47% annualized vs -14.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUGT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 100.2% compared with 30.2% for SPUU. 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 -99.0% for NUGT and -59.4% for SPUU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.21. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUGT charges 1.13% per year while SPUU charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $113 vs $60 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUGT currently yields 0.75% against 1.31% for SPUU.
Holdings Overlap
At least 9.1% of SPUU's money is in holdings NUGT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NUGT, our book for it covers 41.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPUU and NUGT share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in NUGT and 506 in SPUU, against full books of 20 and 1,020.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUGT and SPUU 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, NUGT or SPUU?
NUGT has an expense ratio of 1.13% while SPUU charges 0.60%. SPUU is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUGT or SPUU?
Over the past year NUGT returned -17.11% vs +28.66% for SPUU, so SPUU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), NUGT annualized -14.84% vs +18.47% for SPUU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUGT or SPUU?
NUGT has been the more volatile fund at 100.2% annualized versus 30.2% for SPUU. Worst drawdown: NUGT -99.0% vs SPUU -59.4%.
Should I hold both NUGT and SPUU?
NUGT and SPUU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.21, 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 NUGT and SPUU?
At least 9.1% of SPUU's money is in holdings NUGT also owns. Our book for NUGT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 4 positions we hold weights for in NUGT and 506 in SPUU.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUGT or SPUU?
NUGT yields 0.75% while SPUU yields 1.31%, so SPUU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPUU better than NUGT?
SPUU has a lower expense ratio. NUGT led over 3Y and 5Y, SPUU over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.