A head-to-head comparison of Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares and iShares Semiconductor ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Direxion is known for creating leveraged and inverse ETFs that amplify or reverse the daily movements of underlying indices and sectors. The firm's 22-fund lineup focuses primarily on leveraged long and short strategies across technology, financials, commodities, and broad market segments, with popular tickers including SOXL (3x leveraged semiconductors), SPXL (3x leveraged S&P 500), and TMF (3x leveraged long-term Treasuries). These funds are designed for tactical, short-term trading rather than buy-and-hold investing, making Direxion a niche player catering to experienced investors seeking amplified market exposure or hedging strategies.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXL.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXX.
Seeks daily investment results of 300% of the performance of the ICE Semiconductor Index.
Tracks the ICE Semiconductor Index of US-listed semiconductor companies.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
03/11/2010
07/10/2001
Beta
7.64
2.24
Last dividend
$0.0100
$0.2830
Ex-dividend date
09/23/2025
09/15/2026
Bottom lineSOXL and SOXX are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar leveraged exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: SOXX is cheaper at 0.35% vs 0.76%.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
SOXL has outpaced SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 422.25% total return against 116.43%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SOXL has compounded at 53.77% a year, against 33.42% for SOXX. SOXX has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 38.6% against 114.9% for SOXL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Mar 2010” measures every fund from March 11, 2010 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares) and SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
SOXX offers the higher yield at 0.21% vs 0.03% for SOXL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SOXX is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.35% compared to 0.76%.
They track different benchmarks: SOXL is linked to ICE Semiconductor while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SOXX is the larger fund by assets ($36.9B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, SOXL would generate roughly $0.25/month, while SOXX would produce $1.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
SOXL yield0.03%
SOXX yield0.21%
Monthly diff on $10K$1.50
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, SOXL would cost approximately $760 in fees vs $350 for SOXX (simplified, not compounded). The $410.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
SOXL ER0.76%
SOXX ER0.35%
Strategy & risk
SOXL tracks ICE Semiconductor with a leverage approach, while SOXX tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. Beta is 7.64 for SOXL and 2.24 for SOXX, indicating SOXX is less volatile relative to the market.
SOXL beta7.64
SOXX beta2.24
Fund details
SOXL is managed by Direxion (launched 03/11/2010) with $29.7B in assets. SOXX is managed by iShares (launched 07/10/2001) with $36.9B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is SOXL or SOXX better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SOXX currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between SOXL and SOXX?
SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares) tracks ICE Semiconductor with a leverage approach, while SOXX (iShares Semiconductor ETF) tracks ICE Semiconductor Index. They are issued by Direxion and iShares respectively.
Can I hold both SOXL and SOXX?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, SOXL or SOXX?
SOXL has an expense ratio of 0.76% while SOXX charges 0.35%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in SOXL vs SOXX generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in SOXL would generate roughly $0.25 per month ($3.00 annually). The same in SOXX would produce about $1.75 per month ($21.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, SOXL or SOXX?
SOXL has outpaced SOXX over the trailing twelve months, posting a 422.25% total return against 116.43%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SOXL has compounded at 53.77% a year, against 33.42% for SOXX. SOXX has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 38.6% against 114.9% for SOXL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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