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ETF Comparison

SPXL vs VOO: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X Shares and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 16, 2026

ETFs125
Total AUM$78.9B

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 SPXL.

ETFs115
Total AUM$4498B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VOO.

Side-by-side snapshot

SPXLVOO
Full nameDirexion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X SharesVanguard S&P 500 ETF
IssuerDirexionVanguard
Last Close$274.24 as of July 16, 2026$690.14 as of July 16, 2026
Distribution yield0.76%1.14%
Distribution Safety Score 57100
Expense ratio0.91%0.03%
AUM$6.18B$1033B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveTrack the performance of the S&P 500 Index, representing 500 of the largest U.S. companies.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date11/05/200809/07/2010
Beta3.121.0
Last dividend$0.5230$1.9622
Ex-dividend date06/23/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose SPXL if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VOO if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

SPXL has outpaced VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 56.66% total return against 22.11%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPXL has compounded at 28.83% a year, against 15.18% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 44.4% for SPXL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Sep 2010Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
SPXL24.27%56.66%44.15%20.64%28.83%31.47%44.4%0.731.01-48.9%
VOO10.51%22.11%20.13%13.13%15.18%14.95%14.9%0.941.34-18.7%

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 Sep 2010” measures every fund from September 9, 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

SPXL (Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X Shares) and VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VOO offers the higher yield at 1.14% vs 0.76% for SPXL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VOO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.91%.

VOO is the larger fund by assets ($1033B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SPXL would generate roughly $6.33/month, while VOO would produce $9.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SPXL yield0.76%
VOO yield1.14%
Monthly diff on $10K$3.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SPXL would cost approximately $910 in fees vs $30 for VOO (simplified, not compounded). The $880.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SPXL ER0.91%
VOO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

SPXL is an ETF, while VOO tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 3.12 for SPXL and 1.0 for VOO, indicating VOO is less volatile relative to the market.

SPXL beta3.12
VOO beta1.0

Fund details

SPXL is managed by Direxion (launched 11/05/2008) with $6.18B in assets. VOO is managed by Vanguard (launched 09/07/2010) with $1033B in assets.

SPXL AUM$6.18B
VOO AUM$1033B

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Frequently asked questions

Is SPXL or VOO better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VOO 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 SPXL and VOO?

SPXL (Direxion Daily S&P500 Bull 3X Shares) is an ETF, while VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by Direxion and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both SPXL and VOO?

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, SPXL or VOO?

SPXL has an expense ratio of 0.91% while VOO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SPXL vs VOO generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SPXL would generate roughly $6.33 per month ($76.00 annually). The same in VOO would produce about $9.50 per month ($114.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SPXL or VOO?

SPXL has outpaced VOO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 56.66% total return against 22.11%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPXL has compounded at 28.83% a year, against 15.18% for VOO. VOO has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 14.9% against 44.4% for SPXL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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