DFEN vs. ITA
Compare and contrast key facts about Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares (DFEN) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA).
DFEN and ITA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. DFEN is a passively managed fund by Direxion that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index (300%). It was launched on May 3, 2017. ITA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Select Aerospace & Defense Index. It was launched on May 5, 2006. Both DFEN and ITA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: DFEN or ITA.
Key characteristics
| DFEN | ITA | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 59.62% | 23.54% |
| 1Y Return | 109.21% | 36.12% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 22.92% | 14.44% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | -8.63% | 7.26% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.62 | 2.55 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.95 | 3.42 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.41 | 1.48 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.61 | 5.25 |
| Martin Ratio | 16.53 | 16.76 |
| Ulcer Index | 7.04% | 2.25% |
| Daily Std Dev | 44.46% | 14.76% |
| Max Drawdown | -91.36% | -59.72% |
| Current Drawdown | -42.42% | -1.15% |
Correlation
The correlation between DFEN and ITA is 1.00, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
DFEN vs. ITA - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, DFEN achieves a 59.62% return, which is significantly higher than ITA's 23.54% return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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DFEN vs. ITA - Expense Ratio Comparison
DFEN has a 0.99% expense ratio, which is higher than ITA's 0.42% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
DFEN vs. ITA - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares (DFEN) and iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
DFEN vs. ITA - Dividend Comparison
DFEN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.83%, more than ITA's 0.79% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFEN Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares | 0.83% | 1.13% | 0.46% | 1.89% | 0.48% | 0.50% | 1.07% | 1.46% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF | 0.79% | 0.93% | 0.95% | 0.82% | 1.07% | 1.54% | 1.13% | 0.91% | 1.07% | 1.04% | 1.21% | 1.13% |
Drawdowns
DFEN vs. ITA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DFEN drawdown since its inception was -91.36%, which is greater than ITA's maximum drawdown of -59.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DFEN and ITA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
DFEN vs. ITA - Volatility Comparison
Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares (DFEN) has a higher volatility of 20.81% compared to iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) at 6.96%. This indicates that DFEN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ITA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.