FAS vs. XLF
Compare and contrast key facts about Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF).
FAS and XLF are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FAS is a passively managed fund by Direxion that tracks the performance of the Russell 1000 Financial Services Index (300%). It was launched on Nov 6, 2008. XLF is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Financial Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both FAS and XLF 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: FAS or XLF.
Key characteristics
| FAS | XLF | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 34.19% | 12.60% |
| 1Y Return | 106.44% | 34.75% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | -1.80% | 5.62% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 11.37% | 11.71% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 18.50% | 13.71% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.74 | 2.73 |
| Daily Std Dev | 36.68% | 12.28% |
| Max Drawdown | -94.81% | -82.43% |
| Current Drawdown | -25.03% | 0.00% |
Correlation
The correlation between FAS and XLF is 0.98, 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
FAS vs. XLF - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, FAS achieves a 34.19% return, which is significantly higher than XLF's 12.60% return. Over the past 10 years, FAS has outperformed XLF with an annualized return of 18.50%, while XLF has yielded a comparatively lower 13.71% annualized 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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FAS vs. XLF - Expense Ratio Comparison
FAS has a 1.00% expense ratio, which is higher than XLF's 0.13% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
FAS vs. XLF - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) and Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF). 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
FAS vs. XLF - Dividend Comparison
FAS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.50%, less than XLF's 1.52% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAS Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares | 1.50% | 1.77% | 0.91% | 0.60% | 0.47% | 0.62% | 1.43% | 0.11% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund | 1.52% | 1.71% | 2.04% | 1.63% | 2.03% | 1.87% | 2.08% | 1.48% | 1.63% | 2.40% | 1.98% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
FAS vs. XLF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FAS drawdown since its inception was -94.81%, which is greater than XLF's maximum drawdown of -82.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FAS and XLF. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
FAS vs. XLF - Volatility Comparison
Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) has a higher volatility of 7.97% compared to Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLF) at 2.72%. This indicates that FAS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.