KORU vs. EWY

Last updated Jun 23, 2026

KORU (Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares) and EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - KORU is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the MSCI Korea 25-50 Index, while EWY is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the MSCI Korea Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, KORU returned 19.66%/yr vs 18.13%/yr for EWY. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. KORU charges 1.29%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for EWY.

Performance

KORU vs. EWY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU) and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, KORU achieves a 499.60% return, which is significantly higher than EWY's 125.28% return. Over the past 10 years, KORU has outperformed EWY with an annualized return of 19.66%, while EWY has yielded a comparatively lower 18.13% annualized return.

KORU

• 1D: -0.19%
• 1M: 39.50%
• YTD: 499.60%
• 6M: 608.55%
• 1Y: 1,446.22%
• 3Y*: 132.53%
• 5Y*: 22.39%
• 10Y*: 19.66%

EWY

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 20.32%
• YTD: 125.28%
• 6M: 138.71%
• 1Y: 226.78%
• 3Y*: 54.89%
• 5Y*: 21.37%
• 10Y*: 18.13%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

KORU vs. EWY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
KORU Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares	499.60%	432.73%	-62.18%	28.61%	-70.16%	-33.86%	48.78%	5.47%	-59.89%	167.08%
EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF	125.28%	95.33%	-20.48%	19.05%	-26.59%	-7.58%	39.43%	7.97%	-20.37%	44.97%

Correlation

The correlation between KORU and EWY is 1.00 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.00
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	1.00
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.00
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.99
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 10, 2013	0.98

The correlation between KORU and EWY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.

KORU vs. EWY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	KORU	EWY
Technology	63.4%	61.4%
Industrials	15.2%	13.8%
Financial Services	7.4%	8.9%
Consumer Cyclical	5.5%	5.1%
Healthcare	2.5%	2.9%
Communication Services	2.1%	2.3%
Basic Materials	1.4%	2.2%
Consumer Defensive	1.3%	1.6%
Energy	0.9%	0.6%
Utilities	0.3%	0.3%
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

KORU vs. EWY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

KORU

KORU Risk / Return Rank: 96
KORU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 99
KORU Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
KORU Omega Ratio Rank: 93
KORU Calmar Ratio Rank: 99
KORU Martin Ratio Rank: 98

EWY

EWY Risk / Return Rank: 95
EWY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
EWY Sortino Ratio Rank: 93
EWY Omega Ratio Rank: 94
EWY Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
EWY Martin Ratio Rank: 96

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

KORU vs. EWY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU) and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	KORU	EWY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	10.51	4.83	+5.68
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.29	4.40	-0.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.62	1.64	-0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	23.83	9.89	+13.94
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	70.47	34.51	+35.96

KORU vs. EWY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current KORU Sharpe Ratio is 10.51, which is higher than the EWY Sharpe Ratio of 4.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of KORU and EWY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

KORU vs. EWY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum KORU drawdown since its inception was -95.79%, which is greater than EWY's maximum drawdown of -74.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KORU and EWY.

Drawdown Indicators

	KORU	EWY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-95.79%	-74.14%	-21.65%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-61.39%	-23.08%	-38.31%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-73.34%	-27.36%	-45.98%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-93.34%	-48.55%	-44.79%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-95.79%	-49.73%	-46.06%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-13.94%	-0.08%	-13.86%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-57.42%	-20.10%	-37.32%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	20.72%	6.60%	+14.12%

Volatility

KORU vs. EWY - Volatility Comparison

Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares (KORU) has a higher volatility of 80.74% compared to iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) at 26.14%. This indicates that KORU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EWY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	KORU	EWY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	80.74%	26.14%	+54.60%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	130.90%	43.40%	+87.50%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	139.56%	47.40%	+92.16%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	89.97%	30.51%	+59.46%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	82.47%	28.24%	+54.23%

KORU vs. EWY - Expense Ratio Comparison

KORU has a 1.29% expense ratio, which is higher than EWY's 0.59% expense ratio.

Dividends

KORU vs. EWY - Dividend Comparison

KORU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.15%, less than EWY's 0.93% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF	0.93%	2.10%	2.55%	2.52%	1.23%	2.16%	0.73%	2.10%	1.34%	2.90%	1.21%	2.42%
KORU Direxion Daily South Korea Bull 3X Shares	0.15%	0.89%	4.10%	2.55%	0.48%	0.76%	0.01%	0.93%	1.40%	3.59%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both KORU and EWY in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 1.00, KORU and EWY move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, KORU or EWY?

KORU has higher volatility (80.74%) compared to EWY (26.14%). In terms of maximum drawdown, KORU dropped -95.79% vs EWY's -74.14%.

Which ETF is better, KORU or EWY?

On 10-year performance, KORU leads with 19.66% vs 18.13% for EWY. On fees, EWY is cheaper at 0.59% per year. On volatility, EWY has been the lower-risk option at 26.14%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, KORU or EWY?

Over the 10-year period, KORU has performed better with a 19.66% return vs 18.13%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, KORU or EWY?

EWY is cheaper with a 0.59% expense ratio, compared with 1.29% for KORU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, KORU or EWY?

EWY has the higher dividend yield at 0.93%, compared with 0.15% for KORU.

What is the main difference between KORU and EWY?

KORU is categorized as Leveraged Equities, while EWY is Asia Pacific Equities. KORU tracks MSCI Korea 25-50 Index, while EWY tracks MSCI Korea Index. They also come from different issuers: Direxion and iShares. Their fees differ too: 1.29% for KORU and 0.59% for EWY.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

KORU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (10.51 vs 4.83), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.