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PLTU vs. NUGT
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

PLTU vs. NUGT

Last updated Aug 6, 2026
Documentation

PLTU (Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF) and NUGT (Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PLTU is a Leveraged Equities fund actively managed by Direxion, while NUGT is a Gold fund tracking the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index (200%). PLTU is actively managed, while NUGT is passively managed. Over the past year, PLTU returned -45.63% vs 63.36% for NUGT. Their 0.15 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. PLTU charges 0.86%/yr vs 1.13%/yr for NUGT.

Performance

PLTU vs. NUGT - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF (PLTU) and Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PLTU achieves a -41.29% return, which is significantly lower than NUGT's -23.48% return.

PLTU

1D
-5.09%
1M
31.95%
6M
0.05%
YTD
-41.29%
1Y
-45.63%
3Y*
—
5Y*
—
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
60.34%

NUGT

1D
14.65%
1M
10.28%
6M
-39.87%
YTD
-23.48%
1Y
63.36%
3Y*
64.10%
5Y*
21.76%
10Y*
-13.24%
ALL TIME*
-32.81%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

NUGT

Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF
$74.11M$72.39M$87.54M

PLTU

Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF
$128.32M$105.18M$113.60M

PLTU vs. NUGT - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)20252024
PLTU
Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF		-41.29%223.17%14.77%
NUGT
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF		-23.48%425.05%-18.98%

Correlation

The correlation between PLTU and NUGT is 0.21, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.21

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 11, 2024

0.15

PLTU vs. NUGT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
PLTU
NUGT

Technology

100.0%

-

Basic Materials

-

100.0%

Communication Services

-

-

Consumer Cyclical

-

-

Consumer Defensive

-

-

Energy

-

-

Financial Services

-

-

Healthcare

-

-

Industrials

-

-

Real Estate

-

-

Utilities

-

-

Technology

PLTU
100.0%
NUGT

-

Basic Materials

PLTU

-

NUGT
100.0%

Communication Services

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Consumer Cyclical

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Consumer Defensive

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Energy

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Financial Services

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Healthcare

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Industrials

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Real Estate

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Utilities

PLTU

-

NUGT

-

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF

Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF

Often compared with PLTU:
PLTU vs. PTIRPLTU vs. PLTWPLTU vs. PLTRPLTU vs. NVDLPLTU vs. PLTGPLTU vs. PLTYPLTU vs. ROBNX
Often compared with NUGT:
NUGT vs. GDXUNUGT vs. UGLNUGT vs. JNUGNUGT vs. GLDNUGT vs. DUSTNUGT vs. SILNUGT vs. JDST

Return for Risk

PLTU vs. NUGT — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
PLTU
PLTU Risk / Return Rank: 77
Overall Rank
PLTU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
Sharpe Ratio Rank
PLTU Sortino Ratio Rank: 99
Sortino Ratio Rank
PLTU Omega Ratio Rank: 99
Omega Ratio Rank
PLTU Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
Calmar Ratio Rank
PLTU Martin Ratio Rank: 55
Martin Ratio Rank
NUGT
NUGT Risk / Return Rank: 2828
Overall Rank
NUGT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2525
Sharpe Ratio Rank
NUGT Sortino Ratio Rank: 3232
Sortino Ratio Rank
NUGT Omega Ratio Rank: 3434
Omega Ratio Rank
NUGT Calmar Ratio Rank: 2626
Calmar Ratio Rank
NUGT Martin Ratio Rank: 2222
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

PLTU vs. NUGT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF (PLTU) and Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT). 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.

PLTUNUGTDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
-0.39
0.66

-1.05

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
0.07
1.38

-1.31

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.01

1.18

-0.18

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

-0.58

0.94

-1.52

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

-0.93

1.86

-2.79

PLTU vs. NUGT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PLTU Sharpe Ratio is -0.39, which is lower than the NUGT Sharpe Ratio of 0.66. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PLTU and NUGT, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

PLTU vs. NUGT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PLTU drawdown since its inception was -79.43%, smaller than the maximum NUGT drawdown of -99.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PLTU and NUGT.

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Drawdown Indicators

PLTUNUGTDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-79.43%

-99.97%

+20.54%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-79.43%

-67.40%

-12.03%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

—

-67.40%

—

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

—

-73.72%

—

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-96.89%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-59.18%

-99.82%

+40.64%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-35.85%

-91.59%

+55.74%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

48.98%

34.24%

+14.74%

Volatility

PLTU vs. NUGT - Volatility Comparison

Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF (PLTU) has a higher volatility of 53.82% compared to Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT) at 26.91%. This indicates that PLTU's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than NUGT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

PLTUNUGTDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

53.82%

26.91%

+26.91%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

92.81%

76.01%

+16.80%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

119.30%

96.82%

+22.48%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

132.75%

73.97%

+58.78%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

132.75%

87.48%

+45.27%

PLTU vs. NUGT - Expense Ratio Comparison

PLTU has a 0.86% expense ratio, which is lower than NUGT's 1.13% expense ratio.

Dividends

PLTU vs. NUGT - Dividend Comparison

PLTU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 40.61%, more than NUGT's 0.51% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018
NUGT
Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF		0.51%0.22%1.79%1.67%0.70%0.00%0.00%0.63%0.57%
PLTU
Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X ETF		40.61%23.29%0.12%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

PLTU and NUGT have a correlation of 0.21, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

PLTU has higher volatility (53.82%) compared to NUGT (26.91%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PLTU dropped -79.43% vs NUGT's -99.97%.

On 1-year performance, NUGT leads with 63.36% vs -45.63% for PLTU. On fees, PLTU is cheaper at 0.86% per year. On volatility, NUGT has been the lower-risk option at 26.91%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 1-year period, NUGT has performed better with a 63.36% return vs -45.63%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

PLTU is cheaper with a 0.86% expense ratio, compared with 1.13% for NUGT.

PLTU has the higher dividend yield at 40.61%, compared with 0.51% for NUGT.

PLTU is categorized as Leveraged Equities, while NUGT is Gold. Their fees differ too: 0.86% for PLTU and 1.13% for NUGT.

NUGT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.66 vs -0.39), 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.

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