SOXX vs. SOXL

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL).

SOXX and SOXL are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. SOXX is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index. It was launched on Jul 10, 2001. SOXL is a passively managed fund by Direxion that tracks the performance of the PHLX Semiconductor Index (300%). It was launched on Mar 11, 2010. Both SOXX and SOXL are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

SOXX vs. SOXL - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

SOXX vs. SOXL - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF	9.20%	40.74%	12.92%	67.12%	-35.09%	44.09%	52.72%	62.42%	-6.49%	39.79%
SOXL Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares	13.99%	54.91%	-12.31%	226.98%	-85.66%	118.84%	70.04%	231.83%	-39.07%	141.71%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SOXX achieves a 9.20% return, which is significantly lower than SOXL's 13.99% return. Over the past 10 years, SOXX has underperformed SOXL with an annualized return of 28.01%, while SOXL has yielded a comparatively higher 39.88% annualized return.

SOXX

• 1D: 6.09%
• 1M: -6.65%
• YTD: 9.20%
• 6M: 21.48%
• 1Y: 75.78%
• 3Y*: 31.31%
• 5Y*: 18.49%
• 10Y*: 28.01%

SOXL

• 1D: 17.95%
• 1M: -23.67%
• YTD: 13.99%
• 6M: 37.51%
• 1Y: 201.41%
• 3Y*: 38.75%
• 5Y*: 3.09%
• 10Y*: 39.88%

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

SOXX vs. SOXL - Expense Ratio Comparison

SOXX has a 0.34% expense ratio, which is lower than SOXL's 0.99% expense ratio.

SOXL

Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares

SOXX

iShares Semiconductor ETF

Return for Risk

SOXX vs. SOXL — Risk / Return Rank

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

SOXX

SOXX Risk / Return Rank: 92
SOXX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 90
SOXX Sortino Ratio Rank: 91
SOXX Omega Ratio Rank: 89
SOXX Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
SOXX Martin Ratio Rank: 95

SOXL

SOXL Risk / Return Rank: 90
SOXL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
SOXL Sortino Ratio Rank: 88
SOXL Omega Ratio Rank: 87
SOXL Calmar Ratio Rank: 96
SOXL Martin Ratio Rank: 92

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.

SOXX vs. SOXL - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL). 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.

	SOXX	SOXL	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.90	1.70	+0.20
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.51	2.34	+0.17
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.36	1.34	+0.02
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.12	4.06	+0.06
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	15.37	12.39	+2.98
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SOXX vs. SOXL - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SOXX Sharpe Ratio is 1.90, which is comparable to the SOXL Sharpe Ratio of 1.70. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SOXX and SOXL, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SOXX	SOXL	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.90	1.70	+0.20
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.52	0.03	+0.49
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.85	0.41	+0.44
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.37	0.35	+0.01

Correlation

The correlation between SOXX and SOXL 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.

Dividends

SOXX vs. SOXL - Dividend Comparison

SOXX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.51%, more than SOXL's 0.16% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF	0.51%	0.57%	0.67%	0.78%	1.26%	0.64%	0.81%	1.23%	1.37%	0.90%	1.08%	1.29%
SOXL Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares	0.16%	0.34%	1.18%	0.51%	1.07%	0.04%	0.05%	0.38%	1.30%	0.09%	4.84%	0.00%

Drawdowns

SOXX vs. SOXL - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SOXX drawdown since its inception was -70.21%, smaller than the maximum SOXL drawdown of -90.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SOXX and SOXL.

Drawdown Indicators

	SOXX	SOXL	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-70.21%	-90.46%	+20.25%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-18.27%	-49.26%	+30.99%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-45.75%	-90.46%	+44.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-45.75%	-90.46%	+44.71%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.64%	-33.33%	+22.69%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-20.10%	-35.34%	+15.24%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.90%	16.14%	-11.24%

Volatility

SOXX vs. SOXL - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) is 13.41%, while Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL) has a volatility of 40.35%. This indicates that SOXX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SOXL based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SOXX	SOXL	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	13.41%	40.35%	-26.94%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	26.27%	79.51%	-53.24%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	40.03%	119.21%	-79.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	35.49%	105.43%	-69.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	32.98%	97.70%	-64.72%