URAA vs. NUGT

Last updated Jul 18, 2026

URAA (Direxion Daily Uranium Industry Bull 2X Shares) and NUGT (Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - URAA is a Uranium fund tracking the Solactive United States Uranium and Nuclear Energy ETF Select Index (200%), while NUGT is a Gold fund tracking the MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index (200%). Both are passively managed. Over the past year, URAA returned -28.91% vs 44.87% for NUGT. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. URAA charges 1.28%/yr vs 1.13%/yr for NUGT.

Performance

URAA vs. NUGT - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, URAA achieves a -35.10% return, which is significantly higher than NUGT's -43.53% return.

URAA

• 1D: -1.48%
• 1M: -32.62%
• 6M: -58.05%
• YTD: -35.10%
• 1Y: -28.91%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

NUGT

• 1D: -0.44%
• 1M: -29.95%
• 6M: -55.81%
• YTD: -43.53%
• 1Y: 44.87%
• 3Y*: 38.46%
• 5Y*: 13.50%
• 10Y*: -15.70%

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

URAA vs. NUGT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
URAA Direxion Daily Uranium Industry Bull 2X Shares	-35.10%	88.33%	-25.73%
NUGT Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF	-43.53%	425.05%	-5.50%

Correlation

The correlation between URAA and NUGT is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.55
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 26, 2024	0.47

The correlation between URAA and NUGT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.47 to 0.55 - a consistent structural relationship.

URAA vs. NUGT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	URAA	NUGT
Energy	62.5%	-
Industrials	17.0%	-
Utilities	16.6%	-
Basic Materials	2.9%	100.0%
Technology	1.0%	-
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Financial Services	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

URAA vs. NUGT — Risk / Return Rank

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

URAA

URAA Risk / Return Rank: 8
URAA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7
URAA Sortino Ratio Rank: 10
URAA Omega Ratio Rank: 10
URAA Calmar Ratio Rank: 6
URAA Martin Ratio Rank: 6

NUGT

NUGT Risk / Return Rank: 22
NUGT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 18
NUGT Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
NUGT Omega Ratio Rank: 28
NUGT Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
NUGT Martin Ratio Rank: 18

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.

URAA vs. NUGT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily Uranium Industry Bull 2X Shares (URAA) 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.

	URAA	NUGT	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.30	0.47	-0.77
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.18	1.20	-1.01
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.02	1.16	-0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.43	0.67	-1.10
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.86	1.45	-2.31

URAA vs. NUGT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current URAA Sharpe Ratio is -0.30, which is lower than the NUGT Sharpe Ratio of 0.47. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of URAA 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.

Drawdowns

URAA vs. NUGT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum URAA drawdown since its inception was -67.45%, smaller than the maximum NUGT drawdown of -99.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for URAA and NUGT.

Drawdown Indicators

	URAA	NUGT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-67.45%	-99.97%	+32.52%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-67.32%	-66.89%	-0.43%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-66.89%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-73.72%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-96.91%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-67.32%	-99.87%	+32.55%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-28.97%	-91.56%	+62.59%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	33.55%	31.13%	+2.42%

Volatility

URAA vs. NUGT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Direxion Daily Uranium Industry Bull 2X Shares (URAA) is 19.10%, while Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF (NUGT) has a volatility of 22.88%. This indicates that URAA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NUGT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	URAA	NUGT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	19.10%	22.88%	-3.78%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	73.04%	80.16%	-7.12%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	96.44%	95.34%	+1.10%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	89.13%	73.31%	+15.82%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	89.13%	87.69%	+1.44%

URAA vs. NUGT - Expense Ratio Comparison

URAA has a 1.28% expense ratio, which is higher than NUGT's 1.13% expense ratio.

Dividends

URAA vs. NUGT - Dividend Comparison

URAA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 15.52%, more than NUGT's 0.69% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
NUGT Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2X ETF	0.69%	0.22%	1.79%	1.67%	0.70%	0.00%	0.00%	0.63%	0.57%
URAA Direxion Daily Uranium Industry Bull 2X Shares	15.52%	9.14%	4.36%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both URAA and NUGT in my portfolio?

URAA and NUGT have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, URAA or NUGT?

NUGT has higher volatility (22.88%) compared to URAA (19.10%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URAA dropped -67.45% vs NUGT's -99.97%.

Which ETF is better, URAA or NUGT?

On 1-year performance, NUGT leads with 44.87% vs -28.91% for URAA. On fees, NUGT is cheaper at 1.13% per year. On volatility, URAA has been the lower-risk option at 19.10%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, URAA or NUGT?

Over the 1-year period, NUGT has performed better with a 44.87% return vs -28.91%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, URAA or NUGT?

NUGT is cheaper with a 1.13% expense ratio, compared with 1.28% for URAA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, URAA or NUGT?

URAA has the higher dividend yield at 15.52%, compared with 0.69% for NUGT.

What is the main difference between URAA and NUGT?

URAA is categorized as Uranium, while NUGT is Gold. URAA tracks Solactive United States Uranium and Nuclear Energy ETF Select Index (200%), while NUGT tracks MarketVector Global Gold Miners Index (200%). Their fees differ too: 1.28% for URAA and 1.13% for NUGT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

NUGT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.47 vs -0.30), 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.