URTY vs. LABU

Last updated Jul 21, 2026

URTY (ProShares UltraPro Russell2000) and LABU (Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares) are both Leveraged Equities funds - URTY tracks the Russell 2000 Index (300%) while LABU tracks the S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index (300%). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, URTY returned 6.89%/yr vs -10.02%/yr for LABU. A 0.69 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. URTY charges 0.95%/yr vs 0.96%/yr for LABU.

Performance

URTY vs. LABU - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 (URTY) and Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares (LABU). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, URTY achieves a 51.03% return, which is significantly lower than LABU's 56.28% return. Over the past 10 years, URTY has outperformed LABU with an annualized return of 6.89%, while LABU has yielded a comparatively lower -10.02% annualized return.

URTY

• 1D: -1.82%
• 1M: -4.06%
• 6M: 21.03%
• YTD: 51.03%
• 1Y: 89.88%
• 3Y*: 21.31%
• 5Y*: -4.55%
• 10Y*: 6.89%
• ALL TIME*: 13.88%

LABU

• 1D: -6.20%
• 1M: 20.42%
• 6M: 50.21%
• YTD: 56.28%
• 1Y: 299.44%
• 3Y*: 26.82%
• 5Y*: -27.81%
• 10Y*: -10.02%
• ALL TIME*: -20.02%

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

URTY vs. LABU - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
URTY ProShares UltraPro Russell2000	51.03%	9.26%	7.38%	24.43%	-62.81%	28.47%	-7.72%	72.37%	-39.59%	38.85%
LABU Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares	56.28%	79.17%	-26.02%	-13.41%	-80.36%	-64.15%	74.66%	75.50%	-57.61%	149.12%

Correlation

The correlation between URTY and LABU is 0.58, 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	0.58
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.69
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.72
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.69
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 28, 2015	0.69

The correlation between URTY and LABU shifts across timeframes, from 0.58 (1 year) to 0.72 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

URTY vs. LABU - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	URTY	LABU
Healthcare	20.2%	99.5%
Financial Services	17.7%	0.5%
Technology	14.8%	-
Industrials	14.1%	-
Consumer Cyclical	9.2%	-
Real Estate	6.7%	-
Energy	5.4%	-
Basic Materials	4.4%	0.0%
Utilities	2.7%	-
Consumer Defensive	2.6%	-
Communication Services	2.2%	-

Return for Risk

URTY vs. LABU — Risk / Return Rank

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

URTY

URTY Risk / Return Rank: 64
URTY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 64
URTY Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
URTY Omega Ratio Rank: 54
URTY Calmar Ratio Rank: 74
URTY Martin Ratio Rank: 69

LABU

LABU Risk / Return Rank: 94
LABU Sharpe Ratio Rank: 98
LABU Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
LABU Omega Ratio Rank: 88
LABU Calmar Ratio Rank: 98
LABU 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.

URTY vs. LABU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 (URTY) and Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares (LABU). 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.

	URTY	LABU	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.56	3.81	-2.24
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.15	3.48	-1.32
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.42	-0.16
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.78	9.83	-7.05
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.06	26.93	-17.88

URTY vs. LABU - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current URTY Sharpe Ratio is 1.56, which is lower than the LABU Sharpe Ratio of 3.81. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of URTY and LABU, 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

URTY vs. LABU - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum URTY drawdown since its inception was -88.09%, smaller than the maximum LABU drawdown of -99.18%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for URTY and LABU.

Drawdown Indicators

	URTY	LABU	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-88.09%	-99.18%	+11.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-32.56%	-30.70%	-1.86%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-65.85%	-78.30%	+12.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-82.76%	-97.36%	+14.60%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-88.09%	-98.96%	+10.87%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-37.82%	-94.49%	+56.67%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-34.79%	-81.79%	+47.00%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	9.96%	11.18%	-1.22%

Volatility

URTY vs. LABU - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 (URTY) is 10.88%, while Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares (LABU) has a volatility of 25.41%. This indicates that URTY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than LABU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	URTY	LABU	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	10.88%	25.41%	-14.53%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	42.35%	63.66%	-21.31%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	57.96%	79.41%	-21.45%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	67.35%	96.07%	-28.72%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	69.23%	95.22%	-25.99%

URTY vs. LABU - Expense Ratio Comparison

URTY has a 0.95% expense ratio, which is lower than LABU's 0.96% expense ratio.

Dividends

URTY vs. LABU - Dividend Comparison

URTY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.79%, more than LABU's 0.41% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016
LABU Direxion Daily S&P Biotech Bull 3x Shares	0.41%	0.84%	0.35%	0.35%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.28%	0.64%	0.17%	0.00%
URTY ProShares UltraPro Russell2000	0.79%	1.02%	1.16%	0.55%	0.28%	0.00%	0.00%	0.18%	0.28%	0.00%	0.03%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both URTY and LABU in my portfolio?

URTY and LABU have a correlation of 0.58, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, URTY or LABU?

LABU has higher volatility (25.41%) compared to URTY (10.88%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URTY dropped -88.09% vs LABU's -99.18%.

Which ETF is better, URTY or LABU?

On 10-year performance, URTY leads with 6.89% vs -10.02% for LABU. On fees, URTY is cheaper at 0.95% per year. On volatility, URTY has been the lower-risk option at 10.88%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, URTY or LABU?

Over the 10-year period, URTY has performed better with a 6.89% return vs -10.02%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, URTY or LABU?

URTY is cheaper with a 0.95% expense ratio, compared with 0.96% for LABU.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, URTY or LABU?

URTY has the higher dividend yield at 0.79%, compared with 0.41% for LABU.

What is the main difference between URTY and LABU?

URTY tracks Russell 2000 Index (300%), while LABU tracks S&P Biotechnology Select Industry Index (300%). They also come from different issuers: ProShares and Direxion. Their fees differ too: 0.95% for URTY and 0.96% for LABU.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

LABU currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.81 vs 1.56), 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.