YGLD vs. NUGT

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

YGLD (Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF) and NUGT (Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares) are both exchange-traded funds - YGLD is a Gold fund actively managed by Simplify, while NUGT is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (300%). YGLD is actively managed, while NUGT is passively managed. Over the past year, YGLD returned 23.02% vs 97.46% for NUGT. A 0.77 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. YGLD charges 0.50%/yr vs 1.23%/yr for NUGT.

Performance

YGLD vs. NUGT - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, YGLD achieves a -7.24% return, which is significantly higher than NUGT's -16.05% return.

YGLD

• 1D: -1.34%
• 1M: -2.29%
• YTD: -7.24%
• 6M: -7.14%
• 1Y: 23.02%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

NUGT

• 1D: -6.64%
• 1M: -4.13%
• YTD: -16.05%
• 6M: -6.29%
• 1Y: 97.46%
• 3Y*: 60.96%
• 5Y*: 16.32%
• 10Y*: -8.54%

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

YGLD vs. NUGT - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
YGLD Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF	-7.24%	96.82%	-4.17%
NUGT Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares	-16.05%	425.05%	-18.17%

Correlation

The correlation between YGLD and NUGT is 0.78, 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	0.78
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 4, 2024	0.77

The correlation between YGLD and NUGT has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.77 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.

YGLD vs. NUGT - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	YGLD	NUGT
Financial Services	32.3%	-
Basic Materials	-	100.0%
Communication Services	-	-
Consumer Cyclical	-	-
Consumer Defensive	-	-
Energy	-	-
Healthcare	-	-
Industrials	-	-
Real Estate	-	-
Technology	-	-
Utilities	-	-

Return for Risk

YGLD vs. NUGT — Risk / Return Rank

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

YGLD

YGLD Risk / Return Rank: 18
YGLD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 18
YGLD Sortino Ratio Rank: 18
YGLD Omega Ratio Rank: 21
YGLD Calmar Ratio Rank: 17
YGLD Martin Ratio Rank: 16

NUGT

NUGT Risk / Return Rank: 32
NUGT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 29
NUGT Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
NUGT Omega Ratio Rank: 34
NUGT Calmar Ratio Rank: 37
NUGT Martin Ratio Rank: 29

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.

YGLD vs. NUGT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF (YGLD) and Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares (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.

	YGLD	NUGT	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.57	1.09	-0.52
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.96	1.67	-0.71
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.14	1.23	-0.09
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.68	1.83	-1.15
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	1.55	4.18	-2.63
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

YGLD vs. NUGT - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current YGLD Sharpe Ratio is 0.57, which is lower than the NUGT Sharpe Ratio of 1.09. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of YGLD 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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	YGLD	NUGT	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.57	1.09	-0.52
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.23	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	-0.10	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.17	-0.33	+1.50

Drawdowns

YGLD vs. NUGT - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum YGLD drawdown since its inception was -34.23%, smaller than the maximum NUGT drawdown of -99.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for YGLD and NUGT.

Drawdown Indicators

	YGLD	NUGT	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.23%	-99.97%	+65.74%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-34.23%	-53.58%	+19.35%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-53.58%	—
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	-33.06%	-99.80%	+66.74%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.91%	-91.52%	+83.61%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	14.86%	23.39%	-8.53%

Volatility

YGLD vs. NUGT - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF (YGLD) is 8.70%, while Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares (NUGT) has a volatility of 30.32%. This indicates that YGLD 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

	YGLD	NUGT	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.70%	30.32%	-21.62%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	34.68%	75.18%	-40.50%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	40.43%	90.01%	-49.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	39.10%	71.96%	-32.86%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	39.10%	87.90%	-48.80%

YGLD vs. NUGT - Expense Ratio Comparison

YGLD has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is lower than NUGT's 1.23% expense ratio.

Dividends

YGLD vs. NUGT - Dividend Comparison

YGLD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 19.23%, more than NUGT's 0.36% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
NUGT Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2X Shares	0.36%	0.22%	1.79%	1.67%	0.70%	0.00%	0.00%	0.63%	0.57%
YGLD Simplify Gold Strategy PLUS Income ETF	19.23%	12.05%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both YGLD and NUGT in my portfolio?

YGLD and NUGT have a correlation of 0.78, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, YGLD or NUGT?

NUGT has higher volatility (30.32%) compared to YGLD (8.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, YGLD dropped -34.23% vs NUGT's -99.97%.

Which ETF is better, YGLD or NUGT?

On 1-year performance, NUGT leads with 97.46% vs 23.02% for YGLD. On fees, YGLD is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, YGLD has been the lower-risk option at 8.70%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, YGLD or NUGT?

Over the 1-year period, NUGT has performed better with a 97.46% return vs 23.02%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, YGLD or NUGT?

YGLD is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 1.23% for NUGT.

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

YGLD has the higher dividend yield at 19.23%, compared with 0.36% for NUGT.

What is the main difference between YGLD and NUGT?

YGLD is categorized as Gold, while NUGT is Leveraged Equities. They also come from different issuers: Simplify and Direxion. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for YGLD and 1.23% for NUGT.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

NUGT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.09 vs 0.57), 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.