Dividend comparison
SPXL vs SOXL: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SPXL vs SOXL: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SOXL is cheaper at 0.91% a year versus 0.95% for SPXL. On $10,000 that is $4 a year less in fees.
- Income. SPXL pays more income, yielding 0.51% over the last twelve months versus 0.10% for SOXL. That is about $41 more a year on $10,000. SPXL pays quarterly, SOXL pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SPXL returned 138.4% versus 127.5% for SOXL, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $23,840 in SPXL and $22,750 in SOXL.
- Risk. SOXL has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -90.5%, against -63.8% for SPXL.
- Diversification. SPXL holds 516 positions and SOXL holds 44. The ten largest positions make up 27.6% of SPXL and 41.7% of SOXL.
- Overlap. At least 11% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 12 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. SPXL grew its yearly payout 76.8% a year over the last 4 years, versus 47.2% for SOXL.
- Size. SOXL is the larger fund with $21.9 billion in assets, against $7.0 billion for SPXL.
Bottom line: SPXL fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. SOXL fits better if you care most about lower fees.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SPXL Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares | SOXL Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 0.10% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.45 | $0.09 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.3103 on Sep 29, 2026 | $0.0929 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 22, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 76.8% over 4 yrs | 47.2% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $286.27 | $97.55 |
| Dividend growth streak | 4 years | — |
| Beta | 3.03 | 7.64 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -63.8% | -90.5% |
| Market cap | $6.93B | $25.92B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.95% | 0.91% |
| Assets under management | $7.02B | $21.89B |
| Number of holdings | 516 | 44 |
| Top 10 concentration | 27.6% | 41.7% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SPXL
$4.23/mo
$51 /yr at 0.51% yield
SOXL
$0.79/mo
$10 /yr at 0.10% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SPXL pays quarterly; SOXL pays annual.
| Year | SPXL | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.5220 | $0.1428 |
| 2024 | $1.2447 | $0.3211 |
| 2023 | $1.0186 | $0.1589 |
| 2022 | $0.2012 | $0.1038 |
| 2021 | $0.1559 | $0.0304 |
Strategy: Leveraged
Funds that use swaps and futures to deliver two or three times the daily return of an index. The multiple resets every day, so over longer periods the result can differ sharply from simply multiplying the index return, especially when the market is choppy. They are built as short-term trading tools.
Daily rebalancing causes decay in sideways or volatile markets, and a large one-day drop can wipe out most of the fund's value.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $23,840 in SPXL and $22,750 in SOXL.
| Period | SPXL | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.87% | -21.07% |
| 3 months | 8.33% | -28.65% |
| Year to date | 30.46% | 132.26% |
| 1 year | 34.10% | 131.11% |
| 3 years | 296.44% | 496.27% |
| 5 years | 138.40% | 127.50% |
- SPXL
- SOXL
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
- SPXL
- SOXL
SPXL vs SOXL holdings overlap
At least 11% overlap by weight, with 12 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | SPXL weight | SOXL weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 5.66% | 5.38% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 1.72% | 4.95% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 1.10% | 5.17% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 0.95% | 6.26% |
| INTCINTEL CORP | 0.49% | 5.63% |
| LRCXLAM RESEARCH CORP | 0.37% | 2.47% |
| AMATAPPLIED MATERIALS INC | 0.35% | 2.47% |
| TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC | 0.27% | 2.90% |
| KLACKLA CORP | 0.23% | 2.60% |
| MRVLMARVELL TECHNOLOGY INC | 0.22% | 3.07% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SPXL516 holdings total
Quick verdict
SPXL fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. SOXL fits better if you care most about lower fees. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is SPXL or SOXL better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SPXL currently yields 0.51% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SOXL yields 0.10%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between SPXL and SOXL?
Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares (SPXL) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF (SOXL) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, SPXL or SOXL?
SOXL has the lower expense ratio. SPXL charges 0.95% a year and SOXL charges 0.91%, a difference of $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SPXL or SOXL?
Over the last 5 years, SPXL has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SPXL returned 138.4% and SOXL returned 127.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPXL or SOXL?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SOXL has been riskier: SPXL fell as much as 63.8% and SOXL as much as 90.5%. Their betas are 3.03 and 7.64.
How much do SPXL and SOXL overlap?
At least 11% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 12 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AVGO, MU. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SPXL and SOXL pay dividends?
SPXL pays quarterly and SOXL pays annual.
How much income does $10,000 in SPXL vs SOXL generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SPXL would generate roughly $4.23 per month ($51 annually). The same amount in SOXL would produce about $0.79 per month ($10 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SPXL and SOXL?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare SPXL vs SOXL with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SPXL and SOXL fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.
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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.