^DJUS vs. SQQQ
^DJUS (Dow Jones U.S. Index) is an index, while SQQQ (ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ) is Leveraged Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index (-300%). Over the past 10 years, ^DJUS returned 13.43%/yr vs -56.24%/yr for SQQQ. At a correlation of -0.90, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
^DJUS vs. SQQQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^DJUS achieves a 7.81% return, which is significantly higher than SQQQ's -40.31% return. Over the past 10 years, ^DJUS has outperformed SQQQ with an annualized return of 13.43%, while SQQQ has yielded a comparatively lower -56.24% annualized return.
^DJUS
- 1D
- -1.40%
- 1M
- -1.16%
- YTD
- 7.81%
- 6M
- 6.72%
- 1Y
- 22.06%
- 3Y*
- 19.14%
- 5Y*
- 10.73%
- 10Y*
- 13.43%
SQQQ
- 1D
- 9.83%
- 1M
- -2.27%
- YTD
- -40.31%
- 6M
- -37.80%
- 1Y
- -61.11%
- 3Y*
- -53.86%
- 5Y*
- -46.89%
- 10Y*
- -56.24%
^DJUS vs. SQQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^DJUS Dow Jones U.S. Index | 7.81% | 15.89% | 22.77% | 24.51% | -20.68% | 24.80% | 18.31% | 28.62% | -6.76% | 19.16% |
SQQQ ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | -40.31% | -53.05% | -49.79% | -73.61% | 82.40% | -60.87% | -86.40% | -65.92% | -20.83% | -58.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^DJUS and SQQQ is -0.93, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.93 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.94 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.91 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 11, 2010 | -0.90 |
The correlation between ^DJUS and SQQQ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from -0.94 to -0.90 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
^DJUS vs. SQQQ — Risk / Return Rank
^DJUS
SQQQ
^DJUS vs. SQQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dow Jones U.S. Index (^DJUS) and ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ). 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.
| ^DJUS | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.88 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +4.45 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 0.78 | +0.54 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.44 | -0.96 | +3.40 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.72 | -1.81 | +12.53 |
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Drawdowns
^DJUS vs. SQQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^DJUS drawdown since its inception was -56.62%, smaller than the maximum SQQQ drawdown of -100.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^DJUS and SQQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^DJUS | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.62% | -100.00% | +43.38% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.09% | -63.52% | +54.43% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -19.40% | -92.51% | +73.11% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.24% | -97.27% | +71.03% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.85% | -99.98% | +65.13% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.13% | -100.00% | +96.87% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.88% | -92.73% | +79.85% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.06% | 36.37% | -34.31% |
Volatility
^DJUS vs. SQQQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Dow Jones U.S. Index (^DJUS) is 4.97%, while ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) has a volatility of 26.69%. This indicates that ^DJUS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SQQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^DJUS | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.97% | 26.69% | -21.72% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.05% | 43.33% | -33.28% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.77% | 53.65% | -40.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.38% | 67.53% | -50.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.34% | 66.47% | -48.13% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^DJUS and SQQQ have a correlation of -0.93, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SQQQ has higher volatility (26.69%) compared to ^DJUS (4.97%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^DJUS dropped -56.62% vs SQQQ's -100.00%.
^DJUS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.74 vs -1.14), 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.
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