^SP400 vs. SSO
^SP400 (S&P 400 Index) is an index, while SSO (ProShares Ultra S&P500) is Leveraged Equities fund tracking the S&P 500. Over the past 10 years, ^SP400 returned 9.96%/yr vs 24.26%/yr for SSO. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
^SP400 vs. SSO - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^SP400 achieves a 13.98% return, which is significantly higher than SSO's 12.95% return. Over the past 10 years, ^SP400 has underperformed SSO with an annualized return of 9.96%, while SSO has yielded a comparatively higher 24.26% annualized return.
^SP400
- 1D
- -1.04%
- 1M
- 2.55%
- YTD
- 13.98%
- 6M
- 11.87%
- 1Y
- 23.49%
- 3Y*
- 14.42%
- 5Y*
- 6.87%
- 10Y*
- 9.96%
SSO
- 1D
- -2.86%
- 1M
- -3.30%
- YTD
- 12.95%
- 6M
- 10.86%
- 1Y
- 42.28%
- 3Y*
- 33.83%
- 5Y*
- 17.91%
- 10Y*
- 24.26%
^SP400 vs. SSO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^SP400 S&P 400 Index | 13.98% | 5.90% | 12.20% | 14.45% | -14.48% | 23.21% | 11.81% | 24.05% | -12.50% | 14.45% |
SSO ProShares Ultra S&P500 | 12.95% | 26.19% | 43.48% | 46.65% | -38.98% | 60.57% | 21.54% | 63.45% | -14.60% | 44.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^SP400 and SSO is 0.76, 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 | 0.76 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.84 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 21, 2006 | 0.89 |
The correlation between ^SP400 and SSO shifts across timeframes, from 0.76 (1 year) to 0.89 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
^SP400 vs. SSO — Risk / Return Rank
^SP400
SSO
^SP400 vs. SSO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 400 Index (^SP400) and ProShares Ultra S&P500 (SSO). 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.
| ^SP400 | SSO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 1.30 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.63 | 2.34 | +0.29 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.46 | 9.90 | -0.44 |
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Drawdowns
^SP400 vs. SSO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^SP400 drawdown since its inception was -56.32%, smaller than the maximum SSO drawdown of -84.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^SP400 and SSO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^SP400 | SSO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.32% | -84.67% | +28.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.96% | -18.17% | +9.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.46% | -35.21% | +10.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.46% | -46.73% | +22.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.14% | -59.34% | +17.20% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.08% | -6.70% | +5.62% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.12% | -19.53% | +12.41% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.49% | 4.28% | -1.79% |
Volatility
^SP400 vs. SSO - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 400 Index (^SP400) is 4.73%, while ProShares Ultra S&P500 (SSO) has a volatility of 9.70%. This indicates that ^SP400 experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SSO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^SP400 | SSO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.73% | 9.70% | -4.97% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.71% | 19.65% | -7.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.79% | 24.92% | -9.13% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.67% | 33.85% | -14.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.00% | 35.93% | -14.93% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^SP400 and SSO have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SSO has higher volatility (9.70%) compared to ^SP400 (4.73%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^SP400 dropped -56.32% vs SSO's -84.67%.
SSO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.71 vs 1.50), 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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