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PILL vs. QQQ
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

PILL vs. QQQ

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

PILL (Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - PILL is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index, while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PILL returned -7.05%/yr vs 16.13%/yr for QQQ. A 0.54 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. PILL charges 0.98%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.

Performance

PILL vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares (PILL) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PILL achieves a 33.93% return, which is significantly higher than QQQ's 16.89% return.

PILL

1D
-0.48%
1M
33.79%
YTD
33.93%
6M
24.05%
1Y
209.10%
3Y*
28.79%
5Y*
-7.05%
10Y*
—

QQQ

1D
0.81%
1M
-1.80%
YTD
16.89%
6M
15.09%
1Y
33.02%
3Y*
26.78%
5Y*
16.13%
10Y*
22.36%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

PILL vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
PILL
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares		33.93%75.14%-7.26%-12.06%-43.16%-37.33%0.28%19.26%-21.15%16.39%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		16.89%20.77%25.58%54.86%-32.58%27.42%48.62%38.96%-0.13%1.81%

Correlation

The correlation between PILL and QQQ is 0.34, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

0.34

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.40

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.51

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2017

0.54

The correlation between PILL and QQQ shifts across timeframes, from 0.34 (1 year) to 0.54 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

PILL vs. QQQ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
PILL
QQQ

Healthcare

100.0%
3.7%

Basic Materials

-

1.0%

Communication Services

-

14.3%

Consumer Cyclical

-

11.4%

Consumer Defensive

-

6.4%

Energy

-

0.5%

Financial Services

-

0.2%

Industrials

-

2.6%

Real Estate

-

0.1%

Technology

-

58.7%

Utilities

-

1.2%

Healthcare

PILL
100.0%
QQQ
3.7%

Basic Materials

PILL

-

QQQ
1.0%

Communication Services

PILL

-

QQQ
14.3%

Consumer Cyclical

PILL

-

QQQ
11.4%

Consumer Defensive

PILL

-

QQQ
6.4%

Energy

PILL

-

QQQ
0.5%

Financial Services

PILL

-

QQQ
0.2%

Industrials

PILL

-

QQQ
2.6%

Real Estate

PILL

-

QQQ
0.1%

Technology

PILL

-

QQQ
58.7%

Utilities

PILL

-

QQQ
1.2%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares

Invesco QQQ ETF

Often compared with PILL:
PILL vs. CUREPILL vs. BNKUPILL vs. KUREPILL vs. IHEPILL vs. XHBPILL vs. SPXLPILL vs. QLD
Often compared with QQQ:
QQQ vs. SPYQQQ vs. VOOQQQ vs. VGTQQQ vs. TQQQQQQ vs. SMHQQQ vs. QQQMQQQ vs. SPMO

Return for Risk

PILL vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
PILL
PILL Risk / Return Rank: 9090
Overall Rank
PILL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9595
Sharpe Ratio Rank
PILL Sortino Ratio Rank: 8787
Sortino Ratio Rank
PILL Omega Ratio Rank: 8080
Omega Ratio Rank
PILL Calmar Ratio Rank: 9494
Calmar Ratio Rank
PILL Martin Ratio Rank: 9393
Martin Ratio Rank
QQQ
QQQ Risk / Return Rank: 6464
Overall Rank
QQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6666
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 6161
Sortino Ratio Rank
QQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 6363
Omega Ratio Rank
QQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 6565
Calmar Ratio Rank
QQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 6565
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

PILL vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares (PILL) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). 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.

PILLQQQDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
3.37
1.85

+1.51

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.40
2.45

+0.95

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.42

1.33

+0.09

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

6.34

2.77

+3.57

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

20.92

10.21

+10.71

PILL vs. QQQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PILL Sharpe Ratio is 3.37, which is higher than the QQQ Sharpe Ratio of 1.85. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PILL and QQQ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

PILL vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PILL drawdown since its inception was -88.76%, which is greater than QQQ's maximum drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PILL and QQQ.

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Drawdown Indicators

PILLQQQDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-88.76%

-82.97%

-5.79%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-33.21%

-11.96%

-21.25%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-60.43%

-22.77%

-37.66%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-83.26%

-35.12%

-48.14%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

—

-35.12%

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-54.11%

-3.89%

-50.22%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-58.54%

-32.72%

-25.82%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

10.04%

3.24%

+6.80%

Volatility

PILL vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison

Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares (PILL) has a higher volatility of 18.74% compared to Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) at 9.02%. This indicates that PILL's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

PILLQQQDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

18.74%

9.02%

+9.72%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

48.11%

14.55%

+33.56%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

62.66%

17.91%

+44.75%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

60.65%

22.69%

+37.96%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

63.79%

22.41%

+41.38%

PILL vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

PILL has a 0.98% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio.

Dividends

PILL vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison

PILL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.41%, less than QQQ's 0.42% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
PILL
Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical Bull 3X Shares		0.41%0.69%1.28%1.83%0.67%0.00%0.00%0.38%0.91%0.10%0.00%0.00%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		0.42%0.45%0.56%0.62%0.80%0.43%0.55%0.74%0.91%0.84%1.06%0.99%

Frequently Asked Questions

PILL and QQQ have a correlation of 0.34, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

PILL has higher volatility (18.74%) compared to QQQ (9.02%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PILL dropped -88.76% vs QQQ's -82.97%.

On 5-year performance, QQQ leads with 16.13% vs -7.05% for PILL. On fees, QQQ is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, QQQ has been the lower-risk option at 9.02%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, QQQ has performed better with a 16.13% return vs -7.05%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

QQQ is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.98% for PILL.

PILL and QQQ have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.41%.

PILL is categorized as Leveraged Equities, while QQQ is Nasdaq-100. PILL tracks Dynamic Pharmaceuticals Intellidex Index, while QQQ tracks NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: Direxion and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.98% for PILL and 0.18% for QQQ.

PILL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.37 vs 1.85), 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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