RGLD vs. SQQQ
RGLD (Royal Gold, Inc.) is a stock, while SQQQ (ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ) is Leveraged Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index (-300%). Over the past 10 years, RGLD returned 10.24%/yr vs -54.75%/yr for SQQQ. At a correlation of -0.19, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RGLD achieves a -15.18% return, which is significantly higher than SQQQ's -36.18% return. Over the past 10 years, RGLD has outperformed SQQQ with an annualized return of 10.24%, while SQQQ has yielded a comparatively lower -54.75% annualized return.
RGLD
- 1D
- -0.96%
- 1M
- -12.57%
- 6M
- -29.03%
- YTD
- -15.18%
- 1Y
- 22.11%
- 3Y*
- 16.68%
- 5Y*
- 11.30%
- 10Y*
- 10.24%
- ALL TIME*
- 15.86%
SQQQ
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- 17.99%
- 6M
- -34.34%
- YTD
- -36.18%
- 1Y
- -51.42%
- 3Y*
- -51.15%
- 5Y*
- -45.04%
- 10Y*
- -54.75%
- ALL TIME*
- -52.82%
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RGLD Royal Gold, Inc. | -15.18% | 70.43% | 10.39% | 8.70% | 8.51% | 0.04% | -12.13% | 44.27% | 5.53% | 31.32% |
SQQQ ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | -36.18% | -53.05% | -49.79% | -73.61% | 82.40% | -60.87% | -86.40% | -65.92% | -20.83% | -58.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between RGLD and SQQQ is -0.33, 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 | -0.33 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.23 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.21 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.19 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 11, 2010 | -0.19 |
The correlation between RGLD and SQQQ shifts across timeframes, from -0.33 (1 year) to -0.19 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
RGLD vs. SQQQ — Risk / Return Rank
RGLD
SQQQ
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) 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.
| RGLD | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.49 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.41 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 0.85 | +0.28 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.58 | -0.84 | +1.43 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.36 | -1.53 | +2.89 |
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Drawdowns
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RGLD drawdown since its inception was -98.29%, roughly equal to the maximum SQQQ drawdown of -100.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RGLD and SQQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| RGLD | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -98.29% | -100.00% | +1.71% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -38.17% | -61.03% | +22.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -38.17% | -92.51% | +54.34% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.73% | -97.27% | +56.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.55% | -99.97% | +50.42% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -38.17% | -100.00% | +61.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -29.83% | -92.76% | +62.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 16.29% | 33.69% | -17.40% |
Volatility
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) is 8.36%, while ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) has a volatility of 21.99%. This indicates that RGLD 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
| RGLD | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.36% | 21.99% | -13.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 31.92% | 46.34% | -14.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 39.36% | 56.15% | -16.79% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 31.67% | 67.92% | -36.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 33.62% | 66.60% | -32.98% |
Dividends
RGLD vs. SQQQ - Dividend Comparison
RGLD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.00%, less than SQQQ's 9.36% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RGLD Royal Gold, Inc. | 1.00% | 0.81% | 1.21% | 1.24% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.05% | 0.87% | 1.17% | 1.17% | 1.45% | 1.81% |
SQQQ ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | 9.36% | 9.36% | 10.23% | 8.01% | 0.28% | 0.00% | 2.15% | 2.92% | 1.47% | 0.14% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
RGLD and SQQQ have a correlation of -0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SQQQ has higher volatility (21.99%) compared to RGLD (8.36%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RGLD dropped -98.29% vs SQQQ's -100.00%.
RGLD currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.57 vs -0.92), 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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