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SOXL vs. QQQ
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

SOXL vs. QQQ

Last updated Apr 15, 2026

SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both exchange-traded funds — SOXL is a Leveraged Equities fund tracking the PHLX Semiconductor Index (300%), while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SOXL returned 48.77%/yr vs 19.83%/yr for QQQ. Their correlation of 0.83 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SOXL charges 0.99%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.

Performance

SOXL vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL) 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, SOXL achieves a 102.97% return, which is significantly higher than QQQ's 2.46% return. Over the past 10 years, SOXL has outperformed QQQ with an annualized return of 48.77%, while QQQ has yielded a comparatively lower 19.83% annualized return.

SOXL

1D
5.90%
1M
68.20%
YTD
102.97%
6M
132.90%
1Y
717.62%
3Y*
77.45%
5Y*
15.13%
10Y*
48.77%

QQQ

1D
1.82%
1M
6.01%
YTD
2.46%
6M
5.39%
1Y
38.07%
3Y*
26.16%
5Y*
13.65%
10Y*
19.83%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SOXL vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
SOXL
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares		102.97%54.91%-12.31%226.98%-85.66%118.84%70.04%231.83%-39.07%141.71%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		2.46%20.77%25.58%54.86%-32.58%27.42%48.62%38.96%-0.13%32.66%

Correlation

The correlation between SOXL and QQQ is 0.80, 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

0.80

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

0.84

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

0.86

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 12, 2010

0.83

The correlation between SOXL and QQQ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.80 to 0.86 — a consistent structural relationship.

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares

Invesco QQQ ETF

Often compared with SOXL:
SOXL vs. TQQQSOXL vs. SOXXSOXL vs. SOXSSOXL vs. USDSOXL vs. TECLSOXL vs. NVDLSOXL vs. SPY
Often compared with QQQ:
QQQ vs. SPYQQQ vs. VOOQQQ vs. VGTQQQ vs. TQQQQQQ vs. QQQMQQQ vs. SMHQQQ vs. QQQI

Return for Risk

SOXL vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
SOXL
SOXL Risk / Return Rank: 9393
Overall Rank
SOXL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 9999
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SOXL Sortino Ratio Rank: 8585
Sortino Ratio Rank
SOXL Omega Ratio Rank: 8585
Omega Ratio Rank
SOXL Calmar Ratio Rank: 9999
Calmar Ratio Rank
SOXL Martin Ratio Rank: 9898
Martin Ratio Rank
QQQ
QQQ Risk / Return Rank: 5959
Overall Rank
QQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5959
Sharpe Ratio Rank
QQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 5353
Sortino Ratio Rank
QQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 5555
Omega Ratio Rank
QQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
QQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 6464
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.

SOXL vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL) 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.

SOXLQQQDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

7.50

2.26

+5.25

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

4.21

3.03

+1.18

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.58

1.40

+0.17

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

18.15

3.47

+14.67

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

62.07

13.22

+48.85

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SOXL vs. QQQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SOXL Sharpe Ratio is 7.50, which is higher than the QQQ Sharpe Ratio of 2.26. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SOXL 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

SOXLQQQDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

7.50

2.26

+5.25

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.14

0.61

-0.47

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.50

0.89

-0.39

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.41

0.39

+0.02

Drawdowns

SOXL vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SOXL drawdown since its inception was -90.46%, which is greater than QQQ's maximum drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SOXL and QQQ.

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Drawdown Indicators

SOXLQQQDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-90.46%

-82.97%

-7.49%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-43.47%

-11.96%

-31.51%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-90.46%

-35.12%

-55.34%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-90.46%

-35.12%

-55.34%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

0.00%

-0.88%

+0.88%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-35.29%

-32.95%

-2.34%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

12.71%

3.14%

+9.57%

Volatility

SOXL vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison

Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (SOXL) has a higher volatility of 36.57% compared to Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) at 6.82%. This indicates that SOXL'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

SOXLQQQDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

36.57%

6.82%

+29.75%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

77.92%

12.75%

+65.17%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

97.50%

17.03%

+80.47%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

105.81%

22.41%

+83.40%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

97.97%

22.26%

+75.71%

SOXL vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

SOXL has a 0.99% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio.

Dividends

SOXL vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison

SOXL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.09%, less than QQQ's 0.45% yield.

TTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
SOXL
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares		0.09%0.34%1.18%0.51%1.07%0.04%0.05%0.38%1.30%0.09%4.84%0.00%
QQQ
Invesco QQQ ETF		0.45%0.45%0.56%0.62%0.80%0.43%0.55%0.74%0.91%0.84%1.06%0.99%