SPXU vs. SQQQ
Compare and contrast key facts about ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500 (SPXU) and ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ).
SPXU and SQQQ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. SPXU is a passively managed fund by ProShares that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index (-300%). It was launched on Jun 25, 2009. SQQQ is a passively managed fund by ProShares that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index (-300%). It was launched on Feb 9, 2010. Both SPXU and SQQQ are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
SPXU vs. SQQQ - Performance Comparison
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SPXU vs. SQQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPXU ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500 | 12.37% | -41.73% | -43.31% | -46.02% | 36.05% | -57.94% | -70.39% | -56.27% | 3.97% | -44.23% |
SQQQ ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | 13.99% | -53.05% | -49.79% | -73.61% | 82.40% | -60.87% | -86.40% | -65.92% | -20.83% | -58.67% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPXU achieves a 12.37% return, which is significantly lower than SQQQ's 13.99% return. Over the past 10 years, SPXU has outperformed SQQQ with an annualized return of -39.88%, while SQQQ has yielded a comparatively lower -52.71% annualized return.
SPXU
- 1D
- -2.31%
- 1M
- 13.37%
- YTD
- 12.37%
- 6M
- 6.54%
- 1Y
- -42.28%
- 3Y*
- -37.11%
- 5Y*
- -31.74%
- 10Y*
- -39.88%
SQQQ
- 1D
- -3.78%
- 1M
- 10.61%
- YTD
- 13.99%
- 6M
- 6.42%
- 1Y
- -56.13%
- 3Y*
- -49.39%
- 5Y*
- -42.70%
- 10Y*
- -52.71%
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SPXU vs. SQQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison
SPXU has a 0.93% expense ratio, which is lower than SQQQ's 0.95% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
SPXU vs. SQQQ — Risk / Return Rank
SPXU
SQQQ
SPXU vs. SQQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500 (SPXU) 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.
| SPXU | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.78 | -0.84 | +0.06 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.98 | -1.14 | +0.16 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.86 | 0.84 | +0.02 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.66 | -0.76 | +0.10 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.77 | -0.87 | +0.11 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| SPXU | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.78 | -0.84 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.63 | -0.64 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.75 | -0.80 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.82 | -0.85 | +0.03 |
Correlation
The correlation between SPXU and SQQQ is 0.90, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
SPXU vs. SQQQ - Dividend Comparison
SPXU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.22%, less than SQQQ's 5.99% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPXU ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500 | 5.22% | 7.02% | 9.53% | 7.06% | 0.39% | 0.00% | 0.70% | 2.14% | 1.41% | 0.10% |
SQQQ ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ | 5.99% | 9.36% | 10.23% | 8.01% | 0.28% | 0.00% | 2.15% | 2.92% | 1.47% | 0.14% |
Drawdowns
SPXU vs. SQQQ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPXU drawdown since its inception was -99.99%, roughly equal to the maximum SQQQ drawdown of -100.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPXU and SQQQ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPXU | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -99.99% | -100.00% | +0.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -65.13% | -75.23% | +10.10% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -87.51% | -95.36% | +7.85% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -99.51% | -99.96% | +0.45% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -99.99% | -100.00% | +0.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -93.26% | -92.32% | -0.94% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 55.82% | 65.40% | -9.58% |
Volatility
SPXU vs. SQQQ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for ProShares UltraPro Short S&P500 (SPXU) is 16.20%, while ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) has a volatility of 19.98%. This indicates that SPXU 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
| SPXU | SQQQ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 16.20% | 19.98% | -3.78% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 28.27% | 38.23% | -9.96% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 54.50% | 67.38% | -12.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 50.34% | 66.65% | -16.31% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 53.33% | 65.97% | -12.64% |