TQQQ vs. MA

Last updated Jul 2, 2026

TQQQ (ProShares UltraPro QQQ) is Leveraged Equities fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index (300%), while MA (Mastercard Incorporated) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, TQQQ returned 44.63%/yr vs 20.09%/yr for MA. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

TQQQ vs. MA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) and Mastercard Incorporated (MA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, TQQQ achieves a 47.51% return, which is significantly higher than MA's -8.19% return. Over the past 10 years, TQQQ has outperformed MA with an annualized return of 44.63%, while MA has yielded a comparatively lower 20.09% annualized return.

TQQQ

• 1D: -4.37%
• 1M: -9.76%
• YTD: 47.51%
• 6M: 47.51%
• 1Y: 92.76%
• 3Y*: 57.53%
• 5Y*: 20.74%
• 10Y*: 44.63%

MA

• 1D: 1.72%
• 1M: 5.49%
• YTD: -8.19%
• 6M: -8.19%
• 1Y: -6.92%
• 3Y*: 10.57%
• 5Y*: 7.48%
• 10Y*: 20.09%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

TQQQ vs. MA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
TQQQ ProShares UltraPro QQQ	47.51%	34.35%	58.27%	198.04%	-79.09%	82.98%	110.05%	133.84%	-19.79%	118.06%
MA Mastercard Incorporated	-8.19%	9.04%	24.17%	23.40%	-2.66%	1.16%	20.19%	59.16%	25.31%	47.69%

Correlation

The correlation between TQQQ and MA is 0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.10
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.29
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.48
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.58
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 11, 2010	0.61

Over the past year, the correlation between TQQQ and MA has dropped to 0.10 - well below their long-term average of 0.61, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

TQQQ vs. MA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

TQQQ

TQQQ Risk / Return Rank: 55
TQQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
TQQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
TQQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 52
TQQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
TQQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 54

MA

MA Risk / Return Rank: 29
MA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 30
MA Sortino Ratio Rank: 26
MA Omega Ratio Rank: 26
MA Calmar Ratio Rank: 33
MA Martin Ratio Rank: 32

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.

TQQQ vs. MA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) and Mastercard Incorporated (MA). 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.

	TQQQ	MA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.72	-0.33	+2.05
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.15	-0.32	+2.47
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.28	0.96	+0.32
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.52	-0.33	+2.86
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.91	-0.64	+8.55

TQQQ vs. MA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current TQQQ Sharpe Ratio is 1.72, which is higher than the MA Sharpe Ratio of -0.33. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of TQQQ and MA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

TQQQ vs. MA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum TQQQ drawdown since its inception was -81.66%, which is greater than MA's maximum drawdown of -62.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for TQQQ and MA.

Drawdown Indicators

	TQQQ	MA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-81.66%	-62.67%	-18.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-36.97%	-20.91%	-16.06%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-58.04%	-20.91%	-37.13%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-81.66%	-28.25%	-53.41%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-81.66%	-41.00%	-40.66%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-10.99%	-12.38%	+1.39%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.49%	-9.84%	-8.65%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	11.77%	10.91%	+0.86%

Volatility

TQQQ vs. MA - Volatility Comparison

ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) has a higher volatility of 28.72% compared to Mastercard Incorporated (MA) at 7.53%. This indicates that TQQQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	TQQQ	MA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	28.72%	7.53%	+21.19%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	44.49%	17.52%	+26.97%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	54.20%	21.29%	+32.91%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	67.57%	24.04%	+43.53%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	66.31%	26.86%	+39.45%

Dividends

TQQQ vs. MA - Dividend Comparison

TQQQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.49%, less than MA's 0.62% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
MA Mastercard Incorporated	0.62%	0.53%	0.50%	0.53%	0.56%	0.49%	0.45%	0.44%	0.53%	0.58%	0.74%	0.66%
TQQQ ProShares UltraPro QQQ	0.49%	0.65%	1.27%	1.26%	0.57%	0.00%	0.00%	0.06%	0.11%	0.00%	0.00%	0.01%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both TQQQ and MA in my portfolio?

TQQQ and MA have a correlation of 0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, TQQQ or MA?

TQQQ has higher volatility (28.72%) compared to MA (7.53%). In terms of maximum drawdown, TQQQ dropped -81.66% vs MA's -62.67%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

TQQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs -0.33), 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.