ETF Comparison

SOXL vs TQQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares and ProShares UltraPro QQQ covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

SOXLInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
TQQQInvestors who want higher current income (0.94% vs 0.01% for SOXL).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

SOXL has outpaced TQQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 338.70% total return against 55.74%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SOXL has compounded at 47.38% a year, against 40.15% for TQQQ. TQQQ has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 60.7% against 117.3% for SOXL. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Mar 2010	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
SOXL	155.59%	338.70%	77.98%	26.33%	47.38%	38.06%	117.3%	0.46	0.61	-87.9%
TQQQ	38.20%	55.74%	57.62%	18.41%	40.15%	40.78%	60.7%	0.68	0.94	-58.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Mar 2010” measures every fund from March 11, 2010 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	SOXL	TQQQ
Full name	Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares	ProShares UltraPro QQQ
Issuer	Direxion	ProShares
Last Close	$129.10 as of August 19, 2026	$72.53 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield	0.01%	0.94%
Distribution Safety Score™	71	56
Expense ratio	0.75%	0.82%
AUM	$24.3B	$38.5B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	ICE Semiconductor	Nasdaq-100 Index
Objective	Seeks daily investment results of 300% of the performance of the ICE Semiconductor Index.	Seek daily investment results, before fees, that correspond to three times the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	03/11/2010	02/09/2010
Beta	7.84	4.02
Last dividend	$0.0100	$0.1710
Ex-dividend date	09/23/2025	06/24/2026

Bottom lineChoose SOXL if you want broad equity exposure. Choose TQQQ if you want higher current income (0.94% vs 0.01% for SOXL).

How the risk works

Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.

Daily leverage reset. SOXL and TQQQ target a multiple of the index's DAILY move, resetting every session. Over weeks and months the compounding of daily resets (volatility decay) can drag returns far below the stated multiple, especially in choppy markets — and losses are magnified the same way gains are.

Learn the mechanics: Why daily-reset leverage decays

Model this comparison:

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Direxion

ETFs134

Total AUM$71.5B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Direxion is known for offering leveraged and inverse ETFs that enable investors to amplify or hedge market exposure across various asset classes and market segments. The firm's fund lineup focuses primarily on income-generating strategies and leveraged products, featuring both daily leveraged long positions and inverse (bearish) funds designed for tactical trading and hedging purposes. The issuer maintains a broad range of tickers covering sectors, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and equity indices, appealing to active traders and investors seeking non-traditional exposure management tools.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SOXL.

See all Direxion ETFs

ProShares

ETFs169

Total AUM$130B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

ProShares is known for offering leveraged and inverse ETFs that provide amplified exposure to market movements, along with thematic and income-focused strategies. Their fund lineup spans digital assets (including Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure through BITO and EETH), dividend strategies like the Dividend Aristocrats fund (NOBL), covered call income strategies, and leveraged/inverse products that track major indices with 2x or 3x daily multipliers (such as SSO and TQQQ for tech-heavy portfolios). With 23 ETFs across specialized families including leveraged products, money market funds, and sector-specific offerings, ProShares serves investors seeking both traditional income and alternative exposure strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on TQQQ.

See all ProShares ETFs

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Quick verdict

SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares) and TQQQ (ProShares UltraPro QQQ) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

TQQQ offers the higher yield at 0.94% vs 0.01% for SOXL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SOXL is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.75% compared to 0.82%.

They track different benchmarks: SOXL is linked to ICE Semiconductor while TQQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

TQQQ is the larger fund by assets ($38.5B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose SOXL

Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares

Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.75% expense ratio vs 0.82% for TQQQ.

Choose TQQQ

ProShares UltraPro QQQ

Want higher current income — TQQQ yields 0.94% vs 0.01% for SOXL.
Want broad equity exposure.
Prefer lower volatility — a beta of 4.0 vs 7.8 for SOXL.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, SOXL would generate roughly $0.08/month, while TQQQ would produce $7.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

SOXL yield0.01%

TQQQ yield0.94%

Monthly diff on $10K$7.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, SOXL would cost approximately $750 in fees vs $820 for TQQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $70.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

SOXL ER0.75%

TQQQ ER0.82%

Strategy & risk

SOXL tracks ICE Semiconductor with a leverage approach, while TQQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a leverage approach. Beta is 7.84 for SOXL and 4.02 for TQQQ, making TQQQ the less volatile of the two by this measure.

SOXL beta7.84

TQQQ beta4.02

Fund details

SOXL is managed by Direxion (launched 03/11/2010) with $24.3B in assets. TQQQ is managed by ProShares (launched 02/09/2010) with $38.5B in assets.

SOXL AUM$24.3B

TQQQ AUM$38.5B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for SOXL and TQQQ?

SOXL currently distributes 0.01% and TQQQ 0.94%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is SOXL or TQQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. TQQQ currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between SOXL and TQQQ?

SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares) tracks ICE Semiconductor with a leverage approach, while TQQQ (ProShares UltraPro QQQ) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a leverage approach. They are issued by Direxion and ProShares respectively.

Can I hold both SOXL and TQQQ?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is SOXL or TQQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SOXL scores 71, TQQQ scores 56, so SOXL's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. TQQQ has also shown lower price volatility (beta 4.02 vs 7.84 for SOXL). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.

Which has lower fees, SOXL or TQQQ?

SOXL has an expense ratio of 0.75% while TQQQ charges 0.82%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in SOXL vs TQQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in SOXL would generate roughly $0.08 per month ($1.00 annually). The same in TQQQ would produce about $7.83 per month ($94.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, SOXL or TQQQ?

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SOXL vs TQQQ — at a glance

Generated August 16, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

SOXL and TQQQ are both 3x leveraged equity ETFs seeking daily returns three times their underlying indexes, but they track different market segments. SOXL targets semiconductor companies via the ICE Semiconductor Index, while TQQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index, which spans tech, consumer, biotech, and other growth sectors. Both use daily rebalancing to maintain their 3x leverage, making them tactical vehicles rather than long-term passive holdings.

How they differ

The core difference is exposure: SOXL is a concentrated bet on chip makers only, while TQQQ is a broad tech and growth index with semiconductors as just one component. SOXL carries a beta of 7.84 versus TQQQ's 4.02, reflecting how much more volatile the semiconductor sector is than the Nasdaq-100 as a whole. TQQQ offers a small yield (0.89%) from its broader index holdings, while SOXL pays almost nothing (0.01%). Both charge similar expense ratios around 0.76–0.88%, but TQQQ holds $37.8B in assets compared to SOXL's $24.3B, giving TQQQ tighter bid-ask spreads and lower trading friction.

Who each is best for

SOXL: Fits traders and tactical allocators who want concentrated semiconductor sector upside with 3x daily leverage and accept that the position demands active monitoring and quick exits during volatile periods.

TQQQ: Fits investors seeking broad Nasdaq-100 exposure amplified 3x daily, comfortable with the diversification across tech, consumer, and biotech holdings, and who can tolerate the decay that daily rebalancing introduces over longer holding periods.

Key risks to know

Compounding decay in sideways or choppy markets. Both funds reset their 3x leverage daily. If the underlying index swings up and down without a clear trend, the daily rebalancing locks in losses and erodes NAV relative to a 3x buy-and-hold position. This effect accelerates during periods of high volatility.

Semiconductor concentration and cyclicality (SOXL). Tracking only chip makers exposes SOXL to sector-specific booms and busts in fab capacity, trade policy, and customer concentration. A downturn in semiconductors will amplify losses with 3x leverage; broader market strength may not offset sector weakness.

Technology sector correlation and crowding (TQQQ). The Nasdaq-100 is heavily weighted toward mega-cap tech and growth stocks. A drawdown in that market segment hits hard, and TQQQ's $37.8B in assets means large flows in or out can create slippage during stress periods.

Leverage magnifies whipsaw losses. Both funds can lose 50%+ of value in a sustained 20% decline in their underlying index. Recovery requires larger percentage gains to break even, and the daily reset mechanism makes that recovery path unpredictable.

Bottom line

SOXL offers concentrated semiconductor exposure with higher beta and negligible yield; TQQQ spreads that 3x leverage across a broader Nasdaq-100 index with a modest income component. If you want a pure semiconductor trade and accept extreme volatility, SOXL's tighter focus appeals; if you prefer diversification within the growth and tech bucket, TQQQ's broader holdings carry less single-sector risk. Both are tools for tactical trading windows, not long-term passive positions. Past performance does not predict future results, and leveraged daily rebalancing creates decay that becomes more acute the longer the holding period or the choppier the market.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

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