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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated May 20, 2026

ETFs10
Total AUM$30.9B

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

Direxion is known for creating specialized, actively managed ETFs that target specific market trends and strategies. The firm's current lineup focuses on income generation, with their offering emphasizing leveraged exposure to dividend-paying equities. The issuer operates a concentrated portfolio with a single fund (TSLL), reflecting a niche approach to ETF management rather than a broad, multi-strategy platform.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on TECL.

ETFs20
Total AUM$92.1B

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

ProShares is known for offering specialized ETFs that blend traditional investment themes with alternative asset classes, particularly digital assets and dividend strategies. Their lineup of eight funds focuses on income generation through dividend aristocrats and covered call strategies, alongside exposure to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The issuer serves investors seeking both traditional dividend income (NOBL, ISPY, ITWO) and exposure to emerging digital asset markets (BITO, BITU, EETH), positioning itself in the niche intersection of conventional dividend investing and cryptocurrency-linked products.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on TQQQ.

Side-by-side snapshot

TECLTQQQ
Full nameDirexion Daily Technology Bull 3X SharesProShares UltraPro QQQ
IssuerDirexionProShares
Last Close$188.10 as of May 20, 2026$74.32 as of May 20, 2026
Distribution yield0.43%0.43%
Expense ratio0.87%0.82%
AUM$4.8B$31.3B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexTechnology Select Sector IndexNasdaq-100 Index
ObjectiveSeeks daily investment results of 300% of the performance of the Technology Select Sector Index.Seek daily investment results, before fees, that correspond to three times the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date12/17/200802/09/2010
Beta4.363.75
Last dividend$0.10$0.07
Ex-dividend date03/24/202603/25/2026

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Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Quick verdict

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

TQQQ is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.82% compared to 0.87%.

They track different benchmarks: TECL is linked to Technology Select Sector Index while TQQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

TQQQ is the larger fund by assets ($31.3B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, TECL would generate roughly $3.58/month, while TQQQ would produce $3.58/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

TECL yield0.43%
TQQQ yield0.43%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, TECL would cost approximately $870 in fees vs $820 for TQQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $50.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

TECL ER0.87%
TQQQ ER0.82%

Strategy & risk

TECL tracks Technology Select Sector Index with a leverage approach, while TQQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index using a leverage strategy. Beta is 4.36 for TECL and 3.75 for TQQQ, indicating TQQQ is less volatile relative to the market.

TECL beta4.36
TQQQ beta3.75

Fund details

TECL is managed by Direxion (launched 12/17/2008) with $4.8B in assets. TQQQ is managed by ProShares (launched 02/09/2010) with $31.3B in assets.

TECL AUM$4.8B
TQQQ AUM$31.3B

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Frequently asked questions

Is TECL or TQQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. TECL 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 TECL and TQQQ?

TECL (Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares) tracks Technology Select Sector Index with a leverage strategy, 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 TECL and TQQQ?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, TECL or TQQQ?

TECL has an expense ratio of 0.87% 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 TECL vs TQQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in TECL would generate roughly $3.58 per month ($43.00 annually). The same in TQQQ would produce about $3.58 per month ($43.00 annually).

More comparisons to explore

TECL vs TQQQ — at a glance

Generated April 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

TECL and TQQQ are both triple-leveraged equity ETFs designed to amplify daily gains (and losses) in tech-heavy indexes. TECL targets the Technology Select Sector Index—the 65 or so largest tech stocks within the S&P 500. TQQQ targets the Nasdaq-100, a broader 100-stock index that includes tech but also healthcare, consumer discretionary, and other sectors. Both use leverage to deliver 3x daily returns, but they're not the same basket.

How they differ

The biggest difference is breadth: TECL is concentrated in the S&P 500's tech sector only; TQQQ captures the Nasdaq-100, which is tech-heavy but includes Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Nvidia, and many non-tech names like Costco and Broadcom. TQQQ is nearly 9 times larger by assets ($24.6 billion versus $3.0 billion), so it has much tighter bid-ask spreads and more trading liquidity. Both have similar expense ratios (0.87% for TECL, 0.82% for TQQQ) and betas around 3.5, but TECL's narrower focus means it swings harder—beta of 3.83 versus TQQQ's 3.46. TECL yields slightly higher at 0.66% versus 0.57%, but these are tiny yields for a 3x leveraged vehicle and mostly irrelevant to total return.

Who each is best for

  • TECL: Traders with a strong short-term conviction that large-cap tech (semiconductors, software, cloud) will outperform the broader market, holding periods of days to weeks, and the risk tolerance to stomach 50%+ swings.
  • TQQQ: Investors betting on Nasdaq-100 strength over a similar short horizon, who value superior liquidity and lower tracking error, and are comfortable with leverage expiring to zero during extended downturns.

Key risks to know

  • Decay from daily rebalancing. Both funds reset leverage daily. In choppy sideways markets, this drag compounds—a 10% up-down move over a month costs you money in a 3x fund even if you end flat. TECL's tighter index makes this risk slightly sharper.
  • Leverage amplifies downside. A 33% drop in the underlying becomes a ~100% loss for you. TECL's 52-week range ($38–$155) shows this vividly: the fund has lost and regained most of its value more than once.
  • Not for long-term holding. These are daily rebalancing tools. Holding either for years will erode your capital relative to the unleveraged index, especially in volatile markets.
  • Concentration risk in TECL. By design, TECL is a bet on S&P 500 tech only. A broadening rally into financials or industrials leaves you flat while the market rises.
  • Nasdaq-100 momentum dependency. TQQQ works when the large-cap growth names stay in favor. A sustained shift to small-cap value or international equities will drag returns regardless of leverage.

Bottom line

If you're seeking broad tech-plus exposure with maximum liquidity and lower tracking error, TQQQ's scale and Nasdaq-100 breadth make it the cleaner tool. If you want pure S&P 500 tech leverage—and you accept tighter spreads and higher decay risk—TECL is the play. Both are intraday trading instruments, not buy-and-hold investments. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

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

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