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.