The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ 1.2%) is one of the more unique exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In this article, we'll discuss the ProShares UltraPro QQQ, how it works, and all the other important information to help you decide whether it's right for your portfolio.
What is it?
What is ProShares UltraPro QQQ?
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq-100 index but not in the same way other Nasdaq ETFs do. Unlike the others, it is a leveraged ETF and aims to produce 3 times the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100. In other words, if the Nasdaq-100 rises by 1% tomorrow, you can expect the ProShares UltraPro QQQ to rise by about 3%.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.
Think of leveraged ETFs as similar to investing with margin to get greater exposure to a certain stock or fund. But instead of you borrowing money from your broker, the ETF uses a variety of derivative securities to create the effect of leverage.
Just like investing with margin, leveraged ETFs can be great as long as the underlying investment moves favorably. If the Nasdaq-100 has a phenomenal week and rises 3% each day for an entire week, the ProShares UltraPro QQQ would rise by 9% each day. On the other hand, if a market crash happens and the Nasdaq-100 quickly sheds 10% of its value, the ProShares UltraPro QQQ would drop by 30%.
How to buy
How to buy ProShares UltraPro QQQ
To buy shares of ETFs like ProShares UltraPro QQQ, you'll need a brokerage account. If you don't already have one, the best idea is to research several choices to find the best fit for you. Once you've found a brokerage platform with the features most aligned with your investment goals and objectives, the steps to investing in ProShares UltraPro QQQ are:
- Step 1: Open a brokerage account. This is usually a quick process, and you'll need to provide identifying information, such as your Social Security number.
- Step 2: Figure out how much you'd like to invest and deposit money into your brokerage account.
- Step 3: Do your homework. Reading this article is a start, but it's strongly advisable to read the ETF's prospectus or at least visit its website before investing is strongly advisable.
- Step 4: Divide your investment budget by the current share price of ProShares UltraPro QQQ. If your broker allows fractional share investing, the result is the number of shares you can buy. If it doesn't, simply round down to the nearest whole number.
- Step 5: Decide whether you want a market order or a limit order. The Motley Fool recommends a market order since it guarantees you buy your share(s) at the current market price.
- Step 6: Place an order to invest. Most brokerage platforms and apps have an easy-to-find order entry tool on their main page.
Holdings
Holdings of ProShares UltraPro QQQ
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 but aims to produce 3 times its daily returns. Obviously, you can't accomplish this by simply buying the 100 stocks in the Nasdaq-100 index.
So, the ETF's top holdings are mainly derivative securities offered by various financial institutions, which provide the leverage to magnify the Nasdaq-100's returns. In addition, the fund owns shares of the companies in the index. Its top 10 holdings are:
- Microsoft (MSFT 0.86%)
- Apple (AAPL -0.08%)
- Nvidia (NVDA -0.13%)
- Alphabet (GOOGL 1.89%)(GOOG 1.9%)
- Amazon (AMZN -0.05%)
- Meta Platforms (META -0.18%)
- Broadcom (AVGO 1.21%)
- Costco (COST 0.23%)
- Tesla (TSLA -0.06%)
- Netflix (NFLX 1.5%)
Should I invest?
Should I invest in ProShares UltraPro QQQ?
The short answer is, "It depends." The ProShares UltraPro QQQ is not a low-risk investment vehicle in any sense of the word.
The obvious reason to buy it is that if the Nasdaq-100 performs well, your portfolio will perform even better. Your daily returns should be roughly 3 times those of the Nasdaq. But the other side is that if the Nasdaq-100 doesn't perform well, your losses will be magnified as well.
Returns
Returns are the difference between the initial price of an asset and the dollar value that has been generated after ownership has ended.
So, if the Nasdaq-100 falls by 2% in a day, your investment will lose 6% of its value. And if the Nasdaq-100 has a long losing streak, these declines can really start to add up.
It's also worth noting that the ProShares UltraPro QQQ is designed to be a short-term investment vehicle. Triple the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 is different from triple the long-term performance.
I'll spare you the mathematics lesson, but consider that the Nasdaq-100 has generated a 21% annualized return over the past five years, while the ProShares UltraPro QQQ has produced a total return of 35% annualized. The latter certainly amplified the index's return -- but it didn't triple it.
By definition, the ProShares UltraPro QQQ will be more volatile than the Nasdaq-100 over time, so it's important to expect that. This is not an appropriate ETF for those with a low risk tolerance or who don't have the stomach to deal with massive price swings.
Dividends
Does ProShares UltraPro QQQ pay a dividend?
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ pays a dividend, just like most index funds. The ETF owns shares of the 100 stocks in the Nasdaq-100 index (more on that in the next section), and while not all of them pay dividends, some do. The ProShares UltraPro QQQ passes the dividend income it receives through to investors. As of May 2024, the ETF had a 1.2% dividend yield.
Having said that, this is not a great choice for income investors. Its dividend yield is low, and because it depends on pass-through income from 100 stocks in a weighted index, it will likely be unpredictable and inconsistent over time.
What is ProShares UltraPro QQQ's expense ratio?
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ has a gross expense ratio of 0.98%. So, for every $1,000 in fund assets, there are $9.80 in investment expenses. If you are unfamiliar with how ETFs and mutual funds work, this isn't an expense you have to pay. It will be reflected in the fund's performance.
Expense Ratio
A percentage of mutual fund or ETF assets deducted annually to cover management, operational, and administrative costs.
This is on the high end of the spectrum for an index fund but aligns with what other leveraged ETFs charge. As you might imagine, replicating 3 times the performance of an index requires quite a bit of behind-the-scenes work.
Historical record
Historical performance of ProShares UltraPro QQQ
The historical performance of the ProShares UltraPro QQQ is rather impressive. Here's how its total long-term return compares to that of the benchmark Nasdaq-100 index over certain periods of time:
| Period | ProShares UltraPro QQQ | Nasdaq-100 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Year | 121.3% | 39.7% |
| 5 Years | 34.9% | 20.9% |
| 10 Years | 37.8% | 18.8% |
| Since Inception (2/9/2010) | 42.7% | 19.3% |
All returns in the table are through March 31, 2024. Total returns are annualized and assume reinvestment of all dividends.
One important thing to notice is that while the ProShares UltraPro QQQ has indeed delivered strong performance over the long run, it hasn't tripled the total returns of the Nasdaq-100. This is due to the fund's objective of tripling the index's daily returns; over time, this is mathematically different from its long-term performance.
Having said that, the ETF's long-term performance has been impressive, as the Nasdaq-100 itself has been an incredibly strong performer for most of the fund's history. For context, its 42.7% total return since inception means that someone who invested $10,000 in Feb. 2010 would have seen their investment grow to more than $1.5 million just over 14 years later.
Related investing topics
The bottom line on ProShares UltraPro QQQ
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ is certainly a risky, volatile ETF that isn't for investors with a low level of risk tolerance. If the Nasdaq-100 has a particularly bad market crash, it's possible to lose almost all your money.
On the other hand, if the Nasdaq-100 continues to perform well in the coming years, it could continue to produce fantastic returns. Just be aware of what you're getting into before you invest. Leveraged ETFs are not right for everyone.
FAQ
Investing in ProShares UltraPro QQQ FAQ
Is ProShares UltraPro QQQ a good investment?
There's no way to accurately predict what returns the ProShares UltraPro QQQ will return over any given period or whether it will gain or lose money. Although the ProShares UltraPro QQQ has delivered strong returns since its 2010 inception, that is not a guarantee that it will continue to do so. Since it seeks to triple the daily return of the Nasdaq-100, it can go down quickly if the Nasdaq-100 isn't performing well.
How do I start investing in ProShares UltraPro QQQ?
To start investing in ProShares UltraPro QQQ, you'll need a brokerage account. If you don't already have one, you'll need to open one. It's a smart idea to compare several options to see which brokerage platform best meets your needs.
Before you invest, it's also a good idea to read the full prospectus, which is available through the ProShares website and can likely be accessed through your broker as well. Once you've decided that ProShares UltraPro QQQ is a good fit for your investment strategy, deposit money into your brokerage account and place an order to buy the desired quantity of shares.
How much does it cost to invest in ProShares UltraPro QQQ?
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ has a gross expense ratio of 0.98%. This means that for every $1,000 in fund assets, there are $9.80 in investment expenses. This is on the higher end in the ETF world but aligns with other unique, leveraged ETFs like this one.
What is the downside to investing in ProShares UltraPro QQQ?
The primary reason to invest in the ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF is to amplify your investment returns compared with simply investing in the Nasdaq-100. But the other side of the coin is that when the Nasdaq-100 falls, the ProShares UltraPro QQQ will fall 3 times as much. The ETF is volatile by nature and can lose money quickly if the Nasdaq moves in the wrong direction.
Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Matt Frankel has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
