ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ Investment Guide

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The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ is an inverse ETF that aims to provide -3x daily returns of the Nasdaq-100 Index. This means it will move in the opposite direction of the index, providing a potential hedge against a downturn in the market.

The fund is designed to be a short-term trading tool, not a long-term investment. It's not suitable for investors who are looking to hold onto their investment for an extended period.

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ has a net expense ratio of 0.90%, which is relatively low compared to other inverse ETFs. This means investors will pay less in fees over time.

What is ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ?

The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is an inverse-leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index. It's been around since February 2010, established by ProShares.

This ETF is made up of financial derivatives, which are essentially bets that the underlying security or investment will perform poorly. This is how it achieves the opposite of a specific asset.

The SQQQ ETF is designed to profit from a market decline, rather than relying on a market increase. It's a hedge against an expected decline and provides an opportunity for investors to profit from daily market activity.

What Is ETF?

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An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a type of investment vehicle that tracks the performance of a specific index, sector, or asset class. It's like a basket that holds a bunch of different securities, allowing you to invest in a variety of assets with a single trade.

ETFs are traded on a stock exchange, like individual stocks, and their prices fluctuate throughout the day based on supply and demand. The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is an example of an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index.

Inversely leveraged funds, like the SQQQ, are made up of financial derivatives, which are essentially bets that a specific asset or investment will perform poorly. These derivatives can be complex and involve trading in short positions and swaps.

See what others are reading: Bloomberg Short-term Bank Yield Index

Understanding the ETF

ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is an inverse-leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index.

The fund is established by ProShares, which was launched in 2006 and focuses on specific, targeted, and relatively risky satellite holdings. Most of its ETFs are moderately small or very small, and SQQQ is no exception; total assets under management, or AUM, as of Aug. 20, 2023, was $4.56 billion.

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The fund provider, ProShares, uses an inverse-leveraged strategy to attempt to reproduce a daily investment result that is roughly opposite the daily performance of its underlying index, and then multiply those results by a certain factor. The stated objective of SQQQ is to triple the opposite results of the Nasdaq 100.

SQQQ is ideal for very short-term short bets against the Nasdaq 100 index, and it's probably best used as a countercyclical buy for those who are convinced large-cap stocks will suffer in the very near future.

On a similar theme: Proshares Nasdaq

About

The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is a unique investment tool. It's designed to profit from a market decline, rather than relying on a market increase.

This ETF is considerably more liquid than other funds of its size. That means it's easier to buy and sell shares without affecting the price.

As a hedge against an expected decline, the SQQQ ETF works well. It provides a way to protect your investments from a potential downturn.

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Investors who enjoy daily market and investing activity will find the SQQQ ETF appealing. It offers an opportunity to profit from daily market fluctuations.

Here are some key benefits of the SQQQ ETF:

  • Considerably more liquid than other funds of its size.
  • Designed to profit from a market decline rather than relying on a market increase.
  • Works as a hedge against an expected decline
  • Provides investors who enjoy daily market and investing activity an opportunity to profit

Key Information

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a popular inverse ETF that allows you to bet against the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 index.

SQQQ has a strong track record of delivering impressive returns over the long term, with a 5-year annualized total return of 57.6%.

Here are some key statistics to consider:

One thing to note about SQQQ is that it has a relatively high dividend yield of 10.7%, which is paid out quarterly.

SQQQ's net income ratio is a low -0.81%, suggesting that a significant portion of the fund's returns come from capital gains rather than dividend income.

Recommended read: Qqq Dividend Yield

Performance and Fees

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ has a relatively high expense ratio of 0.98% of its assets under management (AUM), which is actually higher than the category average return low of 0.59%.

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The fund's expense ratio is broken down into several components, including a management fee of 0.75% of AUM, which is also higher than the category average return low of 0.35%.

Here's a breakdown of the fund's fees:

The fund's high expense ratio and management fee may impact its after-tax returns, so it's essential to consider these costs when evaluating the ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ.

ETF Performance

The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is a high-risk investment, with a trailing five-year beta of -2.88, indicating it's highly volatile.

Its alpha of -31.79 is also quite low, which means it's not generating returns that beat the market, unlike a well-performing fund.

The Sharpe Ratio of -1.03 suggests that the fund's returns are not worth the level of risk it takes, which is a red flag for investors.

SQQQ carries a relatively high expense ratio of 0.95%, which is higher than average for ETFs and mutual funds.

This high expense ratio is partly due to the fund's strategy, which requires liquidating derivative contracts before their optimal point, making it a tricky investment to manage.

Operational Fees

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Operational fees can eat into your investment returns, so it's essential to understand what you're paying for. The expense ratio for SQQQ is 0.98%, which is relatively high.

Let's break down the operational fees for SQQQ:

These fees can impact your investment returns, especially if you're not getting the performance you expect. The management fee for SQQQ is 0.75%, which is a significant portion of the expense ratio.

The administrative fee is not applicable, or N/A, which is a relief for investors. However, the high expense ratio and management fee may offset some of the benefits of investing in SQQQ.

Performance and Fees

Performance and Fees can be a complex topic, but let's break it down.

The Dividend Yield of SQQQ is 10.68%, which is significantly higher than the Category Low of 0.00% and slightly lower than the Category High of 17.26%.

Fees can eat into your returns, so it's essential to understand what you're paying.

The Dividend Distribution Frequency of SQQQ is Quarterly, which is consistent with the Category High.

Here's a comparison of the Dividend Yield and Dividend Distribution Frequency of SQQQ to its categories:

Benefits and Disadvantages

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The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is a complex investment tool that offers both benefits and disadvantages. It's designed for short-term, high-risk, and high-reward gains if the Nasdaq 100 struggles.

SQQQ is a daily-targeted inverse ETF, which means it's not suitable for a long-term hold. Investors who buy and hold SQQQ find their returns badly damaged by expenses and decay.

The SQQQ ETF is considerably more liquid than other funds of its size, making it a more attractive option for investors who enjoy daily market and investing activity.

However, SQQQ is not without its risks. It's a tiny ETF that can go through wild fluctuations and is always close to closing altogether. This makes it a high-risk investment that's not suitable for all investors.

Here are some key points to consider:

  • SQQQ is a daily-targeted inverse ETF, designed for short-term gains.
  • It's not suitable for a long-term hold due to expenses and decay.
  • SQQQ is a high-risk investment with wild fluctuations.
  • It's considerably more liquid than other funds of its size.

Key Takeaways

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a 3x leveraged inverse ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100. This means it's designed to move in the opposite direction of the index, which is heavily weighted toward technology and telecommunications stocks.

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It seeks to return the exact results of the Nasdaq 100 index times negative three, making it a powerful tool for short-term traders looking to profit from a downturn.

Here are some key characteristics of the SQQQ:

  • Meant to be held intraday, not long-term
  • Not suitable for long-term investments, even among bearish investors

This ETF is not a long-term investment, where expenses and decay will quickly eat into returns.

Core Benefits of ETF

The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF offers several core benefits that make it an attractive option for investors. It's considerably more liquid than other funds of its size, making it easier to buy and sell shares.

One of the key advantages of SQQQ is its ability to profit from a market decline rather than relying on a market increase. This means investors can potentially earn returns even when the market is struggling.

The ETF's inverse-leveraged strategy allows it to reproduce a daily investment result that's roughly opposite the daily performance of its underlying index. This results in a tripled return compared to the Nasdaq 100.

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The SQQQ ETF works as a hedge against an expected decline in the market, providing a way for investors to protect their portfolios. It's especially useful for those who enjoy daily market and investing activity.

Here are some key statistics about the SQQQ ETF:

  • Total assets under management (AUM) as of Aug. 20, 2023: $4.56 billion
  • Launched by ProShares in 2006, focusing on specific, targeted, and relatively risky satellite holdings

Disadvantages of QQQ ETF

The UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) ETF is not without its drawbacks. It's a daily-targeted inverse ETF, designed for short-term, high-risk, and high-reward gains if the Nasdaq 100 struggles.

This fund is not suitable for a long-term hold, as investors who buy and hold SQQQ find their returns badly damaged by expenses and decay. Tiny ETFs like SQQQ can go through wild fluctuations and are always close to closing altogether.

Several key factors prevent SQQQ from serving as an acceptable core holding in an investor's portfolio. The share prices for SQQQ bank on a deviation from historical market performance.

Here are some key statistics that highlight the risks associated with SQQQ:

  • Trailing five-year beta: -2.88
  • Alpha: -31.79
  • Sharpe Ratio: -1.03
  • Expense ratio: 0.95%

The Nasdaq 100 Index does not perfectly correlate with total stock market performance, but it is certainly a cyclical index. Since the general trend of the Nasdaq is to grow over time, the long-term outlook for a 3x inverse-leveraged ETF like SQQQ is bleak at best.

Shorting Nasdaq

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The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a 3x inverse ETF that gains when the Nasdaq 100 index falls. It's designed to triple the opposite results of the Nasdaq 100.

The SQQQ has a stated objective of reproducing a daily investment result that is roughly opposite the daily performance of its underlying index. This means it attempts to profit from a market decline rather than relying on a market increase.

The fund is moderately small, with total assets under management of $4.56 billion as of August 20, 2023. This size can lead to wild fluctuations in the ETF's share price.

The SQQQ is a daily-targeted inverse ETF, making it unsuitable for a long-term hold. Investors who buy and hold SQQQ find their returns badly damaged by expenses and decay.

To finance the leveraged inverse position, the ETF owns a large amount of U.S. Treasury securities from the proceeds of short positions. This helps to mitigate the risk of the ETF's inverse strategy.

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Here are some key facts to consider when deciding whether to invest in the SQQQ:

  • 3x inverse ETF that gains when the Nasdaq 100 index falls
  • Designed to triple the opposite results of the Nasdaq 100
  • Unsuitable for a long-term hold due to expenses and decay
  • Owns a large amount of U.S. Treasury securities to finance the leveraged inverse position

The SQQQ is a high-risk, high-reward investment that should only be considered by experienced investors who understand the risks involved. It's not a suitable core holding in an investor's portfolio due to its volatility and potential for significant losses.

Investment and Trading

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a leveraged inverse ETF that aims to provide three times the daily inverse performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index.

It's designed for traders who want to bet against the market, particularly those who believe the Nasdaq-100 Index will decline.

The ETF uses a combination of short sales and derivatives to achieve its inverse performance.

This ETF is not suitable for long-term investors, as its daily reset means it can be volatile.

Its high degree of leverage makes it a high-risk investment, suitable only for experienced traders.

The SQQQ has a high expense ratio of 0.92%, which is higher than many other ETFs.

If this caught your attention, see: Qqq Inverse Etf

Financials

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The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a popular inverse ETF that aims to deliver the opposite performance of the NASDAQ-100 Index. It's designed for traders who want to bet against the tech-heavy index.

The SQQQ has a net expense ratio of 2.03%, which is relatively high compared to other ETFs. This means you'll pay a 2.03% annual fee to hold this fund.

The fund's assets under management have been steadily increasing, reaching a peak of around $2.5 billion in 2020. This growth suggests strong investor interest in the fund.

The SQQQ is traded on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) under the ticker symbol SQQQ.

Ratings and Rankings

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ has a trailing NAV total return of -6.9% for the year to date, which is 0.4 percentage points worse than the category. This translates to a grade of C.

The fund has consistently ranked high in its category, with a rank in category of 66.14% for the year to date, 88.98% for the past year, and 95.65% for the past 10 years. The SQQQ Return (NAV) has been negative for the past 10 years, with a return of -52.7% per year.

Here's a summary of the fund's ratings and rankings:

Return Trailing Ranking

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The Return Trailing Ranking is a crucial aspect of evaluating an ETF's performance. It takes into account the fund's returns over various periods, such as YTD, 1 Yr, 3 Yr, 5 Yr, and 10 Yr.

In the case of SQQQ, the ETF has consistently ranked in the top 95% of its category over the past 5 years, with a ranking of 95.28% in 2020. This indicates that SQQQ has performed better than most of its peers in this timeframe.

The fund's returns have been volatile, with a YTD return of -6.9% and a 1 Yr return of -50.7%. However, its 3 Yr return of -43.6% and 5 Yr return of -57.9% are significantly lower.

To better understand the ETF's ranking, let's look at the following table:

As you can see, SQQQ's ranking has been consistently high over the past 5 years, indicating its strong performance in this timeframe.

Total Return Ranking (Calendar)

The Total Return Ranking (Calendar) is a fascinating metric that gives us a glimpse into the performance of SQQQ and its category peers.

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SQQQ's 2024 return stands at -49.7%, which is significantly lower than its category peers.

Its 2022 return was a remarkable 82.4%, making it the top performer in its category that year.

In contrast, SQQQ's 2023 return was -73.7%, ranking it at 96.85% in its category.

Let's take a closer look at SQQQ's performance over the years:

The Bottom Line

The ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is a triple leveraged inverse ETF, which means it's designed to move in the opposite direction of the Nasdaq-100 Index at three times the magnitude.

This ETF is not for the faint of heart, with a maximum daily loss of 100%.

It's only suitable for advanced traders who understand the risks and can handle the potential for significant losses.

The SQQQ is designed to provide a high degree of leverage, making it a potentially powerful tool for traders looking to profit from shorting the market.

However, this leverage also comes with a high degree of risk, making it essential to use proper risk management techniques when trading this ETF.

In extreme market conditions, the SQQQ can move quickly and unpredictably, making it crucial to stay vigilant and adjust your strategy as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does SQQQ make money?

SQQQ generates profits by using financial instruments like swaps and futures to provide inverse exposure to the NASDAQ-100 index, benefiting from market downturns. This unique strategy allows the fund to capitalize on declining tech stocks.

Matthew McKenzie

Lead Writer

Matthew McKenzie is a seasoned writer with a passion for finance and technology. He has honed his skills in crafting engaging content that educates and informs readers on various topics related to the stock market. Matthew's expertise lies in breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible information, making him a sought-after writer in the finance niche.

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