Dividend comparison
QLD vs SSO: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for ProShares - Ultra QQQ and ProShares - Ultra S&P500, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
QLD vs SSO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SSO is cheaper at 0.88% a year versus 0.96% for QLD. On $10,000 that is $8 a year less in fees.
- Income. SSO pays more income, yielding 0.68% over the last twelve months versus 0.14% for QLD. That is about $54 more a year on $10,000. QLD pays semi-annual, SSO pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, QLD returned 126.7% versus 119.5% for SSO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $22,668 in QLD and $21,946 in SSO.
- Risk. QLD has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -63.7%, against -46.7% for SSO.
- Diversification. SSO holds 521 positions and QLD holds 121. The ten largest positions make up 40.8% of QLD and 40.6% of SSO.
- Overlap. At least 45% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 37 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. SSO grew its yearly payout 32.5% a year over the last 3 years, versus 29.2% for QLD.
Bottom line: QLD fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. SSO fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | QLD ProShares - Ultra QQQ | SSO ProShares - Ultra S&P500 |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.14% | 0.68% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.12 | $0.48 |
| Payout frequency | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.0271 on Sep 29, 2026 | $0.1179 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 29.2% over 3 yrs | 32.5% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $89.54 | $70.27 |
| Beta | 2.46 | 2.02 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -63.7% | -46.7% |
| Market cap | $10.70B | $8.87B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.96% | 0.88% |
| Assets under management | $14.46B | $8.93B |
| Number of holdings | 121 | 521 |
| Top 10 concentration | 40.8% | 40.6% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
QLD
$1.15/mo
$14 /yr at 0.14% yield
SSO
$5.65/mo
$68 /yr at 0.68% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. QLD pays semi-annual; SSO pays quarterly.
| Year | QLD | SSO |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.1178 | $0.3953 |
| 2024 | $0.1371 | $0.4813 |
| 2023 | $0.1271 | $0.0591 |
| 2022 | $0.0546 | $0.1109 |
| 2021 | — | $0.1281 |
Strategy: Leveraged
Funds that use swaps and futures to deliver two or three times the daily return of an index. The multiple resets every day, so over longer periods the result can differ sharply from simply multiplying the index return, especially when the market is choppy. They are built as short-term trading tools.
Daily rebalancing causes decay in sideways or volatile markets, and a large one-day drop can wipe out most of the fund's value.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $22,668 in QLD and $21,946 in SSO.
| Period | QLD | SSO |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -1.57% | 1.43% |
| 3 months | 4.12% | 6.12% |
| Year to date | 27.33% | 22.04% |
| 1 year | 26.67% | 24.90% |
| 3 years | 211.88% | 179.85% |
| 5 years | 126.68% | 119.46% |
- QLD
- SSO
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
- QLD
- SSO
QLD vs SSO holdings overlap
At least 45% overlap by weight, with 37 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | QLD weight | SSO weight |
|---|---|---|
| IQMMPROSHARES GENIUS MNY MKT ETF | 9.98% | 14.70% |
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 5.69% | 5.52% |
| AAPLAPPLE INC | 5.45% | 5.26% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 4.31% | 4.16% |
| AMZNAMAZON.COM INC | 3.08% | 2.71% |
| GOOGLALPHABET INC-CL A | 2.20% | 2.12% |
| GOOGALPHABET INC-CL C | 2.05% | 1.70% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 1.73% | 1.67% |
| METAMETA PLATFORMS INC-CLASS A | 2.28% | 1.63% |
| TSLATESLA INC | 2.10% | 1.09% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
QLD121 holdings total
Quick verdict
QLD fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns. SSO fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how QLD vs SSO fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is QLD or SSO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. QLD currently yields 0.14% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SSO yields 0.68%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between QLD and SSO?
ProShares - Ultra QQQ (QLD) is an ETF listed on AMEX. ProShares - Ultra S&P500 (SSO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, QLD or SSO?
SSO has the lower expense ratio. QLD charges 0.96% a year and SSO charges 0.88%, a difference of $8 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, QLD or SSO?
Over the last 5 years, QLD has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: QLD returned 126.7% and SSO returned 119.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, QLD or SSO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, QLD has been riskier: QLD fell as much as 63.7% and SSO as much as 46.7%. Their betas are 2.46 and 2.02.
How much do QLD and SSO overlap?
At least 45% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 37 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are IQMM, NVDA, AAPL. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do QLD and SSO pay dividends?
QLD pays semi-annual and SSO pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in QLD vs SSO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in QLD would generate roughly $1.15 per month ($14 annually). The same amount in SSO would produce about $5.65 per month ($68 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both QLD and SSO?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare QLD vs SSO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how QLD and SSO fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.
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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.