Dividend comparison
SSO vs SOXL: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for ProShares - Ultra S&P500 and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
SSO vs SOXL: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. SSO is cheaper at 0.88% a year versus 0.91% for SOXL. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. SSO pays more income, yielding 0.68% over the last twelve months versus 0.10% for SOXL. That is about $58 more a year on $10,000. SSO pays quarterly, SOXL pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, SOXL returned 127.5% versus 119.5% for SSO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $22,750 in SOXL and $21,946 in SSO.
- Risk. SOXL has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -90.5%, against -46.7% for SSO.
- Diversification. SSO holds 521 positions and SOXL holds 44. The ten largest positions make up 40.6% of SSO and 41.7% of SOXL.
- Overlap. At least 11% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 12 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. SOXL grew its yearly payout 47.2% a year over the last 4 years, versus 32.5% for SSO.
- Size. SOXL is the larger fund with $21.9 billion in assets, against $8.9 billion for SSO.
Bottom line: SSO fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. SOXL fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | SSO ProShares - Ultra S&P500 | SOXL Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.68% | 0.10% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.48 | $0.09 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.1179 on Sep 29, 2026 | $0.0929 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 32.5% over 4 yrs | 47.2% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $70.27 | $97.55 |
| Beta | 2.02 | 7.64 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -46.7% | -90.5% |
| Market cap | $8.87B | $25.92B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.88% | 0.91% |
| Assets under management | $8.93B | $21.89B |
| Number of holdings | 521 | 44 |
| Top 10 concentration | 40.6% | 41.7% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
SSO
$5.65/mo
$68 /yr at 0.68% yield
SOXL
$0.79/mo
$10 /yr at 0.10% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. SSO pays quarterly; SOXL pays annual.
| Year | SSO | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.3953 | $0.1428 |
| 2024 | $0.4813 | $0.3211 |
| 2023 | $0.0591 | $0.1589 |
| 2022 | $0.1109 | $0.1038 |
| 2021 | $0.1281 | $0.0304 |
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 $21,946 in SSO and $22,750 in SOXL.
| Period | SSO | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1.43% | -21.07% |
| 3 months | 6.12% | -28.65% |
| Year to date | 22.04% | 132.26% |
| 1 year | 24.90% | 131.11% |
| 3 years | 179.85% | 496.27% |
| 5 years | 119.46% | 127.50% |
- SSO
- SOXL
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.
- SSO
- SOXL
SSO vs SOXL holdings overlap
At least 11% overlap by weight, with 12 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 | SSO weight | SOXL weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 5.52% | 5.38% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 1.67% | 4.95% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 1.07% | 5.17% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 0.92% | 6.26% |
| INTCINTEL CORP | 0.48% | 5.63% |
| LRCXLAM RESEARCH CORP | 0.36% | 2.47% |
| AMATAPPLIED MATERIALS INC | 0.34% | 2.47% |
| TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC | 0.27% | 2.90% |
| KLACKLA CORP | 0.23% | 2.60% |
| MRVLMARVELL TECHNOLOGY INC | 0.22% | 3.07% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
SSO521 holdings total
Quick verdict
SSO fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. SOXL fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is SSO or SOXL better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SSO currently yields 0.68% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SOXL yields 0.10%. 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 SSO and SOXL?
ProShares - Ultra S&P500 (SSO) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF (SOXL) 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, SSO or SOXL?
SSO has the lower expense ratio. SSO charges 0.88% a year and SOXL charges 0.91%, a difference of $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, SSO or SOXL?
Over the last 5 years, SOXL has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: SSO returned 119.5% and SOXL returned 127.5%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SSO or SOXL?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SOXL has been riskier: SSO fell as much as 46.7% and SOXL as much as 90.5%. Their betas are 2.02 and 7.64.
How much do SSO and SOXL overlap?
At least 11% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 12 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AVGO, MU. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do SSO and SOXL pay dividends?
SSO pays quarterly and SOXL pays annual.
How much income does $10,000 in SSO vs SOXL generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in SSO would generate roughly $5.65 per month ($68 annually). The same amount in SOXL would produce about $0.79 per month ($10 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both SSO and SOXL?
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 SSO vs SOXL with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how SSO and SOXL 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.