Dividend comparison
TQQQ vs TECL: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for ProShares UltraPro QQQ and Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
TQQQ vs TECL: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. Both charge about 0.94% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
- Income. TECL pays more income, yielding 4.40% over the last twelve months versus 0.69% for TQQQ. That is about $371 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, TECL returned 214.6% versus 113.8% for TQQQ, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $31,457 in TECL and $21,375 in TQQQ.
- Risk. TQQQ has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -81.6%, against -78.0% for TECL.
- Diversification. TQQQ holds 123 positions and TECL holds 80. The ten largest positions make up 34.1% of TQQQ and 44.5% of TECL.
- Overlap. At least 22% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 36 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. TQQQ grew its yearly payout 771.0% a year over the last 4 years, versus 134.6% for TECL.
- Size. TQQQ is the larger fund with $35.5 billion in assets, against $5.3 billion for TECL.
Bottom line: TQQQ fits better if you care most about faster dividend growth and broader diversification. TECL fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | TQQQ ProShares UltraPro QQQ | TECL Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 0.69% | 4.40% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $0.48 | $8.56 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.1560 on Sep 29, 2026 | $0.2093 on Sep 29, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 771.0% over 4 yrs | 134.6% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $70.41 | $194.53 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 3 years |
| Beta | 3.71 | 4.86 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -81.6% | -78.0% |
| Market cap | $41.88B | $7.27B |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.94% | 0.94% |
| Assets under management | $35.46B | $5.33B |
| Number of holdings | 123 | 80 |
| Top 10 concentration | 34.1% | 44.5% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
TQQQ
$5.73/mo
$69 /yr at 0.69% yield
TECL
$36.67/mo
$440 /yr at 4.40% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. TQQQ pays quarterly; TECL pays quarterly.
| Year | TQQQ | TECL |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $0.3425 | $8.4468 |
| 2024 | $0.7245 | $0.2609 |
| 2023 | $0.6395 | $0.1876 |
| 2022 | $0.0490 | $0.0492 |
| 2021 | $0.0001 | $0.2790 |
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 $21,375 in TQQQ and $31,457 in TECL.
| Period | TQQQ | TECL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -2.88% | -7.90% |
| 3 months | 4.28% | 9.47% |
| Year to date | 34.34% | 66.04% |
| 1 year | 31.48% | 58.58% |
| 3 years | 330.64% | 391.61% |
| 5 years | 113.75% | 214.57% |
- TQQQ
- TECL
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.
- TQQQ
- TECL
TQQQ vs TECL holdings overlap
At least 22% overlap by weight, with 36 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 | TQQQ weight | TECL weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 3.20% | 10.56% |
| AAPLAPPLE INC | 3.06% | 10.21% |
| MSFTMICROSOFT CORP | 2.42% | 8.00% |
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 1.72% | 2.68% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 1.48% | 3.18% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 0.97% | 3.19% |
| INTCINTEL CORP | 0.82% | 1.84% |
| PLTRPALANTIR TECHNOLOGIES INC-A | 0.75% | 1.77% |
| CSCOCISCO SYSTEMS INC | 0.71% | 1.75% |
| LRCXLAM RESEARCH CORP | 0.57% | 1.36% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
TQQQ123 holdings total
Quick verdict
TQQQ fits better if you care most about faster dividend growth and broader diversification. TECL fits better if you care most about more income today, stronger 5-year returns and smaller drawdowns. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is TQQQ or TECL better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. TQQQ currently yields 0.69% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while TECL yields 4.40%. 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 TQQQ and TECL?
ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X ETF (TECL) 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, TQQQ or TECL?
They cost about the same: TQQQ charges 0.94% a year and TECL charges 0.94%.
Which has performed better, TQQQ or TECL?
Over the last 5 years, TECL has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: TQQQ returned 113.8% and TECL returned 214.6%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, TQQQ or TECL?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, TQQQ has been riskier: TQQQ fell as much as 81.6% and TECL as much as 78.0%. Their betas are 3.71 and 4.86.
How much do TQQQ and TECL overlap?
At least 22% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 36 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are NVDA, AAPL, MSFT. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do TQQQ and TECL pay dividends?
Both pay quarterly. The most recent payments were $0.1560 for TQQQ and $0.2093 for TECL.
How much income does $10,000 in TQQQ vs TECL generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in TQQQ would generate roughly $5.73 per month ($69 annually). The same amount in TECL would produce about $36.67 per month ($440 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both TQQQ and TECL?
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 TQQQ vs TECL with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how TQQQ and TECL 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.