QLD vs SOXL ETF Comparison
Compare QLD and SOXL across fund costs, diversification, holdings, performance, income, risk and current AlgovestIQ evidence.
What is the main difference between QLD and SOXL?
QLD is ProShares - Ultra QQQ, while SOXL is Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF. QLD is tied to Equity; SOXL is tied to Equity. QLD is broader by holdings count, with 103 positions versus 30 for SOXL. QLD is more concentrated at the top, based on top-10 holdings weight.
| Metric | QLD | SOXL | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.98% | 0.91% | Fund |
| Assets under management | $13.8B | $18.2B | Fund |
| Holdings | 103 | 30 | Fund |
| Top-10 concentration | 59.5% | 20.7% | Fund |
| Average volume | 3,135,517 | 81,412,126 | Fund |
| Underlying exposure | Equity | Equity | Fund |
| Annualized volatility | 39.3% | 133.5% | Risk |
| Max drawdown | -25.2% | -69.4% | Risk |
| Beta | 2.85 | 7.68 | Risk |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.06 | 1.75 | Risk |
| Sortino ratio | 1.58 | 2.44 | Risk |
| AIQ Score | 47/100 | 42/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| AIQ Edge Score | 3/10 | 2/10 | AlgovestIQ |
| Momentum | 52/100 | 24/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| Risk Resilience | 31/100 | 0/100 | AlgovestIQ |
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
ProShares - Ultra QQQ vs Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF
QLD leads
QLD leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Risk Resilience and Momentum, and the lead has widened from 2 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 3 of 4 evidence groups support QLD, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
ProShares - Ultra QQQ
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors QLD over SOXL, 47 versus 42 as of Sep 5, 2026. QLD's advantage is driven primarily by stronger risk resilience and momentum, while SOXL holds the stronger quality profile. QLD also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QLD today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. QLD lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
Compare ProShares - Ultra QQQ and Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF across performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, drawdown, volatility and the Algovestiq AIQ Score.
Compare QLD and SOXL against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Risk Resilience15%31 vs 0QLD +31
- Momentum25%52 vs 24QLD +28
- Quality30%64 vs 76SOXL +12
- Value30%34 vs 45SOXL +11
3 of 4 evidence groups favor QLD. QLD’s edge is concentrated in risk resilience and momentum; SOXL keeps a meaningful quality edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-03, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-02.
Largest factor move: Momentum +21
New signals
- EMA Ribbon Compression — neutral, trend, medium horizon
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
QLD's lead widened by 5 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — QLD and SOXL both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
QLD (ProShares - Ultra QQQ): the stronger current systematic profile, led by risk resilience and momentum.
SOXL (Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X ETF): the counter-case, on quality, value, valuation — but at materially higher volatility, 93.2% against 27.1%.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
QLDQLD on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
SOXLSOXL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 11 points.
Momentum
QLDQLD on the Momentum factor, by 28 points.
Lower downside
QLDQLD on Risk Resilience, by 31 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
Fund facts, side by side
Two funds tracking overlapping universes are separated by cost and risk far more than by holdings. Those lead here.
| Measure | QLD | SOXL | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.98% | 0.91% | Lower is better — it compounds against you every year you hold. |
| Assets under management | $13.8B | $18.2B | Larger funds generally carry tighter spreads. |
| Holdings | 121 | 44 | More holdings means broader diversification, not better returns. |
| Average volume | 3,135,517 | 81,412,126 | Liquidity — matters most if you trade size. |
| Annualized volatility | 39.3% | 133.5% | Lower is a steadier ride for the same exposure. |
| Max drawdown | -25.2% | -69.4% | The worst peak-to-trough loss on record for the fund. |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.06 | 1.75 | Return per unit of risk. Higher is better. |
| Beta | 2.85 | 7.68 | Sensitivity to the broad market. Neither direction is better — it depends on the role in your portfolio. |
Where the exposure actually sits
QLD and SOXL share 23.26% of their weighted exposure across 19 common holdings.
QLD is the more concentrated of the two: its ten largest positions are 59.49% of the fund, against 20.69% for SOXL (103 holdings vs 30). Concentration cuts both ways — it is what drives outperformance when the top names work, and what makes the drawdown deeper when they do not.
84 holdings are unique to QLD and 11 to SOXL. Owning both is genuinely additive — most of the capital sits in different securities.
Largest shared positions
| Holding | QLD | SOXL | Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUMICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | 6.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| AMDADVANCED MICRO DEVICES | 4.48% | 3.13% | 3.13% |
| INTCINTEL CORP | 2.77% | 2.05% | 2.05% |
| NVDANVIDIA CORP | 6.03% | 1.92% | 1.92% |
| AMATAPPLIED MATERIALS INC | 2.08% | 1.71% | 1.71% |
| LRCXLAM RESEARCH CORP | 2.2% | 1.63% | 1.63% |
| AVGOBROADCOM INC | 1.85% | 1.42% | 1.42% |
| TXNTEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC | 1.39% | 1.47% | 1.39% |
Shared weight is the lower of the two positions — the portion of capital both funds genuinely have in the same security.
ETF comparison questions
Short answers to the fund-specific questions behind this comparison.
Which ETF is more diversified, QLD or SOXL?
QLD currently has more reported holdings, with 103 positions versus 30.
Which has the lower expense ratio?
SOXL has the lower reported expense ratio in the current fund profile.
Which ETF has the higher distribution yield?
The current dataset does not show a higher-yield winner.
Which ETF has been more volatile?
SOXL has the higher annualized volatility in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has had the smaller drawdown?
QLD has the less severe max drawdown in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has the stronger current AlgovestIQ evidence?
QLD currently leads on supporting AlgovestIQ evidence, 47 to 42.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QLD. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | QLD | 47 vs 42 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | SOXL | Value 34 vs 45 |
| Technicals | QLD | Price vs 50-day 1.3% vs -20.7%; vs 200-day 14.5% vs -1.5% |
| Risk Resilience | QLD | Risk Resilience 31 vs 0 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of QLD and SOXL and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on QLD.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 22 – Sep 3QLD lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- QLD +5
- 47 vs 42
- 7 sessions ago
- QLD +1
- 47 vs 46
- 30 sessions ago
- QLD +2
- 49 vs 47
- 90 sessions ago
- Level
- 46 vs 46
The lead changed hands 13 times in this window, most recently on Aug 27 when QLD moved ahead of SOXL.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (13.37%)
- Uptrend Structure Active — bullish, trend, long horizon
- EMA Ribbon Compression — neutral, trend, medium horizon
2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (36.43%)
- RSI Oversold - Potential Bounce — bullish, momentum, short horizon
- ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (12.96%)
QLD leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.33%, AIQ +5 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +9.87%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1SOXL closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 31 points behind, the largest single contributor to QLD's edge.
- 2SOXL's ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3QLD's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Technicals
QLD has the stronger structure| Metric | QLD | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 39.1 | 28.8 |
| ADX (14) | 11.9 | 20.1 |
| Price vs 50-day | 1.3% | -20.7% |
| Price vs 200-day | 14.5% | -1.5% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 27.1% | 93.2% |
Risk
QLD is the more resilient| Metric | QLD | SOXL |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 2.85 | 7.68 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.06 | 1.75 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.58 | 2.44 |
| Max drawdown | -25.2% | -69.4% |
| Current drawdown | -10.1% | -64.5% |
| Annualized volatility | 39.3% | 133.5% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -3.9% | -14.4% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, QLD or SOXL?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, QLD is the stronger of the two as of Sep 5, 2026, scoring 47 against SOXL's 42. The edge comes from risk resilience and momentum. SOXL is not without a case — it holds the better quality profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is QLD or SOXL the better buy right now?
QLD carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 5, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor QLD over SOXL?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. QLD leads Risk Resilience by 31 points; QLD leads Momentum by 28 points; SOXL leads Quality by 12 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which is better value, QLD or SOXL?
SOXL is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. SOXL on the peer-relative Value factor, by 11 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, QLD or SOXL?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, QLD or SOXL?
QLD on the Momentum factor, by 28 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, QLD or SOXL?
QLD is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QLD on Risk Resilience, by 31 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is QLD more profitable than SOXL?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is QLD's lead over SOXL getting stronger or weaker?
QLD lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 2 to 5 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-22 and 2026-09-03. The lead has changed hands 13 times in that window, most recently on 2026-08-27, when QLD moved ahead of SOXL.
What would change the QLD vs SOXL verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: SOXL closes the Risk Resilience gap — currently 31 points behind, the largest single contributor to QLD's edge; SOXL's ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; QLD's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 2 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about QLD and SOXL?
QLD: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. SOXL: 2 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on QLD is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On SOXL it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare QLD and SOXL with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.