ProShares UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ) is not a strong buy for several reasons:
- Performance and Volatility: The ETF seeks to provide -3x the daily performance of the Nasdaq 100, which means it will be highly volatile and potentially risky. The recent drop of 3.0% on heavy volume indicates the high volatility and risk associated with the ETF1.
- Inverse ETF Characteristics: Inverse ETFs like SQQQ are designed to move opposite to the underlying index. While this can be beneficial in a declining market, it also means that the ETF will suffer significant losses during market upswings2.
- Long-Term Holding: The more extreme the market conditions, the more the return of SQQQ will deviate from its daily target. For example, smaller index gains and higher volatility can lead to worse returns, while larger index gains and lower volatility can lead to better returns2. This makes it difficult to predict the long-term performance of the ETF.
- Regulatory Concerns: There have been regulatory crackdowns on certain risky funds, which could impact the future of inverse ETFs like SQQQ1.
Given these points, SQQQ is not a strong buy due to its high volatility, inverse nature, and regulatory risks. Investors should consider these factors and their own risk tolerance before investing in SQQQ.