SQMX vs SSO
FT Vest US Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF vs ProShares Ultra S&P500
Which is better, SQMX or SSO?
SSO has been ahead.
SSO has a lower expense ratio. SSO led over 1Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SQMX | SSO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.84%Best |
| AUM | $55M | $9.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.69% |
| Holdings | 10 | 521 |
| YTD Return | +4.77% | +21.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.41% | +28.56%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +37.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +17.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.8%Best | 25.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.4%Best | -35.2% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $11,346 | $14,937Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Alternative | Alternative |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2024 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.8 years).
SQMX vs SSO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.8 years both funds cover.
SQMX vs SSO Performance
FT Vest US Equity Quarterly Max Buffer ETF (SQMX) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and ProShares Ultra S&P500 (SSO) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SQMX returned +7.41% while SSO returned +28.56%. Year to date, SQMX is up 4.77% versus a gain of 21.98% for SSO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SSO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.4% compared with 2.8% for SQMX. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -7.4% for SQMX and -35.2% for SSO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SQMX charges 0.85% per year while SSO charges 0.84%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $84 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SQMX currently yields 0.00% against 0.69% for SSO.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SQMX and SSO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SQMX or SSO?
SQMX has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SSO charges 0.84%. SSO is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SQMX or SSO?
Over the past year SQMX returned +7.41% vs +28.56% for SSO, so SSO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SQMX annualized +7.27% vs +24.97% for SSO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SQMX or SSO?
SSO has been the more volatile fund at 25.4% annualized versus 2.8% for SQMX. Worst drawdown: SQMX -7.4% vs SSO -35.2%.
Should I hold both SQMX and SSO?
SQMX and SSO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SQMX or SSO?
SQMX yields 0.00% while SSO yields 0.69%, so SSO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SSO better than SQMX?
SSO has a lower expense ratio. SSO led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.