The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) and the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. TQQQ is a ProShares Trading–Leveraged Equity fund and VHT is a Vanguard Health fund. So, what’s the difference between TQQQ and VHT? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of TQQQ is 0.85 percentage points higher than VHT’s (0.95% vs. 0.1%). TQQQ also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, TQQQ has provided higher returns than VHT over the past 10 years.
In this article, we’ll compare TQQQ vs. VHT. We’ll look at risk metrics and portfolio growth, as well as at their annual returns and fund composition. Moreover, I’ll also discuss TQQQ’s and VHT’s holdings, performance, and industry exposure and examine how these affect their overall returns.
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Summary
| TQQQ | VHT | |
| Name | ProShares UltraPro QQQ | Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Trading–Leveraged Equity | Health |
| Issuer | ProShares | Vanguard |
| AUM | 12.41B | 17.94B |
| Avg. Return | 61.22% | 16.04% |
| Div. Yield | 0.0% | 1.15% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.1% |
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) is a Trading–Leveraged Equity fund that is issued by ProShares. It currently has 12.41B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 61.22% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.0% with an expense ratio of 0.95%.
The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) is a Health fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 17.94B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 16.04% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.15% with an expense ratio of 0.1%.
TQQQ’s dividend yield is 1.15% lower than that of VHT (0.0% vs. 1.15%). Also, TQQQ yielded on average 45.18% more per year over the past decade (61.22% vs. 16.04%). The expense ratio of TQQQ is 0.85 percentage points higher than VHT’s (0.95% vs. 0.1%).
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Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| TQQQ | VHT | |
| Technology | 0.0% | 0.05% |
| Industrials | 0.0% | 0.05% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Communication Services | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Utilities | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 0.0% | 99.57% |
| Consumer Defensive | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Financial Services | 0.0% | 0.02% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 0.31% |
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 0.0%. This is followed by Industrials and Energy at 0.0% and 0.0% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Financial Services (0.0%), and Real Estate (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
TQQQ’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, Utilities, Communication Services, and Energy stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, and 0.0%.
The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) has the most exposure to the Healthcare sector at 99.57%. This is followed by Basic Materials and Technology at 0.31% and 0.05% respectively. Real Estate (0.0%), Consumer Defensive (0.0%), and Utilities (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
VHT’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Communication Services, Energy, Financial Services, Industrials, and Technology stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.02%, 0.05%, and 0.05%.
TQQQ is 0.05% less exposed to the Technology sector than VHT (0.0% vs 0.05%). TQQQ’s exposure to Industrials and Energy stocks is 0.05% lower and 0.00% lower respectively (0.0% vs. 0.05% and 0.0% vs. 0.0%). In total, Consumer Cyclical, Financial Services, and Real Estate also make up 0.02% less of the fund’s holdings compared to VHT (0.00% vs. 0.02%).
Holdings
| TQQQ Holdings | Weight |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Goldman Sachs International | 45.11% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Societe Generale | 44.73% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Bnp Paribas | 38.05% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Bank Of America Na | 31.53% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Citibank Na | 31.49% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Jp Morgan Securities | 26.2% |
| Apple Inc | 7.49% |
| Microsoft Corp | 6.69% |
| Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Credit Suisse International | 5.9% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 5.68% |
TQQQ’s Top Holdings are Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Goldman Sachs International, Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Societe Generale, Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Bnp Paribas, Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Bank Of America Na, and Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Citibank Na at 45.11%, 44.73%, 38.05%, 31.53%, and 31.49%.
Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Jp Morgan Securities (26.2%), Apple Inc (7.49%), and Microsoft Corp (6.69%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Nasdaq 100 Index Swap Credit Suisse International and Amazon.com Inc are also represented in the TQQQ’s holdings at 5.9% and 5.68%.
| VHT Holdings | Weight |
| Johnson & Johnson | 7.34% |
| UnitedHealth Group Inc | 6.44% |
| Pfizer Inc | 3.7% |
| Abbott Laboratories | 3.48% |
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc | 3.37% |
| AbbVie Inc | 3.37% |
| Merck & Co Inc | 3.33% |
| Eli Lilly and Co | 3.17% |
| Danaher Corp | 2.91% |
| Medtronic PLC | 2.83% |
VHT’s Top Holdings are Johnson & Johnson, UnitedHealth Group Inc, Pfizer Inc, Abbott Laboratories, and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc at 7.34%, 6.44%, 3.7%, 3.48%, and 3.37%.
AbbVie Inc (3.37%), Merck & Co Inc (3.33%), and Eli Lilly and Co (3.17%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Danaher Corp and Medtronic PLC are also represented in the VHT’s holdings at 2.91% and 2.83%.
Risk Analysis
| TQQQ | VHT | |
| Mean Return | 4.65 | 1.33 |
| R-squared | 83.64 | 59.86 |
| Std. Deviation | 50.08 | 13.58 |
| Alpha | 7.29 | 7.99 |
| Beta | 3.37 | 0.75 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.1 | 1.13 |
| Treynor Ratio | 15.65 | 20.74 |
The ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) has a Sharpe Ratio of 1.1 with a Standard Deviation of 50.08 and a Alpha of 7.29. Its Mean Return is 4.65 while TQQQ’s R-squared is 83.64. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 3.37 and a Treynor Ratio of 15.65.
The Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares (VHT) has a Mean Return of 1.33 with a Standard Deviation of 13.58 and a Alpha of 7.99. Its Treynor Ratio is 20.74 while VHT’s R-squared is 59.86. Furthermore, the fund has a Beta of 0.75 and a Sharpe Ratio of 1.13.
TQQQ’s Mean Return is 3.32 points higher than that of VHT and its R-squared is 23.78 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 50.08, TQQQ is slightly more volatile than VHT. The Alpha and Beta of TQQQ are 0.70 points lower and 2.62 points higher than VHT’s Alpha and Beta.
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Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | TQQQ | VHT |
| 2020 | 109.85% | 18.21% |
| 2019 | 133.93% | 21.97% |
| 2018 | -19.65% | 5.55% |
| 2017 | 118.65% | 23.34% |
| 2016 | 11.04% | -3.33% |
| 2015 | 17.41% | 7.22% |
| 2014 | 56.82% | 25.38% |
| 2013 | 139.98% | 42.67% |
| 2012 | 51.95% | 19.1% |
| 2011 | -7.77% | 10.57% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 5.75% |
TQQQ had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 139.98%. TQQQ’s worst year over the past decade yielded -19.65% and occurred in 2018. In most years the ProShares UltraPro QQQ provided moderate returns such as in 2015, 2012, and 2014 where annual returns amounted to 17.41%, 51.95%, and 56.82% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for VHT, returning 42.67% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VHT in the last ten years was 2016, with a yield of -3.33%. Most years the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2011, 2020, and 2012, when gains were 10.57%, 18.21%, and 19.1% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| TQQQ | $10,000 | $593,012 | 61.22% |
| VHT | $10,000 | $45,829 | 16.04% |
A $10,000 investment in TQQQ would have resulted in a final balance of $593,012. This is a profit of $583,012 over 10 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 61.22%.
With a $10,000 investment in VHT, the end total would have been $45,829. This equates to a $35,829 profit over 10 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.04%.
TQQQ’s CAGR is 45.18 percentage points higher than that of VHT and as a result, would have yielded $547,183 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, TQQQ outperformed VHT by 45.18% annually.
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