SSO Stock: ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF Profile & Analysis (2026)
A leveraged fund designed to double the daily performance of the S&P 500 Index — Updated May 2026 with current AUM, expense ratio, holdings, and performance data.
SSO stock represents the ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF, a financial instrument designed to provide daily investment results that correspond to twice (2x) the daily performance of the S&P 500 Index. Traders often use SSO as a tactical tool to gain aggressive exposure to large-cap U.S. equities without employing margin themselves. It is a more moderate alternative to the 3x leverage found in the TQQQ Stock Profile, though it still carries significant structural risks.
It is vital for investors to recognize that SSO is strictly a short-term trading vehicle and is not suitable for a “buy and hold” strategy. Due to the effects of compounding and daily rebalancing, the fund’s performance over periods longer than a single day can differ significantly from twice the index return. For those looking for different leveraged sectors, you might explore the LABU Stock Profile for biotech exposure or review our List Of Etfs Focusing On The Nasdaq for tech-centric options.
Key Takeaways — SSO Stock
SSO seeks to double the daily price movement of the S&P 500, amplifying both gains and losses for short-term traders.
Because the fund resets daily, “math decay” can eat into returns during choppy, sideways markets, even if the index is flat.
With over $8B in AUM and high daily volume, SSO offers tight bid-ask spreads for active intra-day or swing traders.
Historical data shows that holding SSO long-term can result in significant underperformance compared to the 2x target due to compounding.
SSO — Live Price Chart
Real-time chart from TradingView.
SSO ETF Vitals & Key Statistics
Core data as of May 2026.
| Data Point | Value | Data Point | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF | Ticker | SSO |
| Issuer | ProShare Advisors LLC | Asset Class | Leveraged Equity / Large Cap Domestic |
| Index Tracked | S&P 500 TR USD (S&P 500) | Structure | ETF |
| Expense Ratio | 0.87% | AUM | ~$8.29B |
| Inception Date | Jun 19, 2006 | Exchange | AMEX |
| No. of Holdings | 522 | Dividend Yield | 0.62% |
| 52-Week High | $69.22 | 52-Week Low | $43.60 |
| Avg Daily Volume | 4.56M | YTD Return | 19.75% |
| 1-Year Return | 19.75% | 5-Year Return | N/A |
| Category | Trading–Leveraged Equity | Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
SSO Top 10 Holdings (May 2026)
Largest positions by weight. Note: SSO primarily holds swap agreements and cash equivalents to achieve leverage.
| Rank | Ticker | Company Name | Sector | Weight % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IQMM | ProShares GENIUS Money Market ETF | Cash / Collateral | 15.72% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA | Technology | 5.28% |
| 3 | AAPL | Apple | Technology | 4.66% |
| 4 | MSFT | Microsoft | Technology | 3.13% |
| 5 | AMZN | Amazon | Consumer Discretionary | 2.71% |
| 6 | GOOGL | Alphabet | Communication Services | 2.31% |
| 7 | AVGO | Broadcom | Technology | 2.04% |
| 8 | GOOG | Alphabet | Communication Services | 1.84% |
| 9 | META | Meta | Communication Services | 1.42% |
| 10 | TSLA | Tesla | Consumer Discretionary | 1.27% |
SSO — Pros & Cons
✓ Magnified Bull Market Gains
SSO allows traders to capture double the returns of the S&P 500 during clear uptrends without the need for a margin account.
✗ Severe Volatility Decay
The “daily reset” mechanism means that in a volatile or sideways market, SSO can lose value even if the S&P 500 stays flat.
✓ High Liquidity & Tight Spreads
As one of the oldest leveraged ETFs, SSO has massive trading volume, making it easy to enter and exit large positions quickly.
✗ 2x Loss Acceleration
A 10% drop in the S&P 500 will result in a roughly 20% drop in SSO, leading to rapid capital erosion during corrections.
✓ Tactical Hedging Tool
Traders can use SSO for short-term tactical hedging or as a high-conviction bet on a market bounce following a sell-off.
✗ Expensive Holding Costs
An expense ratio of 0.87% is significantly higher than standard ETFs like VOO or SPY, making it costly for anything but short-term use.
Who Should Consider SSO?
Active short-term traders and swing traders who monitor their positions daily and have a high risk tolerance.
Long-term retirement savers, “set-it-and-forget-it” investors, or those who cannot afford rapid capital loss.
You have a strong conviction that the S&P 500 will move higher over the next few days or weeks and want to maximize that move.
Taxable brokerage accounts are common for short-term trades, though active traders sometimes use IRAs for tax-free gains.
SSO vs Similar ETFs
Key metrics comparison.
| ETF | Full Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Holdings | Div Yield | YTD | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSO ★ | ProShares Ultra S&P 500 ETF | 0.87% | $8.29B | 522 | 0.62% | 19.75% | 2x Short-Term S&P 500 Trades |
| UPRO | ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 | 0.91% | $5.1B | 503 | 0.35% | 28.40% | Aggressive 3x Daily Trades |
| SPY | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | 0.09% | $530B | 503 | 1.30% | 9.50% | Long-Term Index Core Holding |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | 0.03% | $450B | 503 | 1.35% | 9.52% | Ultra-Low-Cost Buy & Hold |
SSO Technical Analysis
Real-time buy/sell signals.
SSO — Risks & Considerations
Compounding Loss Risk
Because leverage is applied daily, a series of negative days can result in losses that are much larger than 2x the cumulative index drop.
Volatility Drag
In a whipsaw market where prices go up and down frequently, SSO will likely underperform due to the mathematical drag of daily rebalancing.
Leverage Reset Timing
The fund resets at the end of each trading day. If you hold SSO overnight, you are exposed to gap-down risks that may be magnified 2x.
Derivatives Exposure
SSO uses swap agreements and futures to achieve leverage. This introduces counterparty risk, though ProShares is an established issuer.