ProShares' New ETFs Take the S&P To Another Level | ETF Trends

ProFunds Group has launched two new exchange traded funds (ETFs) that up the ante on the S&P 500 times three, making them the next triple leverage provider to enter the popular space. This launch comes at a time when the scrutiny on leveraged funds is tight.

The provider has launched their first triple-leveraged ETFs, tracking the the S&P 500 Index. These ETFs, which triple the performance of the S&P 500 in both directions, are also the first triple leverage funds to track the benchmark index, notes John Spence for MarketWatch. Both ETFs are meant to be tracked on a daily basis and are not meant for long-term buy-and-hold investing:

  • ProShares Ultra Pro S&P 500 (UPRO)
  • ProShares Ultra Pro Short S&P 500 (SPXU)

The provider also offers ETFs that track the S&P in both directions by 200%. The timing of this leveraged launch comes after Finra issued a warning to brokers and advisors about the proper management, fairness and accuracy of sales and all sales materials. This is because of the nature of their sophisticated strategies, daily rebalancing and internal compounding, which leads to tracking error over time and makes them unsuitable for buy-and-hold investing. Providers such as Direxion, Rydex and ProShares have been doing their part to educate investors about the uses of these funds.

For more stories about long-short ETFs, visit our long-short category. For more information on new ETFs, visit our new ETF category, as well.

Read the disclaimer, as Tom Lydon is a board member of Rydex Funds.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Mr. Lydon serves as an independent trustee of certain mutual funds and ETFs that are managed by Guggenheim Investments; however, any opinions or forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Mr. Lydon and not those of Guggenheim Funds, Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC or any of their affiliates. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.