Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs: 04/13/2025

These were last week’s top performing leveraged and inverse ETFs. Note that because of leverage, these kinds of funds can move quickly. Always do your homework.

1. GDXU – MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN

GDXU, a leveraged equity fund, yielded approximately 63% return last week. This fund provides 3x exposure to an index of the two largest gold miners’ ETFs, VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ), which invest in the global gold mining industry. Fueled by trade war tensions, a weakening dollar, and anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, gold prices have surged, with experts forecasting continued gains.

2. NUGT – Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bull 2x Shares

Another gold ETF, NUGT, seeks daily investment results of 200% of the performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index, ranked second on the top levered ETFs list. The ETF gained more than 40% in the last week.

3. JNUG – Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bull 2x Shares

JNUG, which seeks to return 200% of the daily performance of the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index, ranked third on the list of top performing leveraged/inverse ETFs last week, returning over ~39%. The MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index tracks the performance of foreign and domestic companies involved in gold and silver mining. JNUG and other precious metals funds performed well as gold prices rose due to trade war tensions, a declining dollar, and potential Federal Reserve rate cuts.

4. NVDU – Direxion Daily NVDA Bull 2X Shares

NVDU, which provides 2x leveraged exposure to the daily price movement for shares of NVIDIA stock, featured on the Leveraged/ Inverse ETFs’ list with ~33% returns in the last week amid market’s consideration of a temporary semiconductor tariff exemption versus the risk of future tariffs, as well as, Nvidia’s pledge to further U.S. investment.

5. NVDL – GraniteShares 2x Long NVDA Daily ETF

NVDL, which provides 2x leveraged exposure to the daily price movement for shares of NVIDIA stock, was another Nvidia-focused fund on the Leveraged/ Inverse ETFs’ list with over 32% weekly gains.

6. DFEN – Direxion Daily Aerospace & Defense Bull 3X Shares

This ETF that aims to triple the daily return of an index of defense industry stocks was one of the top performing levered ETFs last week as defense stocks gained on the back of the anticipation of a substantial forthcoming U.S. budget package, offering a source of optimism. The aerospace & defense sector rose by 9% in the last five days.

7. USD – ProShares Ultra Semiconductors

ProShares Ultra Semiconductors (USD), which provides leveraged exposure to U.S. Semiconductor stocks, gained over 29% last week. This was due to the semiconductor sector gaining ~15% over the last five days, driven by temporary semiconductor tariff exemption amid an uncertain backdrop of potential for future levies.

8. URAX – Defiance Daily Target 2x Long Uranium ETF

The Defiance Daily Target 2x Long Uranium ETF (URAX) aims to provide 2x leveraged exposure to the daily share price movement of the Global X Uranium ETF. URAX saw a return of over 24% last week, and was one of the contenders on the list of leveraged ETFs after Bank of America said tight uranium supply is expected to drive a strong 2026E recovery, and the U.S. utility spot/term buying should also boost robust medium/long-term fundamentals.

9. TTT – ProShares UltraPro Short 20+ Year Treasury

ProShares UltraPro Short 20+ Year Treasury also made it to the list of top-performing inverse ETFs as Treasury yield rose from 4.79% to 4.83% in the last five days amid Trump’s tariffs and a falling dollar.

10. FNGO – MicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs

FNGO, MicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs, was one of the top performers last week, returning ~22%. The fund provides 2x the daily price movements of an index comprised of US-listed technology and consumer discretionary companies. The technology sector gained over 12% and was the top-performing sector last week. Tech shares rose after the US tariff exemption.

For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Leveraged & Inverse Channel.