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. UVIX – 2x Long VIX Futures ETF
UVIX, which offers daily 2x leveraged exposure to short-term VIX futures, topped the list of leveraged ETFs last week. Middle East tensions and rising oil prices sent market volatility soaring last week, sparking inflation fears and a jump in the VIX. This surge in investor anxiety triggered sharp sell-offs and forced a cautious reevaluation of upcoming Federal Reserve rate policies.
2. GDXD – MicroSectors Gold Miners -3X Inverse Leveraged ETNs
GDXD aims to provide 300% daily inverse exposure to a market-cap weighted index comprised of two gold miners ETFs, ranked second on the list. Gold prices fell last week, as a surging US dollar and expectations of higher interest rates pressured the market. Heightened inflation fears, fueled by rising oil prices from Middle East tensions, added further weight to both spot and futures gold prices.
3. UVXY – ProShares Ultra VIX Short-Term Futures ETF
UVXY, which offers leveraged exposure to an index of short-term VIX futures contracts, was another volatility-focused fund on the top-performing levered ETFs last week as volatility increased amid Middle East tensions and rising oil prices.
4. UCO – ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil
UCO, which offers 2x daily leverage to an index that consists of crude oil futures contracts, was another best-performing fund on the list with more than 31% weekly gains. Oil prices spiked last week as escalating Middle East tensions fueled fears of sustained energy supply disruptions. This surge threatens to hike gas prices for U.S. consumers while placing significant downward pressure on the stock market.
5. JDST – Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bear 2X Shares
Direxion Daily Junior Gold Miners Index Bear 2X Shares or JDST, which seeks daily investment results of 200% of the inverse of the performance of the MVIS Global Junior Gold Miners Index, was another gold-focused top-performing inverse ETF, returning over 28% in the last week.
6. EDZ – Direxion Daily MSCI Emerging Markets Bear 3X Shares
EDZ, which offers 3x daily short leverage to the broad-based MSCI Emerging Markets Index also made it to the list with over 27% weekly gains driven broadly by geopolitical tensions, as oil prices spiked toward $119 per barrel amid the Israel-Iran conflict. This “risk-off” shift sparked massive investor outflows and a surging US dollar, intensifying global inflation fears.
7. DUST – Direxion Daily Gold Miners Index Bear 2x Shares
DUST, which provides inverse levered exposure to Global Gold Miners, was another top inverse ETF returning ~27% last week amid a strong dollar.
8. SOXS – Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares
The SOXS ETF inversely tracks the PHLX Semiconductor Index featured on the list of levered/ inverse ETFs with ~26%+ returns in the last week. Semiconductor stocks retreated as Middle East tensions threatened supply chains and fears of tighter U.S. export curbs on AI chips to China intensified. This sell-off was further compounded by rising energy costs and disappointing earnings reports, fueling widespread industry uncertainty.
9. JETD – MAX Airlines -3X Inverse Leveraged ETNs
JETD, which tracks -3x the daily price movements of an index consisting of US-listed companies in the air transportation industry, featured on the list with ~25% weekly gains. U.S. airline stocks plunged into a bear market last week as escalating Middle East conflicts drove jet fuel costs sharply higher. Major carriers like Delta and United saw steep declines as investors weighed the impact of surging operating expenses and potential travel disruptions on overall profitability.
10. ZSL – ProShares UltraShort Silver
ProShares UltraShort Silver, ZSL offers -2x daily leverage to silver prices and was one of the best performing inverse ETFs last week. Silver prices retreated last week as a stronger dollar, rising Treasury yields, and profit-taking outweighed recent gains. Reduced expectations for Fed rate cuts and softening industrial demand further pressured the metal, offset by high energy costs and margin hikes.
For more news, information, and analysis, visit the Leveraged & Inverse Content Hub.