Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs: 05/25/2025

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. IONX – Defiance Daily Target 2X Long IONQ ETF

The Defiance Daily Target 2X Long IONQ ETF seeks daily leveraged investment results of two times the daily percentage change in the share price of IonQ Inc., topping the list this week. The company, which provides quantum systems through the cloud on Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as through direct API access, saw a gain of over 30% last week.

2. GDXU – MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN

GDXU, a leveraged equity fund, yielded approximately 29% return last week and ranked second on the leveraged ETFs list, driven by growing demand for safe-haven assets. 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.

3. UVIX – 2x Long VIX Futures ETF

UVIX, which offers daily 2x leveraged exposure to short-term VIX futures, is featured on the list of leveraged ETFs. Rising concerns over the U.S. fiscal deficit, a credit rating downgrade, and surging national debt fueled increased market volatility, weighing on Wall Street. Trump’s trade tensions with the EU and Apple further exacerbated the unease. However, this increased volatility was juxtaposed with a backdrop of steady macroeconomic growth. VIX, the CBOE Volatility Index, has risen to ~18.9 from ~18.4 in the prior week, after increasing to 25 mid-week.

4. 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 fourth on the list of top performing leveraged/inverse ETFs last week, returning over ~20%. 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 ongoing economic uncertainty and market volatility.

5. 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 leveraged ETFs’ list last week as volatility increased.

6. 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, also ranked among the top levered ETFs. The ETF gained more than 18% in the last week.

7. SOXS – Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares

The SOXS ETF inversely tracks the PHLX Semiconductor Index, was ranked among the leveraged/ inverse ETFs with ~16% returns last week. Semiconductor stocks experienced a downturn as Wall Street analysts lowered their earnings estimates for Nvidia (NVDA) in the lead-up to its fiscal first-quarter results. This adjustment largely stemmed from the anticipated financial impact of tightened U.S. trade restrictions on chip exports to China, which were expected to affect Nvidia’s revenue. The semiconductor sector lost ~0.15% in the last five days.

8. SHNY – MicroSectors Gold 3X Leveraged ETNs

SHNY, an ETF offering 2x leveraged exposure to global silver mining companies, also made the list with weekly gains of approximately 16%, driven by increasing safe-haven demand.

9.FLYD – MicroSectors Travel -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN

FLYD, which tracks -3x the daily price movements of an index of US-listed travel-related companies, was another contender on the list of inverse ETFs with ~15.5% returns, due to soft US travel demand amid the Trump administration’s new tariffs and policies.

10. NRGD – MicroSectors U.S. Big Oil Index -3 Inverse Leveraged ETN

NRGD ETF, which provides inverse exposure to the performance of U.S. oil, gas, and consumable fuels, was one of the contenders on the list of top performing levered/ inverse ETFs, gaining nearly 15%. Oil prices are falling due to an unexpected rise in U.S. oil inventories. Geopolitical tensions, specifically potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and ongoing U.S.-Iran talks, are adding to market volatility. Energy was the worst-performing sector, with oil, gas, and consumable fuels losing ~2% in the last five days.

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