ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF trades at $71.32, while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $391.21 (market cap $110.23B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation pays a 1.25% dividend while ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF pays none, and Valero Energy Corporation is trading nearer its 52-week high, ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| TQQQ | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Leveraged / Inverse | Energy |
52-Week High | $87.22 | $388.95 |
52-Week Low | $37.89 | $156.39 |
Market Cap | — | $110.23B |
Enterprise Value | — | $113.71B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.25% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
TQQQ, a 3x leveraged ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100, trades at $72.16, down 0.29% on the day. Technical indicators show a bullish trend with strong moving average support, while oscillators are neutral. Recent news highlights its amplified returns during the AI boom but warns of structural costs like volatility decay. The ETF's performance is closely tied to large-cap tech earnings and market sentiment.
The outlook for TQQQ hinges on continued tech sector strength, particularly AI-driven growth, but risks include high volatility and decay from daily rebalancing. Investors face amplified gains or losses, making it suitable only for those comfortable with significant risk. Monitoring underlying index performance and tech earnings is critical for timing entries and exits.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $382.85, up 3.27% today, reflecting strong momentum amid favorable refining conditions. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend, with recent earnings beats and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) as of September 9, 2026. Fundamentals show robust profitability with a 29.31% ROE, though revenue has declined from $176.4B in 2022 to $122.7B in 2025. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $345.55 price target, and the company maintains a solid balance sheet with $4.66B in cash.
VLO's outlook is supported by tight fuel supplies and healthy demand, with projected 2026 net income of $7.2B. Key risks include volatile energy prices and potential regulatory pressures. The stock offers growth potential but faces headwinds from revenue declines and geopolitical factors affecting the energy sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
TQQQ is a leveraged ETF that seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to three times (3x) the daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. It is one of the most liquid and actively traded instruments in the market, designed for sophisticated traders to amplify short-term bullish exposure to large-cap non-financial growth stocks, predominantly in the technology and communication sectors.
Read more on TQQQ →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →