How do I backtest TQQQ or QQQ?

Choose the Nasdaq index, pick a leverage level (1x QQQ, 2x QLD, 3x TQQQ), set your dates and investment method (lump sum or DCA), and click Run Backtest. The simulator compounds daily index returns at your chosen leverage, with optional realistic fees and financing costs.

Does the calculator account for leveraged ETF fees and decay?

Yes. Volatility decay emerges naturally from daily compounding, and the optional fee model applies the expense ratio (0.95% for 2x/3x) plus a financing cost equal to the era's average Fed funds rate times the borrowed exposure — validated against actual TQQQ tracking data.

How far back does the data go?

S&P 500 from 1928, Dow Jones from 1896, Nasdaq 100 from 1985, and semiconductors from 1926 — the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) itself starts in May 1994, and earlier periods use a US semiconductor sector proxy from the Kenneth French Data Library. Coverage spans the Great Depression, the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, and COVID-19.

What is a rolling backtest?

Instead of testing one fixed start date, a rolling backtest runs the same strategy from every possible start date in history, showing the best, worst, and median outcomes — a much more honest picture of what holding a leveraged ETF for N years could look like.

Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow Jones & Semiconductor Leveraged ETF Backtest

Simulate the historical performance of any investment strategy.

Backtest Settings

Index

Investment Method

Initial Investment ($)

Leverage

Expert Settings

Backtest Type

Mid-Period Contributions

Contribution Start

Contribution End

Monthly Contribution ($)

Crisis Period Presets

Start Date

End Date

Apply Fees & Costs

Log Scale

Ready to run your first backtest!

Set your conditions on the left and click 'Run Backtest'.

Ready to run your first backtest!

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