Top leveraged and inverse ETFs for week ending July 19

A group of leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds posted notable gains for the week ending July 19, 2026. Top performers included GraniteShares SNK, Direxion SOXS, T-REX DJTU and several 3x oil and energy ETNs.

GraniteShares SNK, a 2x inverse ETF tied to daily moves in Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX) shares, rose after SPCX shares fell below their $135 IPO price to trade near $120. The share decline followed a scrubbed Starship test flight in which multiple engines failed to ignite at launch, and investors also focused on looming lock-up expirations for insider holdings.

Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x ETF SOXS, which provides -3x exposure to the PHLX Semiconductor Index, gained roughly 34% on the week. Semiconductor stocks retreated amid growing doubts about the pace of AI infrastructure spending and the prospect of export controls on advanced chips. Investors scaled back positions after a prior run-up in chip stocks.

The T-REX 2X Long DJT Daily Target ETF (DJTU), which seeks 2x daily exposure to Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (DJT), advanced after the company announced a business-to-business product called “Truth API.” The product announcement drew speculative buying in the underlying stock that translated into gains for the leveraged long ETF.

Energy-focused leveraged ETNs also featured among top performers. MicroSectors NRGU, which targets three times the return of a U.S. oil and gas index, returned more than 22% as oil-related shares rose. WTIU, another 3x energy ETN, logged similar strong performance. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose after tensions between the U.S. and Iran increased concerns about potential disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil (UCO), offering 2x exposure to a crude-futures index, climbed about 18% for the week.

Inverse products on other sectors moved with commodity and technology flows. MicroSectors GDXD, a -3x gold-miners ETN, gained after gold prices fell amid higher perceived near-term U.S. interest-rate odds. MicroSectors BERZ, which provides -3x exposure to a FANG and innovation index, recorded roughly 18% weekly returns as investors rotated into energy and commodity plays. Direxion TECS, a -3x technology ETF, posted about 17% gains. Direxion HIBS, a -3x fund on high-beta S&P 500 names, advanced as mega-cap technology and AI-linked equities weakened following soft guidance from several large issuers and declines in semiconductor stocks.

These leveraged and inverse funds are structured to deliver a multiple of daily index moves and reset their exposure each trading day. Holding them across multiple days can produce returns that differ from the stated multiple, particularly in volatile markets. Market participants use these products for short-term trading, hedging or event-driven positions rather than buy-and-hold strategies.