TSLQ is the Nasdaq ticker symbol for the Tradr 2X Short TSLA Daily ETF — an exchange-traded fund designed to return -2x the daily performance of Tesla (TSLA) stock. If Tesla falls 3% on a given day, TSLQ aims to gain roughly 6%. If Tesla rises 3%, TSLQ aims to lose roughly 6%.
TSLQ is not a stock. It's an ETF — a fund that trades on Nasdaq just like a stock, but holds derivatives (swap agreements) rather than Tesla shares. When you buy TSLQ, you're buying shares of a fund designed to move opposite to Tesla each day, at 2x magnitude.
Ticker symbols are shorthand codes assigned by exchanges. TSLQ's ticker is a play on TSLA — Tesla's own Nasdaq ticker — with the "Q" historically associated with companies facing headwinds or delisting (most famously, Enron's ENRNQ). The community of Tesla short sellers adopted the nickname TSLAQ long before the ETF existed, so the ticker is something of a nod to that culture.
The fund itself is managed by Tradr ETFs (formerly AXS Investments), one of the specialist issuers focused on single-stock leveraged ETFs. It uses total-return swap agreements rather than direct short selling to achieve its -2x exposure.
TSLQ is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market and trades during regular US market hours — 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (excluding market holidays). Like any Nasdaq-listed security, it can also be traded in pre-market and after-hours sessions at most brokers, though liquidity is thinner outside regular hours.
You can find TSLQ quotes on any major financial data platform: Yahoo Finance (TSLQ), Bloomberg, Nasdaq.com, or directly through your brokerage. For a live price comparison of TSLQ vs TSLL, use the TSLQ.com live tracker.
TSLQ's share price fluctuates throughout the trading day based on supply and demand — just like a regular stock. However, the underlying value of the fund is tied directly to Tesla's intraday move, amplified by -2x. Market makers continuously update the price to reflect where Tesla is trading in real time.
Unlike a mutual fund, TSLQ's price can diverge slightly from its Net Asset Value (NAV) during the day. This difference — called the bid-ask spread — is typically very narrow for TSLQ given its high trading volume, but it's worth checking before placing large market orders. Use limit orders to avoid overpaying.
| TSLA Daily Move | Approximate TSLQ Move |
|---|---|
| +5% | −10% |
| +3% | −6% |
| 0% | ≈ 0% (minus fees) |
| −3% | +6% |
| −5% | +10% |
| −10% | +20% |
Actual returns may differ slightly due to swap costs, fees, and intraday tracking. The -2x target applies to each trading day independently.
TSLQ resets its leverage target every day at the close. This means results over any period longer than one day are not simply -2x Tesla's multi-day return. In volatile markets, this daily reset causes volatility decay (also called compounding drag), which erodes value over time — even if Tesla ends up roughly where it started.
Tesla has historically been one of the most volatile large-cap stocks in the world. A sharp gap-up move in Tesla overnight can translate to significant TSLQ losses before you can react. TSLQ should generally be treated as a short-term tactical trade, not a buy-and-hold position.
TSLQ charges a 1.03% annual expense ratio. While that's relatively high compared to broad market index funds, it's typical for single-stock leveraged ETFs. The cost accrues daily and is reflected in the fund's NAV — you don't pay it out of pocket directly.
Not suitable for all investors. Leveraged and inverse ETFs are designed for sophisticated, short-term traders. You can lose some or all of your investment. Always read the fund prospectus and consult a licensed financial professional before trading.
TSLQ can be purchased through any US brokerage that allows leveraged and inverse ETFs. You search for the ticker TSLQ just as you would any Nasdaq stock. Some brokers require you to acknowledge a risk disclosure before your first leveraged ETF trade.
For a full breakdown of which platforms support TSLQ and how they compare on fees and requirements, see our Best Brokers for TSLQ guide.
TSLQ is an ETF (exchange-traded fund) that trades on Nasdaq like a stock. It holds derivative contracts rather than Tesla shares. Its ticker is TSLQ.
TSLQ is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. It trades during standard US market hours: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
No. TSLQ is an actual Nasdaq-listed ETF. TSLAQ is an informal nickname used on social media by Tesla short sellers, referencing Tesla's ticker (TSLA) with a "Q" suffix. They are unrelated. See our full TSLQ vs TSLAQ breakdown.
TSLQ charges a 1.03% annual expense ratio, which is deducted daily from the fund's NAV. This is standard for single-stock leveraged ETFs.
TSLQ does not pay regular dividends. It is focused on daily inverse performance, and any income from the underlying swap agreements is generally reflected in the fund's NAV rather than distributed to shareholders.
Technically yes — TSLQ can be shorted at brokers that have shares available to borrow. But since TSLQ is already a short vehicle, shorting TSLQ would give you a synthetic long Tesla exposure. Most traders simply buy TSLL (the +2x Tesla bull ETF) instead.
TSLQ and other leveraged or inverse ETFs are built to track a multiple of Tesla's single-day return and reset every day. Because of daily-reset compounding (volatility decay), results over any period longer than one day can differ dramatically from the stated multiple — and these funds can lose value even when Tesla is roughly flat. They are high-risk, short-term trading tools for sophisticated investors, and you can lose some or all of your investment. This page is for informational purposes only, is not financial, investment, or tax advice, and is not affiliated with any fund issuer. Always verify current figures with the issuer and consult a licensed professional before trading.