ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (TBT) seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, that correspond to two times the inverse (-2x) of the daily performance of the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. In practical terms, the fund aims to gain approximately 2% when the index falls 1% on a given day, and to lose approximately 2% when the index rises 1%.
The underlying index measures U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate sovereign debt with a remaining maturity greater than 20 years, excluding inflation-linked securities, Treasury bills, and stripped zero-coupon issues. It is market-capitalization weighted and comprises roughly 40 long-dated issues, with a weighted average maturity of about 26 years and a modified duration of approximately 16 years. Duration measures how much a bond's price moves for a given change in yields; higher duration means greater rate sensitivity.
TBT is a derivatives-based, non-diversified fund. Rather than holding a basket of individual bonds, it obtains inverse leveraged exposure primarily through swap agreements and U.S. Treasury long-bond futures, with cash balances typically held in short-term Treasury bills and repurchase agreements. The fund carries a total annual operating expense ratio of 0.93% and has traded since 2008. Because it rebalances daily, its returns over periods longer than one day can differ materially from -2x the index return.
TBT's fortunes are essentially a mirror image of the long end of the U.S. Treasury curve. When 20- and 30-year yields climb, long-duration bond prices fall and TBT tends to rise; when yields decline and bond prices rally, TBT loses value at roughly twice the daily rate of the index.
The long end of the curve is shaped by several structural forces. Federal Reserve policy expectations anchor the front end, but longer maturities also respond to inflation expectations, economic growth projections, and the term premium, which is the extra compensation investors demand for holding longer-dated debt. Heavy government deficits and elevated Treasury issuance add supply pressure to the long end, a dynamic that can push yields higher even when the policy rate is steady. Conversely, recession fears or safe-haven demand tend to compress long-end yields and weigh on TBT.
This environment keeps duration-heavy products in the spotlight. TBT offers a way to express a view that long-term rates will move higher, while conventional long-duration Treasury funds, such as the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT), benefit when yields fall.
TBT has advanced in recent weeks, rising roughly 9% over the trailing 30 days and approximately 16% over the trailing three months. That move reflects a corresponding backup in long-duration Treasury yields, which pushed 20-plus-year bond prices lower and amplified gains for this -2x instrument.
The advance has been trend-driven rather than a single-day spike, consistent with a gradual repricing of the long end rather than an isolated market shock. The fund's leverage magnified these moves, but its daily rebalancing means multi-week returns are a compounding of daily -2x outcomes rather than a clean multiple of the index's total return. Investors should also note that the fund's volatility sensitivity can erode returns during choppy, range-bound markets even if the index's net direction is flat.
Positioning in TBT is best understood as a tactical, actively monitored expression of a bearish view on long-duration Treasury prices, rather than a buy-and-hold core holding.
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Several structural themes are likely to shape TBT through 2026. The trajectory of Federal Reserve policy and the market's expectations for future rate moves remain central, since a sustained repricing of the policy path can ripple out to the long end. Inflation data, including CPI (Consumer Price Index) and related measures, will influence how much easing or tightening the market prices in.
Government borrowing needs and the scale of Treasury issuance are equally important. A heavy auction calendar can pressure the long end higher, while softer issuance or strong overseas demand can cap yields. The term premium, which has historically been low or negative, is another variable to watch, as a normalization would lift long-duration yields and support TBT.
Finally, because TBT uses leverage and resets daily, its holders must weigh timing and volatility alongside direction. Sharp safe-haven rallies in Treasuries, episodes of elevated yield volatility, and extended holding periods are the primary structural risks to the fund's return profile.
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
TBT saw its Momentum Indicator move above the 0 level on September 18, 2026. This is an indication that the stock could be shifting in to a new upward move. Traders may want to consider buying the stock or buying call options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 88 similar instances where the indicator turned positive. In 82 of the 88 cases, the stock moved higher in the following days. The odds of a move higher are at 90%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for TBT just turned positive on September 23, 2026. Looking at past instances where TBT's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in 43 of 47 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 90%.
Following a +1.78% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where TBT advanced for three days, in 255 of 297 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 86%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 270 of 296 cases where TBT Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 90%.
The 10-day RSI Indicator for TBT moved out of overbought territory on October 08, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 40 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 33 of the 40 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 82%.
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 54 of 68 cases where TBT's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 79%.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where TBT declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 80%.
TBT broke above its upper Bollinger Band on September 24, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
Category Trading