NASDAQ 100 Index
Historical returns and performance of the tech-heavy NASDAQ benchmark
What is the NASDAQ 100?
The NASDAQ 100 is a stock market index that includes the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. It is heavily weighted toward technology companies, making it a popular benchmark for tech-focused investors.
The index is market-cap weighted and includes major technology giants like Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Meta. Unlike the S&P 500, it excludes financial companies like banks and investment firms.
On StocksBio, we use QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) as our NASDAQ 100 benchmark. QQQ is one of the most heavily traded ETFs in the world, with an expense ratio of 0.20%.
NASDAQ 100 Historical Returns
Based on QQQ ETF data. $1,000 invested at the start of each period.
Growth of $10,000 in the NASDAQ 100
How a $10,000 investment in QQQ would have grown over time. The NASDAQ 100 lost nearly 80% during the dot-com bust, yet long-term investors who held through have been handsomely rewarded.
NASDAQ 100 Annual Returns by Year
Year-by-year performance via QQQ. The NASDAQ 100's annual swings are larger than the S&P 500 -- both the best and worst years are more extreme.
| Year | Return | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (YTD) | -3.3% | |
| 2025 | +20.8% | |
| 2024 | +25.6% | |
| 2023 | +54.8% | |
| 2022 | -32.6% | |
| 2021 | +27.4% | |
| 2020 | +48.4% | |
| 2019 | +38.9% | |
| 2018 | -0.1% | |
| 2017 | +32.7% | |
| 2016 | +7.1% | |
| 2015 | +9.5% | |
| 2014 | +19.2% | |
| 2013 | +36.6% | |
| 2012 | +18.1% | |
| 2011 | +3.5% | |
| 2010 | +20.1% | |
| 2009 | +54.7% | |
| 2008 | -41.7% | |
| 2007 | +19.0% | |
| 2006 | +7.1% | |
| 2005 | +1.6% | |
| 2004 | +10.5% | |
| 2003 | +49.7% | |
| 2002 | -37.4% | |
| 2001 | -33.3% | |
| 2000 | -36.1% | |
| 1999 (YTD) | +74.2% |
NASDAQ 100 CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)
The NASDAQ 100 has historically outperformed the S&P 500 due to its heavy weighting in high-growth technology stocks. However, this also means higher volatility -- the NASDAQ 100 tends to fall more during market downturns and rise more during bull markets.
NASDAQ 100 Best and Worst Years
Best Years
Worst Years
The NASDAQ 100's best years often exceed +40%, but its worst years can mean losses of -30% or more. This extreme range reflects the high-beta nature of tech-heavy investing.
NASDAQ 100 Monthly Statistics
NASDAQ 100 Monthly Returns Heatmap
Month-by-month QQQ returns for the last 10 years. The NASDAQ 100 tends to show stronger seasonal patterns than the S&P 500, with particularly volatile moves in January and late Q4.
NASDAQ 100 Major Crashes and Bear Markets
Every major drawdown over 20% from peak to trough. The NASDAQ 100 is more volatile than the S&P 500, so its crashes tend to be deeper and more dramatic.
| Peak | Trough | Decline | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-03 | 2002-09 | -81.1% | Dot-com bust |
| 2021-12 | 2022-12 | -32.6% | Fed rate hikes / tech selloff |
The Magnificent 7 Effect
The NASDAQ 100's performance is overwhelmingly driven by the "Magnificent 7" -- Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA), Amazon (AMZN), Meta (META), Alphabet (GOOGL), and Tesla (TSLA). Together, these seven companies make up over 50% of QQQ's total weight, meaning the ETF's returns are essentially a bet on whether these megacap tech stocks go up or down.
This concentration is both the NASDAQ 100's greatest strength and biggest risk. When the Magnificent 7 rally -- as they did in 2023, when collective AI enthusiasm drove NVDA up 239%, META up 194%, and TSLA up 102% -- QQQ soars far beyond the S&P 500. But when tech sentiment turns negative, the concentrated exposure means QQQ falls harder. In 2022, the NASDAQ 100 dropped over 32% compared to the S&P 500's 18% decline.
No other major index has this level of single-sector concentration. The S&P 500 at least includes financials, healthcare, energy, and other sectors that can cushion tech downturns. The NASDAQ 100 offers no such diversification -- if you own QQQ, you are making a deliberate bet that big tech continues to outperform.
Top NASDAQ 100 Stocks
Explore the largest components of the NASDAQ 100 index
Understanding the NASDAQ 100
How is the NASDAQ 100 Different from S&P 500?
The main differences between the NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500:
- Company count: NASDAQ 100 has 100 companies vs 500 in the S&P 500
- Sector focus: NASDAQ 100 is ~50% technology vs ~30% for S&P 500
- No financials: NASDAQ 100 excludes banks and financial companies
- Growth bias: NASDAQ 100 skews toward growth stocks
NASDAQ 100 Top Holdings (as of 2026)
The index is dominated by technology giants, with the top 10 holdings typically making up over 50% of the index. This includes Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA, Meta, Alphabet (Google), and other major tech companies.
QQQ vs the NASDAQ 100 Index
On StocksBio, we use QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) data for our NASDAQ 100 calculations. QQQ tracks the NASDAQ 100 index closely but has an expense ratio of 0.20% per year, slightly higher than S&P 500 ETFs like SPY (0.09%).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NASDAQ 100 index?
The NASDAQ 100 is a stock market index that tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the NASDAQ exchange. It is heavily weighted toward technology, with companies like Apple, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Amazon, and Meta making up over 50% of the index. The most popular ETF tracking it is QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust).
What is the average annual return of the NASDAQ 100?
The NASDAQ 100 has historically returned about 12-14% per year on average, outperforming the S&P 500 due to its tech-heavy composition. Over the past 10 years, the CAGR has been +19.3%, driven by strong technology sector growth.
Is QQQ a good investment?
QQQ is one of the most popular ETFs for investors seeking exposure to large-cap technology and growth stocks. It offers higher return potential than the S&P 500 but also higher volatility. It dropped over 30% in 2022 before rebounding strongly. It works well as a long-term holding for investors comfortable with larger drawdowns.
How does the NASDAQ 100 compare to the S&P 500?
The NASDAQ 100 is more concentrated (100 stocks vs 500), more tech-heavy (~50% tech vs ~30%), and excludes financial companies. It has historically delivered higher returns but with greater volatility. During tech booms it outperforms significantly; during downturns it tends to fall harder.
How much would $10,000 invested in QQQ be worth?
$10,000 invested in QQQ 10 years ago would be worth approximately $58,260 today. Over 20 years, $10,000 would have grown to approximately $165,210, despite the severe dot-com crash and 2022 bear market.
QQQ ETF Comparisons
See how QQQ stacks up against other popular ETFs: