Indexes

NASDAQ: Definition

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Simple Definition

A stock exchange known for tech companies. Also an index of those stocks.

Why It Matters

NASDAQ is both an exchange (where stocks trade) and an index (tracking those stocks). It's tech-heavy: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Nvidia are all NASDAQ-listed. The NASDAQ-100 (tracked by QQQ) beat the S&P 500 significantly from 2010-2021, but also crashed harder in 2022. More growth, more volatility.

Key Points

  • NASDAQ was the first electronic exchange (1971) - no trading floor, all computers
  • The NASDAQ Composite includes 3,000+ stocks; NASDAQ-100 is just the largest 100 non-financial companies
  • QQQ (the NASDAQ-100 ETF) is one of the most traded securities in the world

Related Terms

Common Questions

A stock exchange known for tech companies. Also an index of those stocks. NASDAQ is both an exchange (where stocks trade) and an index (tracking those stocks). It's tech-heavy: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Nvidia are all NASDAQ-listed.

NASDAQ is both an exchange (where stocks trade) and an index (tracking those stocks). It's tech-heavy: Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Tesla, and Nvidia are all NASDAQ-listed. The NASDAQ-100 (tracked by QQQ) beat the S&P 500 significantly from 2010-2021, but also crashed harder in 2022. More growth, more volatility.

NASDAQ was the first electronic exchange (1971) - no trading floor, all computers

The NASDAQ Composite includes 3,000+ stocks; NASDAQ-100 is just the largest 100 non-financial companies

QQQ (the NASDAQ-100 ETF) is one of the most traded securities in the world