S&P 500 vs Nasdaq 100: which one returned more?
In short — over ~10 years, $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 would be worth $4,001 vs $6,453 for the Nasdaq 100 → Nasdaq 100 wins. Average annual return: S&P 500 +15%/yr, Nasdaq 100 +20%/yr. Price performance, excluding dividends.
$1,000 invested in S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100
| Investment ↕ | S&P 500 i ↕ | Nasdaq 100 i ↕ | Winner ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years ago | $2,029 | $2,300 | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 10 years ago | $4,001 | $6,453 | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
Return by year: S&P 500 vs Nasdaq 100
| Year ▼ | S&P 500 i ↕ | Nasdaq 100 i ↕ | Winner ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +12% | +17% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2025 | +16% | +20% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2024 | +17% | +25% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2023 | +28% | +54% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2022 | -9% | -33% | 🟢 S&P 500 |
| 2021 | +15% | +27% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2020 | +29% | +48% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2019 | +6% | +38% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2018 | +3% | -1% | 🟢 S&P 500 |
| 2017 | +15% | +32% | 🔵 Nasdaq 100 |
| 2016 | +22% | +6% | 🟢 S&P 500 |
⚠️ Past performance, not predictive nor advice. Prices in $, excluding dividends. Yahoo Finance data.
Frequently asked questions
S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100: which returned more over 10 years?
Over ~10 years, $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 is worth $4,001 vs $6,453 for the Nasdaq 100. Nasdaq 100 wins over this period (price performance, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict the future.
Is this comparison investment advice?
No. It is a factual comparison of past performance (real Yahoo Finance prices), for educational purposes. Diversify and adapt to your horizon and risk tolerance.
What is JPI Invest?
JPI Invest ranks financial analysts on their real results (targets replayed against real prices, backtested over 11 years) and derives stock selections. Beyond asset comparisons, explore the interactive table, the method and the best stocks to buy.