What were the best and worst years for Nasdaq-100 since 2002?

The best year was 2026, up about 16%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 16%. Across the window, 106 of 282 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 50%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2010.

Would I have done better in S&P 500?

No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $8,407 over the same window, while Nasdaq-100 reached $29,600. Nasdaq-100 came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Nasdaq-100 since 2002

$1,000 put into the Nasdaq-100 at the end of 2002 would be worth about $29,600 today — a 29.6× return, or roughly 15.6% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 2002

19992025

How

You'd have

$29,600

from $1,000 invested — up 2860%.

Multiple29.6×

Per year15.6%

In today's $$16,112

shares held41.03 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+16%2026

Worst year−16%2008

Steepest drop−50%2007→2009

vs S&P 5003.52× aheadS&P 500 → $8,407

Nasdaq-100 since 2002 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 2002 grew to $29,600 — a 29.6× return, or about 15.6% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $8,407 — you'd have come out roughly 3.52× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 2026, up 16%; the worst was 2008, down 16%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 50% from its 2007 peak to its 2009 low, before climbing back above that high by 2010. Inflation takes a bite, too — consumer prices rose about 84% over the period, so in today's money the result is closer to 16.1× what you put in.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in Nasdaq-100 in 2002?: $1,000 invested in the Nasdaq-100 at the end of 2002 would be worth about $29,600 today — a 29.6× return, or roughly 15.6% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Nasdaq-100 since 2002?: The best year was 2026, up about 16%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 16%. Across the window, 106 of 282 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 50%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2010.
Would I have done better in S&P 500?: No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $8,407 over the same window, while Nasdaq-100 reached $29,600. Nasdaq-100 came out ahead.

The chart above shows the whole journey, not just the destination. Try switching to a bit each year to see how spreading your buying would have changed the outcome — or skip the latte to find out what a small daily habit could have grown into instead.

Compare Nasdaq-100 head-to-head since 2002 →

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