What is Nasdaq? (Plain English Definition)
Definition: The Nasdaq is a major U.S. stock exchange known for listing technology and growth-oriented companies, and home to the Nasdaq-100 index.
Nasdaq Explained Simply
The Nasdaq Stock Market is the second-largest stock exchange in the world by market capitalization, after the NYSE. Founded in 1971 as the world's first electronic stock market, it has become synonymous with technology companies. Major companies listed on the Nasdaq include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), and Nvidia.
The Nasdaq Composite Index tracks all stocks listed on the Nasdaq exchange -- over 3,000 companies. The more widely followed Nasdaq-100 Index narrows this to the 100 largest non-financial companies on the exchange. Because of the Nasdaq's technology focus, these indices are heavily weighted toward tech and tend to be more volatile than the broader S&P 500.
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is the most popular ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100 and is one of the most heavily traded ETFs in the world. It provides concentrated exposure to technology and growth companies. While QQQ has delivered outstanding returns during tech-driven bull markets, it also experiences sharper declines during market downturns and periods of rising interest rates.
Nasdaq Example
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ), tracking the Nasdaq-100, has about 50% of its weight in technology companies. From 2010 to 2020, QQQ returned approximately 20% annually, dramatically outperforming the S&P 500's 13.5%. However, during the 2022 tech downturn, QQQ fell about 33% compared to the S&P 500's 19% decline. This illustrates both the upside and downside of the Nasdaq's tech concentration.
Why Nasdaq Matters for ETF Investors
The Nasdaq and its indices are important benchmarks for ETF investors interested in technology and growth stocks. Understanding what the Nasdaq represents helps you evaluate whether you want dedicated exposure beyond what a broad market index already provides. For ETF investors, owning a Nasdaq-100 ETF like QQQ on top of an S&P 500 ETF creates significant overlap, since the largest Nasdaq stocks are also the largest S&P 500 holdings. Before adding a Nasdaq ETF, consider whether you want to deliberately overweight technology and growth stocks. If so, understand that you are making a concentrated bet that may perform very differently from the broader market.
Nasdaq vs New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
| Nasdaq | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
|---|---|
| The Nasdaq is a major U.S. stock exchange known for listing technology and growth-oriented companies, and home to the Nasdaq-100 index. | See full definition of New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
While nasdaq and new york stock exchange (nyse) are related concepts, they serve different purposes in the world of ETF investing. Understanding both terms helps you make more informed decisions about which funds to include in your portfolio and how to evaluate their performance.
Read our full explanation of New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) →
Related Terms
Deepen your understanding of ETF investing by exploring these related concepts:
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
The NYSE is the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization, where thousands of stocks and ETFs are listed and traded.
Stock Exchange
A stock exchange is a regulated marketplace where securities like stocks, ETFs, and bonds are bought and sold.
S&P 500 Index
The S&P 500 is a stock market index tracking 500 of the largest U.S. companies, widely considered the best single measure of U.S. stock market performance.
Index
An index is a standardized collection of securities that represents a specific segment of the financial market, used as a benchmark to measure performance.
Large-Cap
Large-cap refers to companies with a market capitalization typically above $10 billion, representing the biggest and most established publicly traded companies.
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