Average Nasdaq-100 return
Over the last 10 years the Nasdaq-100 has returned +21.2% a year (CAGR) with dividends reinvested — +20.3% from price alone, and +17.3% after inflation. Since 2000 the annualized figure is +10.7%. Every standard window, through Oct 5, 2026:
| Window | Since | Total return /yr | Price only /yr | Dividends /yr | After inflation /yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Oct 6, 2025 | +25.12% | +24.53% | +0.59% | +21.85% |
| 3 years | Oct 6, 2023 | +28.26% | +27.54% | +0.72% | +24.81% |
| 5 years | Oct 5, 2021 | +16.87% | +16.17% | +0.70% | +12.55% |
| 10 years | Oct 5, 2016 | +21.17% | +20.34% | +0.84% | +17.32% |
| 15 years | Oct 6, 2011 | +20.11% | +19.18% | +0.93% | +17.04% |
| 20 years | Oct 5, 2006 | +16.29% | +15.62% | +0.68% | +13.40% |
| 27.6 years (all data) | Mar 10, 1999 | +10.74% | +10.27% | +0.47% | +7.94% |
Annualized (CAGR) from QQQ daily closes at exact anniversary dates; inflation adjustment uses CPI (CPIAUCSL). The dividends column is the reinvested-dividend contribution — total return minus price return.
The years behind the average#
“Average” hides how lumpy the ride is: across 26 full calendar years, the market finished positive 77% of the time, with a best year of +54.9% (2023) and a worst of -41.9% (2008). The arithmetic mean of single years is +12.2% and the median +18.7% — but compounding through the crashes brings the realized annualized return to +10.7%. Almost no individual year lands near the average.
Related#
See each year individually on Nasdaq-100 returns by year, or check this year's YTD so far.
More on Nasdaq-100
- Returns by year+23.1%
- Yearly charts+20.8%
- Trailing returns+25.4%
- YTD return+23.1%
- Return calculator$2,116
- Companies & weights101
- Stock performance101
- P/E ratio38.1