What is the Nasdaq-100 YTD return in 2026?
The Nasdaq-100 is up +21.86% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Oct 12, 2026), or +21.44% on price alone — dividends have added 0.41 points so far. QQQ started the year at $614.31 and closed at $746.04. That makes 2026 the 9th best start in 27 years of data through this date.
Price return vs total return#
Total return assumes distributions are reinvested; price return measures only the change in the ETF's share price. The 0.41 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily QQQ price since the final market close of 2025. Hover for the close, price YTD, total return YTD with dividends reinvested, and that day's price move.
- Total-return high
- +24.1% · Oct 6, 2026
- Total-return low
- -9.0% · Mar 30, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -11.7%
- All-time-high closes
- 23 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Oct 12 — the same calendar date as the current result — so the comparison is not skewed by full-year outcomes.
Years that looked like this one
The five closest starts to 2026's +21.9%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2013 (+22.7% then → finished +36.6%) · 2024 (+21.0% then → finished +25.6%) · 2012 (+19.7% then → finished +16.9%) · 2007 (+24.0% then → finished +18.7%) · 2019 (+24.6% then → finished +39.0%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Oct 12, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +43.7% | +49.6% |
| 2009 | +43.1% | +53.8% |
| 2023 | +39.5% | +54.9% |
| 2020 | +39.3% | +48.6% |
| 2017 | +25.6% | +32.7% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -42.9% | -37.4% |
| 2001 | -40.8% | -33.3% |
| 2008 | -38.9% | -41.9% |
| 2022 | -33.7% | -32.6% |
| 2000 | -17.8% | -36.1% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | +43.7% | +49.6% |
| 2 | 2009 | +43.1% | +53.8% |
| 3 | 2023 | +39.5% | +54.9% |
| 4 | 2020 | +39.3% | +48.6% |
| 5 | 2017 | +25.6% | +32.7% |
| 6 | 2019 | +24.6% | +39.0% |
| 7 | 2007 | +24.0% | +18.7% |
| 8 | 2013 | +22.7% | +36.6% |
| 9 | 2026 (now) | +21.9% | — |
| 10 | 2024 | +21.0% | +25.6% |
| 11 | 2012 | +19.7% | +16.9% |
| 12 | 2025 | +15.7% | +20.8% |
| 13 | 2021 | +14.2% | +27.4% |
| 14 | 2018 | +12.5% | -0.1% |
| 15 | 2010 | +9.5% | +19.0% |
| 16 | 2014 | +8.6% | +19.2% |
| 17 | 2016 | +5.8% | +7.1% |
| 18 | 2006 | +4.4% | +6.8% |
| 19 | 2015 | +4.2% | +9.4% |
| 20 | 2011 | +3.9% | +2.5% |
| 21 | 2004 | -2.1% | +9.5% |
| 22 | 2005 | -6.1% | +1.2% |
| 23 | 2000 | -17.8% | -36.1% |
| 24 | 2022 | -33.7% | -32.6% |
| 25 | 2008 | -38.9% | -41.9% |
| 26 | 2001 | -40.8% | -33.3% |
| 27 | 2002 | -42.9% | -37.4% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Oct 12, 2026.
2026 YTD return by month#
Monthly total return and the compounded year-to-date result after each month.
| Month | Monthly return | Cumulative YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +1.2% | +1.2% |
| Feb | -2.3% | -1.1% |
| Mar | -4.8% | -5.9% |
| Apr | +15.7% | +8.8% |
| May | +10.6% | +20.3% |
| Jun | -0.2% | +20.1% |
| Jul | -6.5% | +12.3% |
| Aug | +4.2% | +17.0% |
| Sep | +3.3% | +20.8% |
| Oct | +0.8% | +21.9% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from QQQ (the Nasdaq-100 ETF): total return uses dividend-adjusted closes, price return uses split-adjusted closes only. “YTD through the same date” compares each year at the identical month-day, so early-year rankings aren't skewed by full-year outcomes. Data updates after each market close.
Keep going: Nasdaq-100 returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on Nasdaq-100
- Returns by year+21.9%
- Yearly charts+20.8%
- Trailing returns+27.1%
- Return calculator$2,152
- Average return10%?
- Companies & weights101
- Stock performance101
- P/E ratio37.5