What is the Nasdaq Composite YTD return in 2026?
The Nasdaq Composite is up +18.98% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Oct 5, 2026), or +18.53% on price alone — dividends have added 0.45 points so far. ONEQ started the year at $91.40 and closed at $108.34. That makes 2026 the 9th best start in 23 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 0.45 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily ONEQ 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
- +19.0% · Oct 5, 2026
- Total-return low
- -10.4% · Mar 30, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -12.7%
- All-time-high closes
- 23 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Oct 5 — 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 +19.0%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2025 (+18.4% then → finished +20.9%) · 2012 (+19.9% then → finished +14.9%) · 2024 (+21.2% then → finished +29.3%) · 2019 (+21.5% then → finished +37.2%) · 2017 (+23.1% then → finished +29.3%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Oct 5, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +31.4% | +44.3% |
| 2023 | +27.9% | +45.7% |
| 2013 | +27.2% | +39.9% |
| 2020 | +26.7% | +44.9% |
| 2017 | +23.1% | +29.3% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -27.9% | -32.1% |
| 2008 | -26.4% | -40.2% |
| 2011 | -7.6% | -1.7% |
| 2005 | -3.3% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | -2.3% | +7.6% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009 | +31.4% | +44.3% |
| 2 | 2023 | +27.9% | +45.7% |
| 3 | 2013 | +27.2% | +39.9% |
| 4 | 2020 | +26.7% | +44.9% |
| 5 | 2017 | +23.1% | +29.3% |
| 6 | 2019 | +21.5% | +37.2% |
| 7 | 2024 | +21.2% | +29.3% |
| 8 | 2012 | +19.9% | +14.9% |
| 9 | 2026 (now) | +19.0% | — |
| 10 | 2025 | +18.4% | +20.9% |
| 11 | 2007 | +14.7% | +9.3% |
| 12 | 2018 | +13.3% | -3.2% |
| 13 | 2021 | +12.3% | +22.1% |
| 14 | 2014 | +8.1% | +14.7% |
| 15 | 2016 | +7.3% | +8.8% |
| 16 | 2010 | +5.6% | +16.9% |
| 17 | 2006 | +4.6% | +9.7% |
| 18 | 2015 | +1.8% | +7.0% |
| 19 | 2004 | -2.3% | +7.6% |
| 20 | 2005 | -3.3% | +0.9% |
| 21 | 2011 | -7.6% | -1.7% |
| 22 | 2008 | -26.4% | -40.2% |
| 23 | 2022 | -27.9% | -32.1% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Oct 5, 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 | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| Feb | -3.4% | -2.4% |
| Mar | -4.7% | -7.0% |
| Apr | +15.6% | +7.5% |
| May | +8.3% | +16.4% |
| Jun | -2.7% | +13.2% |
| Jul | -3.1% | +9.7% |
| Aug | +3.9% | +14.0% |
| Sep | +2.0% | +16.2% |
| Oct | +2.4% | +19.0% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from ONEQ (the Nasdaq Composite 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 Composite returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on Nasdaq Composite
- Returns by year+19.0%
- Yearly charts+20.9%
- Trailing returns+21.5%
- Return calculator$2,001
- Average return10%?
- Companies & weights1006
- Stock performance1006
- Dividend yield0.52%