History of Market · The Chronicle of the U.S. Stock Market Nasdaq
Gathering II · leaf 8 of 22
QQQ · Annual Returns

QQQ · Annual Returns — QQQ Annual Returns

Annual returns — Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) returns, one bar per year.

Roughly 15% annualized since 1999. The deepest single-year loss came in 2008 at -42%. High return and high volatility travel together.

View the interactive chart Download raw JSON

What this page answers

Since 1986, the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) has logged 40 calendar years: 33 positive and 7 negative (a 83% hit rate), with an arithmetic-average annual return of +18.3%. The best year was 1999 (+102.0%); the worst was 2008 (-41.9%). The most recent year, 2026 (year-to-date), stands at +16.8%.

Roughly 15% annualized since 1999. The deepest single-year loss came in 2008 at -42%. High return and high volatility travel together. The data is refreshed by the History of Market pipeline and published as a stable JSON endpoint for research, citation, and AI-agent use.

The plate

QQQ · Annual Returns — QQQ Annual Returns-50%0%50%100%19901995200020052010201520202025
Plate II.8 Roughly 15% annualized since 1999. The deepest single-year loss came in 2008 at -42%. High return and high volatility travel together. 2026-09-04

Latest Snapshot

Updated
2026-09-04
Constituents
102
Top 10 weight
+46.3%
P/E
29.3
YTD
+0.0%
Top weight
NVDA +8.5%
Top weight
Technology +59.2%

Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) — annual returns, 1986–2026

Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) — annual returns, 1986–2026
YearReturn
2026+16.8%
2025+20.2%
2024+24.9%
2023+53.8%
2022-33.0%
2021+26.6%
2020+47.6%
2019+38.0%
2018-1.0%
2017+31.5%
2016+5.9%
2015+8.4%
2014+17.9%
2013+35.0%
2012+16.8%
2011+2.7%
2010+19.2%
2009+53.5%
2008-41.9%
2007+18.7%
2006+6.8%
2005+1.5%
2004+10.4%
2003+49.1%
2002-37.6%
2001-32.7%
2000-36.8%
1999+102.0%
1998+85.3%
1997+20.6%
1996+42.5%
1995+42.5%
1994+1.5%
1993+10.6%
1992+8.9%
1991+65.0%
1990-10.4%
1989+26.2%
1988+13.5%
1987+10.5%
1986+6.9%

Showing the full record (41 rows). Raw series: https://historyofmarket.com/api/nasdaq/100.json

Data & Source

GET /api/nasdaq/100.json — Canonical dataset endpoint.

Exchange closing prices · Company filings · Robert Shiller · FRED · NBER.

FAQ

What was the best year on record?

1999, when the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) returned +102.0%.

What was the worst year on record?

2008, when the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) fell -41.9%.

Where does this data come from?

History of Market combines public market and macro datasets — exchange closing prices, company filings, Robert Shiller, FRED, NBER, and the UBS Global Investment Returns Yearbook (Dimson–Marsh–Staunton). The exact endpoint for this panel is linked below.

How often is it updated?

Daily-tier datasets refresh after the U.S. market close, with a broader weekly refresh on Sunday. The timestamp shown on this page comes from the JSON payload.

Can I use the data?

Yes, for research and education with attribution to History of Market. Upstream data sources retain their own terms.