What were the best and worst years for Nasdaq-100 since 2003?

The best year was 2026, up about 16%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 16%. Across the window, 105 of 270 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 50%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2010.

Would I have done better in S&P 500?

No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $6,666 over the same window, while Nasdaq-100 reached $19,784. Nasdaq-100 came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Nasdaq-100 since 2003

$1,000 put into the Nasdaq-100 at the end of 2003 would be worth about $19,784 today — a 19.8× return, or roughly 14.2% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 2003

19992025

How

You'd have

$19,784

from $1,000 invested — up 1878%.

Multiple19.8×

Per year14.2%

In today's $$10,989

shares held27.43 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+16%2026

Worst year−16%2008

Steepest drop−50%2007→2009

vs S&P 5002.97× aheadS&P 500 → $6,666

Nasdaq-100 since 2003 has been a remarkably smooth ride. $1,000 put in at the end of 2003 grew to $19,784 — a 19.8× return, or about 14.2% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $6,666 — you'd have come out roughly 2.97× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 2026, up 16%; the worst was 2008, down 16%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 50% from its 2007 peak to its 2009 low, before climbing back above that high by 2010. Inflation takes a bite, too — consumer prices rose about 80% over the period, so in today's money the result is closer to 11.0× what you put in.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in Nasdaq-100 in 2003?: $1,000 invested in the Nasdaq-100 at the end of 2003 would be worth about $19,784 today — a 19.8× return, or roughly 14.2% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Nasdaq-100 since 2003?: The best year was 2026, up about 16%. The toughest was 2008, when it fell about 16%. Across the window, 105 of 270 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 50%, from a peak in 2007 to a low in 2009, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2010.
Would I have done better in S&P 500?: No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $6,666 over the same window, while Nasdaq-100 reached $19,784. Nasdaq-100 came out ahead.

The chart above shows the whole journey, not just the destination. Try switching to a bit each year to see how spreading your buying would have changed the outcome — or skip the latte to find out what a small daily habit could have grown into instead.

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