Nasdaq 100 average return, best months and biggest falls since 2004
23 years of daily prices in numbers: the average year, the best and worst months, every big fall and how long the recovery took. Prices to 14 October 2026.
The Nasdaq 100 holds the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange, led by the big technology firms. Index prices, without dividends.
On 14 October 2026, the Nasdaq 100 stood 4.1% below its record close, on 6 October 2026. Over the past twelve months its highest close was 36% above its lowest.
How far the Nasdaq 100 stood below its record high, week by week since 2004
The Nasdaq 100 average return over the last 5, 10 and 20 years
Over the last 10 years the Nasdaq 100 rose 20.1% a year on average, +523% in total. The table shows the average yearly return for each span up to 14 October 2026.
| Period | From | A year on average | In total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 1 year | 14 Oct 2025 | +21.9% | +22% |
| Last 3 years | 13 Oct 2023 | +25.9% | +100% |
| Last 5 years | 14 Oct 2021 | +14.8% | +99% |
| Last 10 years | 14 Oct 2016 | +20.1% | +523% |
| Last 20 years | 13 Oct 2006 | +15.3% | +1,634% |
The average year
From 2005 to 2025, the Nasdaq 100 rose in 18 of 21 calendar years. The average year gained +16.8% and the median year +18.7%. The best year was 2023 (+53.8%), the worst 2008 (−41.9%). This year to 14 October: +18.6%.
* Year to date.
Best and worst months
July has been the strongest month on average (+2.7%, higher in 18 of 23 years) and February the weakest (+0.1%, higher in 9 of 23). The gaps between months are small next to the swings inside any single month, so read them as tendencies, not rules.
Average change of the Nasdaq 100 by calendar month, 2004–2025
Is the summer really weaker? We tested the old saying: Sell in May and go away.
The biggest falls, and how long the way back took
The deepest fall since 2004 took the Nasdaq 100 53.7% below its high of 31 October 2007. It hit bottom on 20 November 2008 after 13 months, and it took another 2.1 years to close above the old high again, on 3 January 2011.
| High | Low | Fall | Fall took | Back at the high | Recovery took |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 2007 | 20 Nov 2008 | −53.7% | 13 months | 3 Jan 2011 | 2.1 years |
| 19 Nov 2021 | 28 Dec 2022 | −35.6% | 13 months | 15 Dec 2023 | 12 months |
| 19 Feb 2020 | 20 Mar 2020 | −28.0% | 30 days | 5 Jun 2020 | 3 months |
| 29 Aug 2018 | 24 Dec 2018 | −23.0% | 4 months | 17 Apr 2019 | 4 months |
| 19 Feb 2025 | 8 Apr 2025 | −22.9% | 48 days | 24 Jun 2025 | 3 months |
How much it moves in a day
On a typical day the Nasdaq 100 closes about 0.7% higher or lower. A move of more than 2% happened on 11% of trading days, and a move of more than 5% 40 times in 5,731 days. The largest rise was +12.6% on 13 October 2008; the largest fall −12.2% on 16 March 2020.
| Day | Average change | Days higher | Days counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | +0.07% | 57% | 1,073 |
| Tuesday | +0.10% | 55% | 1,178 |
| Wednesday | +0.10% | 57% | 1,178 |
| Thursday | +0.04% | 54% | 1,155 |
| Friday | 0.00% | 53% | 1,147 |
Differences between weekdays are small and change from decade to decade. They are not a reason to trade on a given day.
Questions people ask
What is the best month for the Nasdaq 100?
No month is reliable. Since 2004, July has been the strongest on average (+2.7%, higher in 18 of 23 years) and February the weakest.
What is the average return of the Nasdaq 100 over the last 10 years?
+20.1% a year from 14 October 2016 to 14 October 2026, +523% in total, price only.
How much has the Nasdaq 100 gained since 2004?
From 2 January 2004 to 14 October 2026: +1,946% in total, or +14.2% a year.
What was the biggest fall in the Nasdaq 100?
−53.7% from 31 October 2007 to 20 November 2008; it was back at its high on 3 January 2011.
How much does the Nasdaq 100 move in a day?
About 0.7% on a typical day. Days with a move of more than 2% made up 11% of all trading days since 2004.
About these numbers
Index prices, without dividends. Daily closing prices from 2 January 2004 to 14 October 2026. Before use, the series was checked for gaps and for jumps that are data errors rather than market moves.
This page describes past prices. It is not advice to buy or sell anything.