NASDAQ 100 vs S&P 500: Which Was the Better Investment?
A $10,000 investment in NASDAQ 100 in 2010 would be worth $172,284 as of August 2026, versus $72,123 for S&P 500 — NASDAQ 100 came out ahead over this period, based on real historical price data.
This compares NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500 over the exact same window — $10,000 invested in each at the start of 2010 and held to today, about 17 years. Over that stretch NASDAQ 100 came out ahead, ending roughly 2.4× higher than S&P 500. The chart and table below show how the gap opened up year by year, all from real historical closing prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has NASDAQ 100 or S&P 500 performed better historically?
Over the period both have traded (2010–today, about 17 years), NASDAQ 100 was the stronger performer: a $10,000 investment grew to $172,284, versus $72,123 for S&P 500. This is measured from real historical prices over their common history, so both assets are compared over the exact same window.
How much would $10,000 in NASDAQ 100 vs S&P 500 be worth today?
Starting in 2010, $10,000 in NASDAQ 100 would be worth $172,284 today (17.2× your money, about 18.7% a year), while the same amount in S&P 500 would be worth $72,123 (7.2×, about 12.7% a year).
Does past performance mean NASDAQ 100 is the better investment going forward?
No. This comparison shows what already happened, not what will happen. Past returns don't predict future results, and the winner over one period can lag badly over another — especially higher-volatility assets, which can swing sharply in both directions. Use it to understand history, not as a forecast.
How is the NASDAQ 100 vs S&P 500 comparison calculated?
Both start with the same amount on the same date and are grown forward using each asset's real monthly closing prices over the window they share, so the two lines are always directly comparable. No contributions, fees, or taxes are modeled — it's a clean like-for-like lump-sum comparison.