Does joining the Nasdaq-100 pay?
Across 15 Nasdaq-100 additions, measured from the effective-date close. In the 30 days before the close, the average stock moved +19.1%.
Reading the Nasdaq-100 results
For 14 recorded one-month results, this index's additions averaged -2.2%, while the median was +0.8%. By comparison, S&P 500 additions averaged +0.5% and had a +2.2% median across 28 recorded one-month returns. These are different stocks and periods, not a controlled test. The December reconstitution concentrates membership decisions in one annual window, unlike indexes with frequent rolling changes. The growth-heavy, non-financial universe is also a different benchmark; a positive stock return need not mean outperformance against it.
Returns by holding period
Average and median return at each window, and the share that finished higher
| Window after close | Sample | Average | Median | Finished higher | Avg vs index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1W | 14 | -2.9% | -2.2% | 14% | -3.2% |
| 1M | 14 | -2.2% | +0.8% | 50% | -3.6% |
| 3M | 13 | -1.3% | +5.6% | 54% | -3.0% |
| 6M | 12 | +9.3% | +13.5% | 75% | +0.2% |
| 1Y | 9 | +3.6% | +4.4% | 56% | -17.0% |
| Entries in the register | 15 | Samples shrink at longer windows because recent entries haven't reached them yet | |||
Best and worst one-year results
The two ends of the register at the 1Y window