What if you invested monthly in the Nasdaq 100 for 15 years?
Since 2011 this captures big tech's greatest tailwind, yielding a high multiple -- but the drawdowns run larger than the S&P 500's too.
Investment conditions
Asset · Nasdaq 100 (QQQ)
Method · Recurring monthly investment
Period · 2011-07-01 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $222 / month
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-33.4%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
3months
Months in loss: 3
Recovery period
7months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $40,222 → Final value $217,781 (+441.4%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -33.4%
Why this period and asset
The 15 years since July 2011 largely overlap big tech's peak tailwind -- smartphone adoption, cloud growth, and the AI boom from 2023 on. Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia and other mega-caps lifted the Nasdaq 100. At the same time, this window includes the late-2018 selloff, the 2020 COVID crash, and the 2022 rate-hike decline.
Interpreting the result
Compared with the S&P 500 over 15 years, this window shows both a higher return multiple and larger drawdowns. Big-tech leadership produced high multiples, but the path held a deep 2022 maximum drawdown and a long loss and recovery period. High returns are the other face of high volatility; given the same shock, a growth index swings more. Remember this may reflect a favorable era and sector sample, not a permanent property.
Caveats & limits
A simplified calculation without taxes, fees, or currency effects. The result leans on a specific growth phase, so other periods may show far lower multiples, and growth indices have large drawdowns. As a dollar asset, returns in another currency depend on exchange rates.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-23
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: Adjusted close (reflects dividends and stock splits)
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from the S&P 500 over 15 years?
The Nasdaq 100 is tech-concentrated, so its multiple exceeded the S&P 500's here, but its maximum drawdown in phases like 2022 was also deeper.
Will this high multiple continue?
It reflects a past big-tech leadership phase and does not guarantee the future. If leadership shifts, both multiple and drawdown can change.
Does averaging smooth volatility?
It spreads buy timing and eases your average cost but cannot erase the index's volatility. Loss and recovery periods still exist.
Related scenarios
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.