Nasdaq-100 Index Emerges as Preferred Listing Venue for Tech Companies
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 07 2026
0mins
Should l Buy NDAQ?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Listing Preference: Over 3,500 companies have opted to go public on Nasdaq due to its lower fees and fewer barriers, solidifying its position as the preferred venue for early-stage tech firms and enhancing its dominance in the tech sector.
- Market Performance: The Nasdaq-100 index gained 20% in 2025 and is currently trading near an all-time high, reflecting strong market confidence and sustained investor interest in technology stocks.
- Investment Returns: The Invesco QQQ ETF has produced an average annual return of 10.5% since its inception in 1999, accelerating to 19.3% over the last decade, showcasing the rapid growth of the tech sector and investor enthusiasm for emerging technologies.
- Volatility Management: Despite experiencing five bear markets, long-term investments in the Nasdaq-100 index are still viewed as a stable source of returns, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a long-term investment perspective to navigate market volatility.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NDAQ?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NDAQ
Wall Street analysts forecast NDAQ stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 86.370
Low
101.00
Averages
111.50
High
123.00
Current: 86.370
Low
101.00
Averages
111.50
High
123.00
About NDAQ
Nasdaq, Inc. is a global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. The Company manages, operates and provides its products and services in three business segments: Capital Access Platforms, Financial Technology and Market Services. Its Capital Access Platforms segment comprises Data & Listing Services, Index and Workflow & Insights. The Financial Technology segment comprises Financial Crime Management Technology, Regulatory Technology and Capital Markets Technology businesses. Its Market Services segment includes its equity derivative trading and clearing, cash equity trading, fixed income, currency and commodities trading. It operates over 19 exchanges across several asset classes, including derivatives, commodities, cash equity, debt, structured products and exchange-traded products (ETPs).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Nasdaq Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Nasdaq (NDAQ) is set to announce its Q1 earnings on April 23 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.93, reflecting a 17.7% year-over-year increase, indicating ongoing improvement in profitability that could positively impact stock prices.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $1.37 billion, representing a 14.2% year-over-year growth, which showcases Nasdaq's ability to maintain strong business performance amid market uncertainties, further solidifying its position in the financial services sector.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Nasdaq has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 75% of the time, this consistent performance enhances investor confidence and may attract more attention from potential investors.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 10 upward revisions and 2 downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced 3 upward and 3 downward revisions, indicating a divergence in analysts' outlook on Nasdaq's future performance, which could influence market reactions to its stock in the short term.
See More
Nasdaq Declares 14.8% Increase in Quarterly Dividend to $0.31
- Dividend Increase: Nasdaq has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share, representing a 14.8% increase from the previous $0.27, reflecting the company's strong financial performance amidst market uncertainty, which boosts investor confidence.
- Yield Performance: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 1.44%, providing shareholders with stable cash returns while potentially attracting more yield-seeking investors, thereby enhancing the stock's market appeal.
- Shareholder Arrangement: The dividend will be payable on June 26, with a record date of June 12 and an ex-dividend date also on June 12, ensuring that shareholders receive their returns promptly, further solidifying the relationship between the company and its investors.
- Financial Performance Beat: Nasdaq reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.96, beating expectations by $0.03, with revenue reaching $1.4 billion, exceeding forecasts by $30 million, demonstrating the company's ability to maintain solid growth despite market fluctuations.
See More
Nasdaq Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Beat Driven by Growth in Fintech and Index Segments
- Earnings Beat: Nasdaq's Q1 non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.96 reflects a 22% year-over-year increase, surpassing the analyst estimate of $0.93, indicating robust profitability growth.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company reported net revenue of $1.41 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year, exceeding consensus by $30 million, showcasing strong performance in market services and solutions.
- Rising Expenses: Total operating expenses rose to $750 million from $690 million a year ago; however, the company raised its 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance to a range of $2.485 billion to $2.545 billion, reflecting confidence in future growth.
- Segment Performance: Financial technology revenue grew 20% to $517 million, while index revenue increased 14% to $220 million, demonstrating the company's ongoing expansion across multiple business areas and strong market demand.
See More
Nasdaq to Host Q1 2026 Earnings Call
- Earnings Call Announcement: Nasdaq Inc. is set to host a conference call on April 23, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET to discuss its Q1 2026 earnings results, aiming to provide investors and analysts with insights into the company's financial performance and future outlook.
- Live Webcast Access: Investors can access the live webcast of the earnings call through Nasdaq's official events page, ensuring transparency and enhancing communication with shareholders.
- Importance of Information Disclosure: This call will provide market participants with critical financial data and management insights, helping analysts and investors better understand the company's operational performance and strategic direction.
- Market Reaction Expectations: While the call itself may not directly impact stock prices, the financial information and management commentary provided could influence investor confidence and market expectations, thereby indirectly affecting Nasdaq's stock performance.
See More
Nasdaq Reports First Quarter Profit Increase Amid Market Volatility
- Profit Growth: Nasdaq reported a profit of $519 million for the first quarter, translating to earnings of $0.91 per share, which marks a significant increase from $395 million and $0.68 per share in the same period last year, showcasing the company's strong performance amid economic uncertainty.
- Increased Trading Volume: The company's market services revenue rose 13% to $317 million, driven by record U.S. cash equities and equity options volumes, as investors sought to rebalance their portfolios during market volatility.
- Impact of Market Sentiment: Despite a strong start to the year, concerns in the tech sector regarding artificial intelligence and escalations in the Middle East dampened investor sentiment, leading to a 4.6% decline in the S&P 500 index during the quarter, which affected overall market confidence.
- Volatility Advantage: The price swings in the market prompted investors to adjust their portfolios to hedge against losses, resulting in increased trading volumes that directly contributed to Nasdaq's revenue growth, highlighting the exchange's profitability in unstable market conditions.
See More
Nasdaq Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations with Strong Growth
- Earnings Beat: Nasdaq reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.96, beating expectations by $0.03, indicating a robust profitability trend that enhances investor confidence in its business model.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved $1.4 billion in revenue for Q1, a 16.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing expectations by $30 million, reflecting its strengthening competitive position in the market, particularly in financial technology.
- Solutions Revenue Surge: Solutions revenue grew by 14% on both a reported and organic basis, showcasing Nasdaq's success in delivering innovative solutions, which further solidifies its market standing.
- Annual Recurring Revenue Rise: Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached $3.2 billion, a 13% increase year-over-year, with SaaS revenue also rising by 13%, indicating strong performance in subscription services that is expected to support sustained future growth.
See More
Nasdaq Q1 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Nasdaq (NDAQ) is set to announce its Q1 earnings on April 23 before market open, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.93, reflecting a 17.7% year-over-year increase, indicating ongoing improvement in profitability that could positively impact stock prices.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $1.37 billion, representing a 14.2% year-over-year growth, which showcases Nasdaq's ability to maintain strong business performance amid market uncertainties, further solidifying its position in the financial services sector.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, Nasdaq has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 75% of the time, this consistent performance enhances investor confidence and may attract more attention from potential investors.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 10 upward revisions and 2 downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced 3 upward and 3 downward revisions, indicating a divergence in analysts' outlook on Nasdaq's future performance, which could influence market reactions to its stock in the short term.
See More
Nasdaq Declares 14.8% Increase in Quarterly Dividend to $0.31
- Dividend Increase: Nasdaq has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share, representing a 14.8% increase from the previous $0.27, reflecting the company's strong financial performance amidst market uncertainty, which boosts investor confidence.
- Yield Performance: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 1.44%, providing shareholders with stable cash returns while potentially attracting more yield-seeking investors, thereby enhancing the stock's market appeal.
- Shareholder Arrangement: The dividend will be payable on June 26, with a record date of June 12 and an ex-dividend date also on June 12, ensuring that shareholders receive their returns promptly, further solidifying the relationship between the company and its investors.
- Financial Performance Beat: Nasdaq reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.96, beating expectations by $0.03, with revenue reaching $1.4 billion, exceeding forecasts by $30 million, demonstrating the company's ability to maintain solid growth despite market fluctuations.
See More
Nasdaq Reports Strong Q1 Earnings Beat Driven by Growth in Fintech and Index Segments
- Earnings Beat: Nasdaq's Q1 non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.96 reflects a 22% year-over-year increase, surpassing the analyst estimate of $0.93, indicating robust profitability growth.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company reported net revenue of $1.41 billion, a 14% increase year-over-year, exceeding consensus by $30 million, showcasing strong performance in market services and solutions.
- Rising Expenses: Total operating expenses rose to $750 million from $690 million a year ago; however, the company raised its 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance to a range of $2.485 billion to $2.545 billion, reflecting confidence in future growth.
- Segment Performance: Financial technology revenue grew 20% to $517 million, while index revenue increased 14% to $220 million, demonstrating the company's ongoing expansion across multiple business areas and strong market demand.
See More
Nasdaq to Host Q1 2026 Earnings Call
- Earnings Call Announcement: Nasdaq Inc. is set to host a conference call on April 23, 2026, at 8:00 AM ET to discuss its Q1 2026 earnings results, aiming to provide investors and analysts with insights into the company's financial performance and future outlook.
- Live Webcast Access: Investors can access the live webcast of the earnings call through Nasdaq's official events page, ensuring transparency and enhancing communication with shareholders.
- Importance of Information Disclosure: This call will provide market participants with critical financial data and management insights, helping analysts and investors better understand the company's operational performance and strategic direction.
- Market Reaction Expectations: While the call itself may not directly impact stock prices, the financial information and management commentary provided could influence investor confidence and market expectations, thereby indirectly affecting Nasdaq's stock performance.
See More
Nasdaq Reports First Quarter Profit Increase Amid Market Volatility
- Profit Growth: Nasdaq reported a profit of $519 million for the first quarter, translating to earnings of $0.91 per share, which marks a significant increase from $395 million and $0.68 per share in the same period last year, showcasing the company's strong performance amid economic uncertainty.
- Increased Trading Volume: The company's market services revenue rose 13% to $317 million, driven by record U.S. cash equities and equity options volumes, as investors sought to rebalance their portfolios during market volatility.
- Impact of Market Sentiment: Despite a strong start to the year, concerns in the tech sector regarding artificial intelligence and escalations in the Middle East dampened investor sentiment, leading to a 4.6% decline in the S&P 500 index during the quarter, which affected overall market confidence.
- Volatility Advantage: The price swings in the market prompted investors to adjust their portfolios to hedge against losses, resulting in increased trading volumes that directly contributed to Nasdaq's revenue growth, highlighting the exchange's profitability in unstable market conditions.
See More
Nasdaq Q1 Earnings Exceed Expectations with Strong Growth
- Earnings Beat: Nasdaq reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.96, beating expectations by $0.03, indicating a robust profitability trend that enhances investor confidence in its business model.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company achieved $1.4 billion in revenue for Q1, a 16.7% year-over-year increase, surpassing expectations by $30 million, reflecting its strengthening competitive position in the market, particularly in financial technology.
- Solutions Revenue Surge: Solutions revenue grew by 14% on both a reported and organic basis, showcasing Nasdaq's success in delivering innovative solutions, which further solidifies its market standing.
- Annual Recurring Revenue Rise: Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached $3.2 billion, a 13% increase year-over-year, with SaaS revenue also rising by 13%, indicating strong performance in subscription services that is expected to support sustained future growth.
See More
