The Nasdaq 100 index has had a tough year, falling 26.1% over the past 12 months through Oct. 26. However, in the past decade, the index's 16.9% annualized return has outperformed the S&P 500 index's 12.6% return.
However, the Nasdaq 100 index's had higher annualized volatility, 17.3% vs. 14.4%.
Looking at the Nasdaq 100's largest 10 equity weightings, they total 52.2%. Although the S&P 500 has some of the same companies, these have a 27.8% weight.
The information technology sector has a much greater influence on the Nasdaq 100, 54.8%, compared with the S&P 500's 26.4%. Financials, real estate and energy have no presence in the Nasdaq 100.
