Are Nasdaq and Nasdaq100 the same thing?
An exchange is a marketplace, while an index is a number calculated by aggregating the movements of specific stocks.
Table of contents
Remember this first
First, 3 things to remember
- 1Nasdaq is used as the name of an exchange.
- 2The Nasdaq Composite and Nasdaq 100 are different indices.
- 3Even if the index rises, it does not mean all stocks have risen.
Distinguish between the market name and the performance report.
If you compare an exchange to a school, an index is like a report card created by grouping the scores of specific students. Even in the same school, the school-wide report card and the report card for a specific class can be different.
The Nasdaq Composite index covers a broader range of listed stocks. Nasdaq100 uses separate criteria focused on large non-financial companies. Being listed on the Nasdaq does not mean a company is included in the Nasdaq100.
Check which Nasdaq the news is referring to.
When news reports say "Nasdaq is up," they are often referring to the rise of a specific index, not the exchange itself. Check the name of the index.
The table below distinguishes the market from the two indices. Since the stocks included and calculation criteria can change, check official sources for the current list.
| Name | In simple terms |
|---|---|
| Nasdaq Exchange | The market where the stock is listed and traded |
| Nasdaq Composite | An index that calculates the movement of a broad range of stocks |
| Nasdaq 100 | An index focused on large non-financial companies based on separate criteria |
The impact of large stocks can be greater.
Not all stocks are weighted equally in an index. If a stock with a large weight rises, the index can go up even if other stocks fall.
An index is a calculated number, while an ETF is an investment product designed to track such indices. Even if the names are similar, they are not the same thing or the same price.
You should not make such assumptions
“Since the Nasdaq100 rose, all Nasdaq small-cap stocks are also strong.”
The stocks included in an index and their weights vary. You must look at the movements of the small company you are watching separately.
Check what you have read.
- Did you verify which Nasdaq index it is?
- Have you distinguished between listing and index inclusion?
- Have you distinguished between an index and an ETF?
Apply what you read to the actual screen
Try it on WAPE
Source and scope of verification
Reviewed · Version 3
- Nasdaq Composite vs. Nasdaq-100New window
Nasdaq · Verify 2026-10-20
Distinction between Exchange, Composite, and Nasdaq-100; inclusion rules are subject to change
This is educational material for observation and information comprehension. Hypothetical examples do not represent actual stocks or performance and do not provide buy or sell recommendations.