Top Performing Nasdaq Exchange-Traded Funds for Tech Diversification (2025 Predictions)
In the dynamic world of finance, the Nasdaq stock exchange continues to be a hub for innovation and growth, particularly in the technology sector. The Nasdaq Composite, the exchange's main index, has seen a remarkable transformation since its inception in 1985, growing from just 280 to today's 20,500 levels.
The Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF (ONEQ) offers a broad exposure to the tech industry, as well as other innovative segments like biotech, telecommunication, consumer goods, and industrials. As of mid-2025, the top Nasdaq-listed companies by market capitalization are dominated by major technology and semiconductor firms.
Leading the pack is Nvidia (NVDA), with a market cap of approximately $4.0 trillion. Nvidia's growth has been fueled by its leading position in AI chip design, with revenues exceeding $130 billion in fiscal 2025. Microsoft (MSFT) follows closely, valued at around $3.7 trillion, with Microsoft remaining a giant in software, gaming, and AI investments. Apple (AAPL) is another trillion-dollar titan, with a market cap of roughly $3.1 trillion, continuing as a top consumer tech company.
Other notable Nasdaq 100 companies with significant market caps include Adobe and Airbnb, though their market caps are smaller in comparison to the trillion-dollar giants. These companies represent the most valuable and influential names on the Nasdaq exchange, known for driving innovation and growth in technology, AI, and consumer electronics sectors.
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq-100, an index representing the 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq. Since its launch in 1999, this index has outperformed the S&P 500 by 379%. The ETF holds well-known companies like Seagate and Zoom, as well as more "obscure" software and tech companies creating new markets and still in their expansion phase.
The Nasdaq's popularity among startups and non-profit companies is evident, with the exchange listing AI company CoreWeave, cybersecurity leader SailPoint, Fintech heavyweight Chime, and crypto innovators Galaxy Digital and eToro in 2025. The iShares Nasdaq US Biotechnology UCITS ETF provides a diversified exposure to U.S. biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies listed on the NASDAQ.
However, investing in the Nasdaq and Nasdaq-listed companies comes with risks, particularly in high-risk sectors like biotech. Most drugs take more than a billion dollars of R&D costs before being commercialized, making biotech a high-risk, high-reward sector. The ETF has a large part of its holdings in already successful and cash-positive biotech companies like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, and Regeneron.
For the majority of investors, Nasdaq ETFs should likely be mixed with non-Nasdaq, non-tech ETFs to create an even more diversified portfolio for reducing risks and volatility. The Invesco Nasdaq Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) invests in the 101st to 200th largest companies on the Nasdaq, providing exposure to important tech companies that are already successful but not the largest ones.
Founded in 1971, the Nasdaq was the world's first fully electronic stock market. Historically, it has been a stock exchange that was cheaper to list on than competitors like the NYSE, making it a favorite of startups and companies not yet profitable. Today, the Nasdaq remains one of the USA's most important stock exchanges and one of the world's largest by market capitalization.
The Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF (ONEQ) provides a broad exposure to the technology industry, as it includes companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, Airbnb, and others that are known for driving innovation and growth in technology.
The Invesco Nasdaq Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) invests in the 101st to 200th largest companies on the Nasdaq, offering exposure to important tech companies that are already successful but not the largest ones, providing a way for investors to create a more diversified portfolio.