Understanding the NASDAQ Index Characteristics

Answered using GPT-4o mini by AI Answer Generator

Question:

The NASDAQ:

weights individual stocks equally.

gives greater weight to small stocks than does the Dow.

has 500 stocks.

gives greater weight to low-tech stocks than does the Dow.

Answer:

The NASDAQ is a stock market index that primarily includes technology and growth-oriented companies. Here’s a breakdown of the statements you provided:

  1. Weights individual stocks equally: This is incorrect. The NASDAQ Composite Index is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning that larger companies have a greater influence on the index's performance than smaller companies.

  2. Gives greater weight to small stocks than does the Dow: This is somewhat misleading. The NASDAQ includes a larger number of smaller companies compared to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (which consists of only 30 large, established companies). However, because the NASDAQ is market-cap weighted, larger companies still dominate the index.

  3. Has 500 stocks: This is incorrect. The NASDAQ Composite Index includes over 3,000 stocks, while the S&P 500, which is a different index, includes 500 stocks.

  4. Gives greater weight to low-tech stocks than does the Dow: This is also misleading. The NASDAQ is known for its heavy weighting in technology stocks, while the Dow is more diversified across various sectors, including industrials, consumer goods, and financials.

In summary, the NASDAQ is a market-capitalization-weighted index that includes a large number of technology and growth-oriented stocks, but it does not weight individual stocks equally, nor does it have 500 stocks.