As NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) fans will already know, last year was a rough one for Wall Street's tech-heavy index. It entered bear market territory in early 2022, taking the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) – an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking it – down with it.
Fortunately, the fund's long-term investors are still in the green despite last year's 31% tumble. The ETF is currently trading 74.5% higher than it was in February 2018.
Back then, $1,000 would have bought 66 units in the fund for $14.98, leaving $11 change.
As of Tuesday's close, those 66 units command a value of $1,725.24. The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF ended yesterday's session trading at $26.14.
For reference, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted 23% over the last half-decade.
So, the NDQ ETF has been outperforming the Aussie bourse in recent years – before we factor in dividends! Let's take a look at what happens to its returns when we also consider the fund's distributions.
All Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF dividends since 2018
Here are all the dividends Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF investors have likely received over the last five years:
| NDQ dividends' pay date | Dividend value |
| January 2023 | 3.1 cents |
| July 2022 | 84.2 cents |
| July 2021 | $1.175 |
| January 2021 | 2.6 cents |
| July 2020 | 64.9 cents |
| January 2020 | 3.5 cents |
| July 2019 | 43.8 cents |
| January 2019 | 3.3 cents |
| July 2018 | 5.8 cents |
| Total: | $3.287 |
All up, those invested in the NDQ ETF have received $3.287 per unit they've held over the last half-decade.
That means our figurative parcel has likely yielded around $216.94 of passive income in that time – bringing its total return on investment (ROI) to 96%, or nearly double the initial investment!
The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF currently boasts a 3.3% dividend yield.
