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.

Image source: Getty Images
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.