Since 1972, the Nasdaq 100 has experienced slightly higher annual returns (10.8%) than the S&P 500 (10.5%), but it has also experienced much higher volatility.
During the bull markets, the Nasdaq 100 has crushed the S&P 500 (the 1990s and the post-2008 market).
However, during bear markets, the S&P 500 has performed much better than the Nasdaq 100 (1973-1974, early 2000s, the 2008 financial crisis).
The Nasdaq 100 beat the S&P 500 in 25 out of these 46 years (54% of years).
Input ^NDX and ^GSPC (Nasdaq-100 and S&P500 respectively) as the input tickers. These are Yahoo Finance’s codes for those respective indices. Alternatively, you can input QQQ and SPY, which are ETFs that track those indices but there will be less historical data since ETFs come after indices.
I would call it a tie:
Since 1972, the Nasdaq 100 has experienced slightly higher annual returns (10.8%) than the S&P 500 (10.5%), but it has also experienced much higher volatility.
During the bull markets, the Nasdaq 100 has crushed the S&P 500 (the 1990s and the post-2008 market).
However, during bear markets, the S&P 500 has performed much better than the Nasdaq 100 (1973-1974, early 2000s, the 2008 financial crisis).
The Nasdaq 100 beat the S&P 500 in 25 out of these 46 years (54% of years).
The wiki page says the Nasdaq-100 started in 1985? Where are you getting your 1972 data from?
Coincidentally, I made an app to do exactly these types of historical comparisons of returns, with much greater fidelity.
Input ^NDX and ^GSPC (Nasdaq-100 and S&P500 respectively) as the input tickers. These are Yahoo Finance’s codes for those respective indices. Alternatively, you can input QQQ and SPY, which are ETFs that track those indices but there will be less historical data since ETFs come after indices.