.jpg)
Nasdaq (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced the results of the annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ-100 Index® (Nasdaq:NDX), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, December 18, 2017.
The following five companies will be added to the Index: ASML Holding N.V. (Nasdaq:ASML), Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CDNS), Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq:TTWO) and Workday, Inc. (Nasdaq:WDAY).
The NASDAQ-100 Index is composed of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market® and dates to January 1985 when it was launched along with the NASDAQ Financial-100 Index®, which is comprised of the 100 largest financial stocks on NASDAQ®. These indexes act as benchmarks for financial products such as options, futures, and funds. The NASDAQ-100 is re-ranked each year in December, timed to coincide with the quadruple witch expiration Friday of the quarter.
On a cumulative price return basis, the NASDAQ-100 Index has returned almost 3,731% since inception, although past performance is not indicative of future performance.
The NASDAQ-100 Index is the basis of the PowerShares QQQ Trust (Nasdaq:QQQ) which aims to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond with the NASDAQ-100 Index performance. In addition, options, futures and structured products based on the NASDAQ-100 Index and the PowerShares QQQ Trust trade on various exchanges.
As a result of the re-ranking, the following six companies will be removed from the Index: Akamai Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKAM), Discovery Communications Series A (Nasdaq:DISCA), Discovery Communications Series C (Nasdaq:DISCK), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (Nasdaq:NCLH), Tractor Supply Company (Nasdaq:TSCO) and Viacom Inc. (Nasdaq:VIAB).
