{
  "id": 11635299,
  "title": "DCA Into Nasdaq 100 at the 2000 Dot-Com Peak: A 26-Year Backtest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/dca-into-nasdaq-100-at-the-2000-dot-com-peak-a-26-year-backtest",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-03T07:59:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/cui_kevin_47c6a2580cb43af/dca-into-nasdaq-100-at-the-2000-dot-com-peak-a-26-year-backtest-41j4"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2000, the Nasdaq-100 reached its peak during the dot-com bubble, with a closing value of 4,816. A 26-year backtest of dollar-cost averaging (DCA) into the Nasdaq-100 ETF (QQQ) from March 1, 2000 to August 31, 2026 illustrates that starting DCA during this peak can still yield significant returns. The backtest involved a fixed monthly contribution of $1,000, excluding dividends and fees, and showed a final value of $1,943,131.91 on a total investment of $318,000. This translates to a total return of 511.05% and an annualized return of 11.77%. The maximum drawdown during this period was 40.11%, a less severe decline than a lump sum investment would have experienced. DCA's \"buy low, sell high\" strategy allowed for cheaper shares during the downturn, which paid off during the recovery. Compared to the S&P 500, the Nasdaq-100 suffered a more severe decline (-82.9% vs. -49%) and a longer recovery time (15 years vs. 7 years). However, DCA still managed to break even within 10 years and deliver a total return of 511.05%, demonstrating the power of consistent investing even during extreme market downturns.",
  "summary": "DCA Into Nasdaq 100 at the 2000 Dot-Com Peak: A 26-Year Backtest What happens if you start dollar-cost averaging (DCA) into the Nasdaq-100 at the worst possible moment—the peak of the dot-com bubble in March 2000? Most people assume it would be a disaster. The data says otherwise. The backtest setup I ran a DCA backtest on QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF) with the following parameters: Asset: QQQ Period:…",
  "key_points": [
    "Nasdaq-100 peaked at 4,816 in 2000 during dot-com bubble",
    "26-year backtest of DCA into QQQ from March 2000 to August 2026",
    "Final value of $1,943,131.91 on $318,000 investment, 511.05% return"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}