Shares of Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ) were an astounding success story on the stock market in the past year. The ETF, which tracks the Nasdaq 100, surged by an impressive 54% during the year, a milestone worth acknowledging in the world of investment.
An Unprecedented Surge
A confluence of factors propelled the tech-heavy index fund to such impressive gains. The rise was underpinned by the surge in interest around new generative AI technologies, a rebound in the heavily battered tech stocks at the beginning of 2023, and cost-cutting measures implemented by major tech companies, which significantly bolstered their profits.
Throughout the year, the QQQ’s gains mirrored that of the S&P 500. However, its acceleration surpassing that pace marked a promising trend, reflecting the immense enthusiasm for AI and the undervaluation of several prominent tech stocks at the start of the year.
The Tech Stock Renaissance
The Invesco QQQ Trust comprises the 100 largest non-financial stocks on the Nasdaq, with the current index being dominated by the so-called “Magnificent Seven” stocks. Each of these stocks experienced significant surges, representing the overarching trends that propelled the QQQ to such remarkable gains.
Notably, shares of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) more than tripled last year, driven by unprecedented demand for AI chips, which propelled the company’s revenue and profit margins to unprecedented levels. Similarly, Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) experienced an impressive tripling of its stock value, courtesy of a successful execution of its “Year of Efficiency” strategy, resulting in cost reductions and improved margins. In addition, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) witnessed a doubling of its stock value, buoyed by the anticipation surrounding its AI and autonomous vehicle technology.
Furthermore, prominent big tech firms like Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon experienced upward trends, driven by a combination of expanding profit margins, advancements in AI, and optimism about the economy evading a potential recession.
Future Outlook for the Nasdaq QQQ ETF
As of now, the Nasdaq 100 is trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29.1, significantly higher than the 23.5 recorded a year prior, and even higher than the S&P 500’s ratio of 21.6. These numbers reflect the heightened expectations embedded in the tech stocks, thanks to the momentum surrounding AI. Nonetheless, projections suggest that big tech stocks will witness profit increases this year, while AI momentum is expected to persist as the investments made over the past year begin to yield returns.
Although it would be unrealistic to anticipate another 54% gain from the QQQ ETF, it remains well positioned for further gains, contingent on the economy’s ability to evade a recession.