ETF GUIDE · NASDAQ 100

How to Invest in the Nasdaq 100 from India

QQQ vs QQQM vs CNDX. The tech-heavy alternative to the S&P 500. Which one, how to buy, and the estate tax angle.

7 min read · April 2026

Live data as of April 2026

The Nasdaq 100 is the index of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. It is where Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, Alphabet, Broadcom, and Microsoft live. Over the past decade, the Nasdaq 100 has delivered approximately 17% annualised in dollar terms, outperforming the S&P 500 by roughly 3 percentage points annually.

24,103

NASDAQ 100 INDEX

~$606

QQQ PRICE

0.20%

QQQ EXPENSE RATIO

100

TOP TECH COMPANIES

THREE ETFS COMPARED

QQQ vs QQQM vs CNDX

QQQ

0.20% ERESTATE TAX RISK

Invesco QQQ Trust

USA · ~$606 · Div: 0.5%

The original Nasdaq 100 ETF. Highest trading volume. Most liquid. Has been a unit investment trust since 1999, converted to open-end fund in Dec 2025.

QQQM

0.15% ERESTATE TAX RISK

Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF

USA · ~$263 · Div: 0.5%

Identical holdings to QQQ at a lower expense ratio (0.15% vs 0.20%). Better for buy-and-hold investors. Lower share price makes it more accessible.

CNDX

0.33% ERNO ESTATE TAX

iShares Nasdaq 100 UCITS

Ireland · ~$50 · Div: Accumulating

Ireland-domiciled UCITS ETF. Avoids US estate tax entirely. Dividends reinvested. Higher ER but estate tax savings far outweigh for portfolios above $60K.

TOP 10 HOLDINGS

What You Own Inside QQQ

AAPL Apple

7.6%

AMZN Amazon

4.6%

TSLA Tesla

3.8%

META Meta Platforms

3.5%

WMT Walmart

3.4%

GOOGL Alphabet A

3.4%

GOOG Alphabet C

3.2%

AVGO Broadcom

3.0%

MSFT Microsoft

2.8%

NVDA Nvidia

2.7%

"The S&P 500 is the foundation. The Nasdaq 100 is the growth engine. Own both for a complete US equity allocation."

S&P 500 VS NASDAQ 100

VOO vs QQQ Side by Side

Feature

S&P 500

Nasdaq 100

Companies

500 (all sectors)

100 (non-financial)

Expense ratio

0.03% (VOO)

0.20% (QQQ) / 0.15% (QQQM)

Tech weight

~32%

~55%

10-year annualised

~14% (USD)

~17% (USD)

Volatility

Lower

Higher

UCITS alternative

CSPX (0.07%)

CNDX (0.33%)

Best for

Core portfolio allocation

Tech/growth tilt

STEP BY STEP

How to Buy Your First Nasdaq 100 ETF

Open an account

Choose Valura (IFSCA) or a US-linked platform. KYC: PAN, Aadhaar, address proof. Complete W-8BEN.

Fund via LRS

Remit from your bank. Purpose code S0001. TCS of 20% above ₹10 lakh (adjustable at ITR).

Choose your ETF

Under $60K portfolio: QQQM (lower ER than QQQ, same holdings). Over $60K: CNDX (Ireland-domiciled, avoids estate tax).

Buy and hold

Place order during US market hours (7 PM - 1:30 AM IST). Fractional shares available. Add systematically.

Report in ITR

Schedule FA disclosure. Capital gains: STCG (slab) / LTCG (12.5%). Track TCS for adjustment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Nasdaq 100 Questions

QQQ or QQQM: which should I buy?

QQQM has a lower expense ratio (0.15% vs 0.20%) with identical holdings. For buy-and-hold investors, QQQM is the better choice. QQQ has higher liquidity for active traders.

S&P 500 ETF or Nasdaq 100 ETF?

The S&P 500 is broader (500 companies, all sectors) and less volatile. The Nasdaq 100 is concentrated in tech/growth (100 companies, no financials) with higher returns and higher volatility. Most investors should start with the S&P 500 and add Nasdaq 100 as a growth tilt.

What about CNDX for estate tax?

CNDX (iShares Nasdaq 100 UCITS ETF) is Ireland-domiciled. It tracks the same index as QQQ but avoids US estate tax entirely. The expense ratio is higher (0.33% vs 0.15-0.20%) but estate tax savings at 40% far outweigh the cost difference for portfolios above $60K.

Is the Nasdaq 100 too concentrated in tech?

Yes, ~55% of the Nasdaq 100 is information technology. This is a feature for investors who want tech/AI exposure, and a risk for those who want broad diversification. Pair with an S&P 500 ETF for balance.

The tech growth engine

100 of the world's most innovative companies. One ETF.

Valura offers QQQ, QQQM, and CNDX through a single IFSCA-regulated account. Start from ₹10,000.

KEEP READING