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QQQ Seasonality Chart: Nasdaq-100 Best and Worst Months

November 3, 2026

QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100, so QQQ seasonality shows how large US technology and growth stocks have behaved through the year. This analysis covers 15 years of adjusted prices, 2011 to 2025. The standout is July, while December, usually thought of as a strong month, has been slightly negative.

QQQ seasonality chart: the average year

Average year for QQQ over the last 15 years: it ends the year +20.6%, with its highest point around December 27 (+21.1%) and its lowest around January 1 (0.0%). Each past year is rebased to 0% on January 1 and the years are averaged day by day. Rising stretches are when QQQ has tended to gain.

Nasdaq-100 seasonality by month

Month	QQQ avg return	Rose in (15y)
January	+2.23%	11 of 15
February	+1.25%	8 of 15
March	+0.87%	9 of 15
April	+1.08%	10 of 15
May	+2.32%	10 of 15
June	+1.79%	9 of 15
July	+3.89%	14 of 15
August	+1.03%	9 of 15
September	−1.22%	6 of 15
October	+2.25%	9 of 15
November	+3.13%	12 of 15
December	−0.17%	8 of 15

July: QQQ's most reliable month

July has averaged +3.89% and risen in 14 of 15 years, the most consistent month on the table. The only down July in the period was 2024, at −1.68%. November follows at +3.13%, up in 12 of 15.

September and December: the weak spots

QQQ fell in September in 9 of 15 years, averaging −1.22%. December is the surprise: at −0.17% it is QQQ's second-weakest month, and it ranks well behind the S&P 500's already modest December. Holiday-season optimism has not reliably reached the Nasdaq-100.

The most reliable QQQ seasonal windows

QQQ window	Avg return	Rose in (15y)	Worst year
Jun 22 – Jul 22	+4.30%	15 of 15	+0.61%
Jan 16 – Feb 15	+3.78%	13 of 15	−6.28%
Oct 29 – Nov 28	+2.47%	13 of 15	−7.16%
Mar 13 – Apr 2	+1.97%	13 of 15	−9.29%
Dec 24 – Jan 23	+2.73%	12 of 15	−11.40%

On the weak side, September 19 to 29 fell in 10 of 15 years (average −1.59%), and March 1 to 11 also fell in 10 of 15 (average −1.13%).

Reality check: the June 22 to July 22 window rose in every one of those 15 years, then fell 4.4% in 2026. That is exactly why a perfect record is a base rate and not a promise. These windows are also the best of many tested, which flatters them.

See the live numbers on the QQQ seasonality page and the Nasdaq-100 seasonality page, or compare with SPY seasonality.

Test any date range on the Nasdaq-100 yourself.

Open QQQ in the Chart Explorer

Past seasonal performance does not guarantee future results. Win rates and average returns are historical base rates, not predictions. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

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