Nasdaq 100 Ticker Symbol Guide for Beginners

If you’re new to investing or trading the Nasdaq 100, you may have noticed different ticker symbols like QQQ, NDX, NQ, or US100 across various platforms. These symbols represent the same index but in different formats and products.

This guide will help you understand the most commonly used Nasdaq 100 ticker symbols and where to find them.

---

What Is a Ticker Symbol?

A ticker symbol is a unique code assigned to a security for trading purposes. Each platform or financial product may use a different ticker to represent the Nasdaq 100 index.

---

Common Nasdaq 100 Ticker Symbols

Ticker	Represents	Platform/Product
NDX	Nasdaq 100 Index	General Index Reference (Yahoo, Google)
QQQ	Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF	Stock Market ETF (Nasdaq)
QQQM	Invesco Nasdaq 100 ETF (Low-cost)	ETF for long-term investing
NQ	E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures	CME Futures
MNQ	Micro E-mini Nasdaq 100 Futures	CME Futures (Smaller Contracts)
US100	CFD version of Nasdaq 100	Forex/CFD Brokers (MT4/MT5)

---

Platforms and Their Ticker Formats

1. Yahoo Finance / Google Finance

• Use: NDX, QQQ
• These platforms track real-time quotes, news, and historical data.

2. TradingView

• Use: NDX, US100, NASDAQ:QQQ
• Great for charting, alerts, and community discussions.

3. Stock Brokers (Zerodha, Groww, ICICI)

• Mutual fund investors can search for Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 or QQQ ETF.

4. Futures Platforms (Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade)

• Use: NQ for E-mini contracts, MNQ for Micro contracts.

5. CFD Platforms (MetaTrader 4/5)

• Brokers like Octa, Exness, and IG use NAS100 or US100 as their ticker.

---

Why Ticker Symbols Vary

• ETFs have their own tradable tickers like QQQ and QQQM.
• Futures contracts use standard exchange-assigned tickers like NQ.
• CFDs and Forex brokers often create simplified versions like US100.
• Indexes use reference symbols like NDX, which are not directly tradable.

---

Tips to Avoid Confusion

• Always check the platform type you’re using (broker, charting tool, etc.)
• Confirm the product—index, ETF, CFD, or future—before trading
• For long-term investing, focus on QQQ/QQQM
• For active trading, learn how to use NQ/MNQ on futures exchanges

---

Final Thoughts

Understanding Nasdaq 100 ticker symbols is key to tracking or trading the index effectively. Whether you’re investing in ETFs, trading futures, or analyzing price charts, knowing the right ticker for your platform will save time and prevent mistakes.

---

FAQs

Is QQQ the same as Nasdaq 100?
QQQ is an ETF that tracks the Nasdaq 100 index. It reflects the index’s performance with some tracking error.

What is NQ in Nasdaq 100?
NQ is the ticker symbol for E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures, traded on the CME.

Are US100 and NAS100 the same?
Yes, these are broker-assigned symbols for the Nasdaq 100 index on CFD platforms.

What’s the difference between QQQ and QQQM?
QQQM is a lower-cost version of QQQ, designed for long-term investors with smaller portfolios.

Can I use NDX to trade?
NDX is a reference index, not a tradable asset. Use QQQ (ETF) or NQ/MNQ (futures) to trade.