3 reasons to buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) ETF in 2026

With the Nasdaq sitting near record highs, some investors might assume they have missed the boat.

But long-term wealth isn't built by waiting for the perfect entry point. It is built by owning the world's most innovative companies and letting compounding do its work.

That's exactly what the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) offers. It provides simple access to the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Many of which are shaping the next decade of global growth.

Here are three powerful reasons the NDQ ETF remains a top ASX exchange traded fund (ETF) to buy in 2026.

The world's highest-quality technology leaders

The Nasdaq 100 is home to stocks with extraordinary financial strength, global dominance, and proven ability to compound earnings over decades. These aren't speculative tech names, they are some of the most profitable and influential businesses ever created.

The ASX ETF's top holdings include Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META), and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

These companies sit at the centre of cloud computing, smartphones, social platforms, semiconductors, and digital payments. They generate vast amounts of cash, reinvest heavily into innovation, and hold competitive advantages that are incredibly difficult to disrupt.

When you buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF, you are not betting on one winner. You are owning the entire field of proven global tech leaders.

A front-row seat to the AI boom

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant theme, it is already reshaping industries worldwide. The companies enabling this shift are almost entirely found in the Nasdaq 100.

NDQ gives investors exposure to foundational AI infrastructure, like Nvidia chips and Microsoft's cloud platforms, and AI adopters and monetisers, such as Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE), Alphabet, and Meta.

AI requires enormous computing power, massive data storage, advanced software platforms, and constant hardware upgrades. The Nasdaq 100 contains nearly all the companies positioned to benefit from this multi-trillion-dollar transformation.

AI could prove to be the defining megatrend of the 2020s and 2030s, and the NDQ ETF gives you some of the broadest exposure you can get from the ASX.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF outperformance

The Nasdaq 100 has consistently outperformed most major global indices for over 20 years.

For example, over the past 10 years, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF has generated an average total return of 20% per annum.

This is not luck or timing, it is the natural outcome of owning stocks that grow faster, innovate more aggressively, and expand into new markets at scale.

But the long-term story is far from over. The forces driving the Nasdaq's rise, such as cloud computing, e-commerce, digital payments, cybersecurity, AI, and software-as-a-service, remain early in their global adoption curves. These industries are expected to grow for decades, not years.

As a result, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF could be a great pick for Aussie investors in 2026.

The post 3 reasons to buy the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (NDQ) ETF in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Motley Fool's purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool's free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson. 2025