Every December, Nasdaq, which operates the Nasdaq exchange and exchanges in the United States and Europe, updates its key Nasdaq-100 Index.
The index, established in 1985, comprises 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, with the key variable being the market capitalizations of the component stocks.
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The index, up 29.4% in 2024 (after a 53.8% gain in 2023), is widely followed because its members include all of the top technology stocks, including Apple ( AAPL ) , NVIDIA ( NVDA ) Microsoft ( MSFT ) , Amazon.com ( AMZN ) , Meta Platforms ( META ) , Google-parent Alphabet ( GOOGL ) and ( GOOGL ) and Tesla ( TSLA ) .
Related: Analyst who correctly said Apple stock would rally updates outlook
Three stocks will be added to the index before the market opens on Monday, Dec. 23. All three have seen huge gains so far in 2024 and have among the largest market capitalizations of companies that are not members of the Nasdaq-100.
The new stars get added to the Nasdaq 100 index
Joining the index are:
Palantir ( PLTR ) , the Denver company that specializes in software for big data analysis. Co-founded by Alex Karp, Peter Thiel, and others.
Its original clients were the U.S. government, but it has expanded to work with corporate clients and others. Its Palantir Gotham product is an intelligence and defense tool militaries and counter-terrorism analysts use.
Related: Here's what a veteran trader who forecast Palantir's stock rally says now
MicroStrategy ( MSTR ) , based in suburban Washington, D.C., specializes in business intelligence, mobile software and cloud-based services.
It also is well known as a proxy for bitcoin because of its massive holdings of the cryptocurrency. As of Friday, according to BitBO.IO, the company had invested $23.4 billion buying 423,650 bitcoins. Average price per bitcoin: $58,219. Current value of holdings: $43.1 billion.
Axon Enterprise ( AAXN ) , the Scottsdale, Ariz., company that develops technology and weapons for military, law enforcement and civilians. Its best-known product is the Taser, the electronic shock system.
The trio leaving the Nasdaq-100 index
These three stocks are being removed from the index but are still listed on Nasdaq.
Illumina ( ILMN ) , the San Diego-based developer of genetic research products.
More Wall Street Analysts:
Super Micro Computer ( SMCI ) , the maker of very high-end computers used to process artificial intelligence data. The company's share price has been hit by ongoing concerns over the quality of its accounting and financial statements. Ernst & Young quit as the company's auditor in October.
Related: Super Micro's stock price surges after key ruling
Moderna ( MRNA ) , the developer of drugs used to help prevent the Covid-19 virus. The company's sales have fallen off as the pandemic eased.
The Nasdaq-100 is the basis of the Invesco QQQ Trust QQQ , which aims to produce results that mirror those of the index. The results are before expenses.
Nasdaq's moves are made in advance of the quadruple witching on Dec. 20. The witching is the simultaneous expiration of four financial contracts: stock options, stock index options, stock index futures, and single-stock futures.
The quadruple witching usually generates massive market activity in the last hour of the expiration date.
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