NDAQ vs. MSCI
NDAQ (Nasdaq, Inc.) and MSCI (MSCI Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Financial Data & Stock Exchanges industry within the Financial Services sector. Over the past 10 years, NDAQ returned 16.51%/yr vs 24.29%/yr for MSCI. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NDAQ achieves a -14.37% return, which is significantly lower than MSCI's 2.01% return. Over the past 10 years, NDAQ has underperformed MSCI with an annualized return of 16.51%, while MSCI has yielded a comparatively higher 24.29% annualized return.
NDAQ
- 1D
- 0.45%
- 1M
- -8.90%
- YTD
- -14.37%
- 6M
- -14.66%
- 1Y
- -2.84%
- 3Y*
- 20.15%
- 5Y*
- 8.31%
- 10Y*
- 16.51%
MSCI
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- -1.31%
- YTD
- 2.01%
- 6M
- 1.49%
- 1Y
- 8.11%
- 3Y*
- 9.02%
- 5Y*
- 3.22%
- 10Y*
- 24.29%
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NDAQ Nasdaq, Inc. | -14.37% | 27.19% | 34.85% | -3.66% | -11.19% | 60.13% | 25.99% | 33.88% | 8.21% | 16.76% |
MSCI MSCI Inc. | 2.01% | -3.17% | 7.31% | 22.90% | -23.34% | 38.14% | 74.38% | 77.19% | 17.95% | 62.63% |
Correlation
The correlation between NDAQ and MSCI is 0.57, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2007 | 0.53 |
The correlation between NDAQ and MSCI shifts across timeframes, from 0.52 (3 years) to 0.62 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
NDAQ:
$47.23B
MSCI:
$42.63B
NDAQ:
$3.32
MSCI:
$17.28
NDAQ:
24.90
MSCI:
33.61
NDAQ:
2.39
MSCI:
2.08
NDAQ:
5.76
MSCI:
13.69
NDAQ:
$8.27B
MSCI:
$3.24B
NDAQ:
$4.53B
MSCI:
$2.68B
NDAQ:
$3.11B
MSCI:
$1.99B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
NDAQ vs. MSCI — Risk / Return Rank
NDAQ
MSCI
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) and MSCI Inc. (MSCI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| NDAQ | MSCI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.57 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.08 | -0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.13 | 0.45 | -0.58 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.29 | 1.16 | -1.45 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NDAQ drawdown since its inception was -68.48%, roughly equal to the maximum MSCI drawdown of -69.06%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NDAQ and MSCI.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| NDAQ | MSCI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.48% | -69.06% | +0.58% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -21.76% | -18.07% | -3.69% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.76% | -25.99% | +4.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.84% | -43.74% | +10.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.31% | -43.74% | +5.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.64% | -9.78% | -7.86% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -23.80% | -13.07% | -10.73% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.73% | 7.00% | +2.73% |
Volatility
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Volatility Comparison
Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) has a higher volatility of 10.58% compared to MSCI Inc. (MSCI) at 8.23%. This indicates that NDAQ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MSCI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| NDAQ | MSCI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.58% | 8.23% | +2.35% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 22.04% | 21.10% | +0.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.75% | 28.90% | -3.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.17% | 30.74% | -6.57% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.38% | 31.20% | -6.82% |
Dividends
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Dividend Comparison
NDAQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, more than MSCI's 1.33% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSCI MSCI Inc. | 1.33% | 1.25% | 1.07% | 0.98% | 0.98% | 0.59% | 0.65% | 0.98% | 1.30% | 1.04% | 1.27% | 1.11% |
NDAQ Nasdaq, Inc. | 1.36% | 1.08% | 1.22% | 1.48% | 1.27% | 1.00% | 1.46% | 1.73% | 2.08% | 1.90% | 1.80% | 1.55% |
Financials
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Nasdaq, Inc. and MSCI Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
NDAQ vs. MSCI - Profitability Comparison
NDAQ - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.41B and revenue of 2.14B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 65.8%.
MSCI - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSCI Inc. reported a gross profit of 709.00M and revenue of 850.80M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 83.3%.
NDAQ - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported an operating income of 657.00M and revenue of 2.14B, resulting in an operating margin of 30.7%.
MSCI - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSCI Inc. reported an operating income of 456.90M and revenue of 850.80M, resulting in an operating margin of 53.7%.
NDAQ - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nasdaq, Inc. reported a net income of 519.00M and revenue of 2.14B, resulting in a net margin of 24.3%.
MSCI - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, MSCI Inc. reported a net income of 406.00M and revenue of 850.80M, resulting in a net margin of 47.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
NDAQ and MSCI have a correlation of 0.57, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NDAQ has higher volatility (10.58%) compared to MSCI (8.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NDAQ dropped -68.48% vs MSCI's -69.06%.
MSCI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.28 vs -0.11), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for NDAQ and MSCI
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer