Nasdaq Dives to 12-Week Low: Worst Performing Sectors and Stocks in the Tech Selloff

The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) has plunged to its lowest level in 12 weeks, with the Nasdaq-100 tracking ETF down 2.83% over the past week and 6.7% below its January 28 peak of $636.60. The tech-heavy index has shed 3.28%…

Published February 17, 2026, 11:47am ET · 1 min read

A vibrant digital financial chart displaying a dramatic market downturn. A prominent, fiery red line with an arrow points steeply downwards across a dark blue grid background, indicating a significant stock price drop. The background features green and red candlestick bars, alongside various financial data points including percentages like -0.57%, -0.29%, -0.31%, and -0.08%, numerical values such as 116.22, 34.71, 101.52, and 31.24, and labels like 'Strong Sell', 'Sell', and 'Buy'. Large volume figures like 3.736M, 1.014M, and 22.576M are also visible, creating a sense of financial volatility and crisis.
The dramatic downturn depicted in this financial chart reflects the market pressures faced by companies like Rocket Lab and Intuitive Machines, as regulatory challenges and competitive forces drive stock prices down. © Travis Wolfe / Shutterstock.com

The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:QQQ) has plunged to its lowest level in 12 weeks, with the Nasdaq-100 tracking ETF down 2.83% over the past week and 6.7% below its January 28 peak of $636.60. The tech-heavy index has shed 3.28% year-to-date, with selling pressure concentrated in semiconductors and mega-cap technology names.

Semiconductors Lead the Decline

The chip sector bore the brunt of the selloff. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD | AMD Price Prediction) dropped 7.96% over the past week to $196.58, while Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) fell 4.55% to $179.96. The iShares Semiconductor ETF declined 1.50% to $349.33, underscoring broad-based weakness across chip stocks that are heavily represented in the Nasdaq-100.

Software and Internet Giants Under Pressure

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has suffered the steepest decline among mega-caps, plummeting 18.02% year-to-date to $396.49 despite beating earnings expectations. Other mega-cap technology stocks also faced significant pressure, with Alphabet dropping 6.72% over the week to $297.19, Meta Platforms declining 6.08% to $629.96, and Apple falling 5.33% to $259.10.

What’s Driving the Selloff

Technical indicators confirm the weakness. QQQ’s RSI sits at 40.88, approaching oversold territory after plunging from 61.19 in late January. The MACD remains deeply negative at -3.96, signaling sustained bearish momentum. Elevated trading volumes on down days suggest institutional selling rather than retail panic.

The pullback has compressed valuations across the tech sector. QQQ’s RSI at 40.88 and negative MACD at -3.96 indicate continued bearish momentum, with elevated trading volumes on down days suggesting institutional selling rather than retail panic.

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Joel South

Joel South covers large-cap stocks, dividend investing, and major market trends, with a focus on earnings analysis, valuation, and turning complex data into actionable insights for investors.

He brings more than 15 years of experience as an investor and financial journalist, including 12 years at The Motley Fool, where he served as an investment analyst, Bureau Chief, and later led the Fool.com investing news desk. He has also co-hosted an investing podcast and appeared across TV and radio discussing market trends.

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