Report Card: Nasdaq

According to Bespoke Investment Group, year to date, the Nasdaq's 19.86% gain would rank as its fourth best first quarter ever (dating back to 1971).  The next three were the first quarter in 1991 when the index gained 29.01%. Over the rest of 1991, the index gained an additional 21.57%. Second place was the first quarter of 1975.  The index basically traded flat for the rest of that year with a gain of 2.59%. Third place was 1987.  The market ended basically flat that year after the October crash. 

Link:  Bespoke: Fourth best Nasdaq 1st Quarter in history.