To be listed on Nasdaq, companies pay $47,000 to $163,000 in fees. Nasdaq's 3,889 listed companies represent 10 broad sectors or industry groups. Most are in the fields of technology, consumer services, and health care. While Nasdaq has plenty of giant corporations, such as PepsiCo., PayPal, and Amazon, its stocks tend to be more growth-oriented, and less blue-chip, than those on the NYSE. Nasdaq equities have a reputation for innovation, disruption — and volatility. History of the Nasdaq The Nasdaq was created in 1971 by the then-National Association of Securities Dealers (currently known as FINRA). Originally, it was just a quotation system — an electronic ticker of bid and ask prices — but it began adding trading and transactional systems.