It was a bumpy end to a lackluster 2015 for U.S. stocks. While the S&P 500 and the Dow snapped a multi-year winning streak to end in negative territory for the year, the Nasdaq ended in the green. The tech-laden index gained for four years in a row, its longest winning streak since 2007.

Strong gains from four of the most sought after components of the index – labeled as “FANG” – dominated the market and juiced up the Nasdaq. These stocks include Facebook, Inc. (FB – Analyst Report), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN – Analyst Report), Netflix, Inc. (NFLX – Analyst Report) and Google, now known as Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL – Analyst Report). Microsoft Corporation’s (MSFT – Analyst Report) solid gains also propelled the index into positive territory, while Apple Inc. (AAPL – Analyst Report) failed to make an impact despite posting commendable quarterly performances.

Meanwhile, U.S. stocks began 2016 on a dismal note with all these stocks taking a beating. However, their inherent fundamental strength will help them to tide over the adversities in the long run.

How the Nasdaq Fared Last Year?

In 2015, the S&P 500 and the Dow declined 0.7% and 2.3%, respectively. Many of the forces behind this dismal performance include low commodity prices decimating energy companies and adversely affecting junk bonds, a stronger dollar having a negative impact on U.S. multinationals’ overseas sales figures, slow growth in China and rate hike frenzy. In addition to this was the geo-political turmoil in the Middle East.

However, the Nasdaq bucked the declining trend and gained 5.9% for the year. Though short of 2014’s gain of 14.1%, the index’s outperformance last year stemmed primarily from upbeat gains from FANG stocks. Gains of a few bellwether stocks including Microsoft also boosted the index. Limited exposure to the struggling energy sector was also a tailwind.

But the Nasdaq was not without its share of setbacks in 2015. Price gouging concerns weighed on biotech stocks, which eventually had a negative impact on the index. Nevertheless, the innate strength of the biotech sector won out in the end and the index closed above the key psychological level of 5,000 in 2015.