S&P 500 returns by year
S&P 500 has returned +10.6% annually (CAGR) since 1994. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) below, through September 4, 2026 — the most recent year is Through September 4, 2026; the running year is S&P 500 year-to-date.
- Annualized
- +10.6%
- 1994–2026
- Positive years
- 25/32
- 78% up
S&P 500 returns by year (1994–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.
See every year as a chart, with the events that moved it → Or click a year below for its own chart.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $681.92 | $770.24 | chart → | +0.6% | +13.6% |
| 2025 | $586.08 | $681.92 | chart → | +1.4% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | $475.31 | $586.08 | chart → | +1.6% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | $382.43 | $475.31 | chart → | +1.9% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | $474.96 | $382.43 | chart → | +1.3% | -18.2% |
| 2021 | $373.88 | $474.96 | chart → | +1.7% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | $321.86 | $373.88 | chart → | +2.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | $249.92 | $321.86 | chart → | +2.4% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | $266.86 | $249.92 | chart → | +1.8% | -4.6% |
| 2017 | $223.53 | $266.86 | chart → | +2.3% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | $203.87 | $223.53 | chart → | +2.4% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | $205.54 | $203.87 | chart → | +2.0% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | $184.69 | $205.54 | chart → | +2.2% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | $142.41 | $184.69 | chart → | +2.6% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | $125.5 | $142.41 | chart → | +1.9% | +15.4% |
| 2011 | $125.75 | $125.5 | chart → | +2.1% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | $111.44 | $125.75 | chart → | +2.2% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | $90.24 | $111.44 | chart → | +2.9% | +26.4% |
| 2008 | $146.21 | $90.24 | chart → | +1.5% | -36.8% |
| 2007 | $141.62 | $146.21 | chart → | +1.9% | +5.1% |
| 2006 | $124.51 | $141.62 | chart → | +2.1% | +15.8% |
| 2005 | $120.87 | $124.51 | chart → | +1.3% | +4.3% |
| 2004 | $111.28 | $120.87 | chart → | +2.1% | +10.7% |
| 2003 | $88.23 | $111.28 | chart → | +2.1% | +28.2% |
| 2002 | $114.3 | $88.23 | chart → | +1.2% | -21.6% |
| 2001 | $131.19 | $114.3 | chart → | +1.1% | -11.8% |
| 2000 | $146.88 | $131.19 | chart → | +0.9% | -9.7% |
| 1999 | $123.31 | $146.88 | chart → | +1.3% | +20.4% |
| 1998 | $97.06 | $123.31 | chart → | +1.6% | +28.7% |
| 1997 | $73.84 | $97.06 | chart → | +2.0% | +33.5% |
| 1996 | $61.48 | $73.84 | chart → | +2.4% | +22.5% |
| 1995 | $45.56 | $61.48 | chart → | +2.4% | +37.3% |
| 1994 | $46.59 | $45.56 | chart → | +0.0% | -2.2% |
Total return by period#
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from SPY's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for the S&P 500. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is S&P 500's average annual return?
- Since 1994, the S&P 500 (proxied by SPY, dividends reinvested) has returned about 10.6% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 12.1%.
- What were S&P 500's best and worst years?
- Over 1994–2026, the best year was 1995 (+37.3%) and the worst was 2008 (-36.8%).
- How often is S&P 500 up in a year?
- 25 of the 32 full years since 1994 were positive — about 78% of the time.
More on S&P 500
- Year by year+17.7%
- Trailing returns+20.3%
- YTD return+13.6%
- Sector performance+45.3%
- Return calculator$1,822
- Average return10%?
- Companies & weights500
- Stock performance500