Summary

The S&P 500, sometimes just called the S&P, consists of 500 of the largest companies listed on US stock exchanges. The S&P index measures the cap-weighted returns of the stocks in the S&P 500. Funds that track this index have traditionally been highly recommended by the most prominent investors, but this may be changing due to relatively higher valuations in the S&P. On average, the value of this index has nearly tripled every 10 years, including dividend reinvestment. Other summary values are provided below, followed by a table of the historical yearly returns. Dividends are included in all values.

For more information about the S&P 500 checkout Ed Yardini's book S&P 500 Earnings, Valuation, and the Pandemic— you should be able to get it for less than $8.

Entire history mean annual return: 11.7%

Entire history min/max annual return: -43.8%/52.6%

Last 25 years mean annual return: 9.2%

Last 10 years mean annual return: 13.3%

Last 5 years mean annual return: 17.8%

Only 5 times (in this 95-year history) has the S&P lost value in 2 consecutive years. It gained value in 73% of these years (lost value in 27% of the years).

Table of total yearly returns of the S&P 500 (includes dividends)

Year Return [%] 2023 26.29 2022 -18.11 2021 30.92 2020 18.40 2019 31.49 2018 -4.38 2017 21.83 2016 11.96 2015 1.36 2014 13.52 2013 32.15 2012 15.89 2011 2.10 2010 14.82 2009 25.94 2008 -36.55 2007 5.48 2006 15.61 2005 4.83 2004 10.74 2003 28.36 2002 -21.97 2001 -11.85 2000 -9.03 1999 20.89 1998 28.34 1997 33.10 1996 22.68 1995 37.20 1994 1.33 1993 9.97 1992 7.49 1991 30.23 1990 -3.06 1989 31.48 1988 16.54 1987 5.81 1986 18.49 1985 31.24 1984 6.15 1983 22.34 1982 20.42 1981 -4.70 1980 31.74 1979 18.52 1978 6.51 1977 -6.98 1976 23.83 1975 37.00 1974 -25.90 1973 -14.31 1972 18.76 1971 14.22 1970 3.56 1969 -8.24 1968 10.81 1967 23.80 1966 -9.97 1965 12.40 1964 16.42 1963 22.61 1962 -8.81 1961 26.64 1960 0.34 1959 12.06 1958 43.72 1957 -10.46 1956 7.44 1955 32.60 1954 52.56 1953 -1.21 1952 18.15 1951 23.68 1950 30.81 1949 18.30 1948 5.70 1947 5.20 1946 -8.43 1945 35.82 1944 19.03 1943 25.06 1942 19.17 1941 -12.77 1940 -10.67 1939 -1.10 1938 29.28 1937 -35.34 1936 31.94 1935 46.74 1934 -1.19 1933 49.98 1932 -8.64 1931 -43.84 1930 -25.12 1929 -8.30 1928 43.81

Click here for other historical returns.