Russell 2000 (^RUT) Historical Monthly & Quarterly Returns
Close-to-close returns by month and quarter. Compare performance across years.
Calculated from 40 years of price history (1987–2026).
^RUT
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +5.3% | +0.7% | 5.2% | +12.2% | +1.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.6% | 5.4% | 7.0% | 2.4% | +5.2% | +5.3% | +1.7% | +7.0% | +3.0% | +1.8% | +0.8% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | +5.5% | +3.4% | 7.1% | +4.9% | 1.1% | +10.1% | 1.6% | +0.6% | 1.5% | +10.8% | 8.4% |
| 2023 | +9.7% | 1.8% | 5.0% | 1.9% | 1.1% | +7.9% | +6.1% | 5.2% | 6.0% | 6.9% | +8.8% | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 9.7% | +1.0% | +1.1% | 10.0% | 0.0% | 8.4% | +10.4% | 2.2% | 9.7% | +10.9% | +2.2% | 6.6% |
| 2021 | +5.0% | +6.1% | +0.9% | +2.1% | +0.1% | +1.8% | 3.6% | +2.1% | 3.1% | +4.2% | 4.3% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 3.3% | 8.5% | 21.9% | +13.7% | +6.4% | +3.4% | +2.7% | +5.5% | 3.5% | +2.0% | +18.3% | +8.5% |
| 2019 | +11.2% | +5.1% | 2.3% | +3.3% | 7.9% | +6.9% | +0.5% | 5.1% | +1.9% | +2.6% | +4.0% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | +2.6% | 4.0% | +1.1% | +0.8% | +5.9% | +0.6% | +1.7% | +4.2% | 2.5% | 10.9% | +1.4% | 12.0% |
| 2017 | +0.3% | +1.8% | 0.1% | +1.0% | 2.2% | +3.3% | +0.7% | 1.4% | +6.1% | +0.8% | +2.8% | 0.6% |
| 2016 | 8.8% | 0.1% | +7.8% | +1.5% | +2.1% | 0.2% | +5.9% | +1.6% | +0.9% | 4.8% | +11.0% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +5.8% | +1.6% | 2.6% | +2.2% | +0.6% | 1.2% | 6.4% | 5.1% | +5.6% | +3.1% | 5.2% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +4.6% | 0.8% | 3.9% | +0.7% | +5.2% | 6.1% | +4.8% | 6.2% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +2.7% |
| 2013 | +6.2% | +1.0% | +4.4% | 0.4% | +3.9% | 0.7% | +6.9% | 3.3% | +6.2% | +2.5% | +3.9% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | +7.0% | +2.3% | +2.4% | 1.6% | 6.7% | +4.8% | 1.4% | +3.2% | +3.1% | 2.2% | +0.4% | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 0.3% | +5.4% | +2.4% | +2.6% | 2.0% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 8.8% | 11.4% | +15.0% | 0.5% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +4.4% | +8.0% | +5.6% | 7.7% | 7.9% | +6.8% | 7.5% | +12.3% | +4.0% | +3.4% | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 11.2% | 12.3% | +8.7% | +15.3% | +2.9% | +1.3% | +9.5% | +2.8% | +5.6% | 6.9% | +3.0% | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | 3.8% | +0.3% | +4.1% | +4.5% | 7.8% | +3.6% | +3.5% | 8.1% | 20.9% | 12.0% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | +1.6% | 0.9% | +0.9% | +1.7% | +4.0% | 1.6% | 6.9% | +2.2% | +1.6% | +2.8% | 7.3% | 0.2% |
| 2006 | +8.9% | 0.3% | +4.7% | 0.1% | 5.7% | +0.5% | 3.3% | +2.9% | +0.7% | +5.7% | +2.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | +1.6% | 3.0% | 5.8% | +6.4% | +3.7% | +6.3% | 1.9% | +0.2% | 3.2% | +4.7% | 0.6% |
| 2004 | +4.3% | +0.8% | +0.8% | 5.2% | +1.5% | +4.1% | 6.8% | 0.6% | +4.6% | +1.9% | +8.6% | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | 3.1% | +1.1% | +9.4% | +10.6% | +1.7% | +6.2% | +4.5% | 2.0% | +8.3% | +3.5% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 1.1% | 2.8% | +7.9% | +0.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 15.2% | 0.4% | 7.3% | +3.1% | +8.8% | 5.7% |
| 2001 | +5.1% | 6.7% | 5.0% | +7.7% | +2.3% | +3.3% | 5.4% | 3.3% | 13.6% | +5.8% | +7.6% | +6.0% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +16.4% | 6.7% | 6.1% | 5.9% | +8.6% | 3.2% | +7.4% | 3.1% | 4.5% | 10.4% | +8.4% |
| 1999 | +1.2% | 8.2% | +1.4% | +8.8% | +1.4% | +4.3% | 2.8% | 3.8% | 0.1% | +0.3% | +5.9% | +11.2% |
| 1998 | 1.6% | +7.4% | +4.1% | +0.5% | 5.4% | +0.2% | 8.2% | 19.5% | +7.6% | +4.0% | +5.2% | +6.1% |
| 1997 | +1.9% | 2.5% | 4.9% | +0.1% | +11.0% | +4.1% | +4.6% | +2.2% | +7.2% | 4.5% | 0.8% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | +3.0% | +1.8% | +5.3% | +3.9% | 4.2% | 8.8% | +5.7% | +3.7% | 1.7% | +4.0% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | +3.9% | +1.6% | +2.1% | +1.5% | +5.0% | +5.7% | +1.9% | +1.7% | 4.6% | +4.2% | +2.4% |
| 1994 | +3.1% | 0.4% | 5.4% | +0.6% | 1.3% | 3.6% | +1.6% | +5.4% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 4.2% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | +3.2% | 2.5% | +3.1% | 2.8% | +4.3% | +0.5% | +1.3% | +4.1% | +2.8% | +2.5% | 3.4% | +3.3% |
| 1992 | +8.0% | +2.9% | 3.5% | 3.7% | +1.2% | 5.0% | +3.3% | 3.1% | +2.2% | +3.1% | +7.5% | +3.4% |
| 1991 | +9.1% | +11.0% | +6.9% | 0.2% | +4.5% | 6.0% | +3.1% | +3.7% | +0.6% | +2.7% | 4.7% | +7.7% |
| 1990 | 8.9% | +2.9% | +3.7% | 3.4% | +6.8% | +0.1% | 4.5% | 13.6% | 9.2% | 6.2% | +7.3% | +3.7% |
| 1989 | +4.4% | +0.5% | +2.2% | +4.3% | +4.2% | 2.4% | +4.2% | +2.1% | +0.0% | 6.0% | +0.4% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | +4.0% | +8.7% | +4.4% | +2.0% | 2.5% | +7.0% | 0.9% | 2.8% | +2.3% | 1.2% | 3.6% | +3.8% |
| 1987 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +1.1% | 30.8% | 5.5% | +7.8% |
| Avg | +0.7% | +1.0% | +0.4% | +1.2% | +1.3% | +0.7% | +0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% | +2.2% | +2.4% |
| Median | +1.2% | +1.0% | +1.1% | +0.8% | +1.6% | +0.6% | +1.5% | +1.8% | +0.6% | +1.8% | +3.0% | +2.6% |
| Win % | 54% | 59% | 67% | 59% | 67% | 63% | 58% | 53% | 59% | 56% | 69% | 77% |
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
Avg
Median
Win %
Frequently asked questions
What is the best performing month for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, December is the best performing month for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with an average return of +2.38%.
What is the worst performing month for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, October is the worst performing month for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with an average return of 0.54%.
What is the best performing quarter for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, Q4 is the best performing quarter for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with an average return of +4.14%.
What is the worst performing quarter for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, Q3 is the worst performing quarter for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with an average return of 0.11%.
What is the best performing year for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, 2003 is the best performing year for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with a return of +45.37%.
What is the worst performing year for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, 2008 is the worst performing year for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index with a return of 34.80%.
Which month has the highest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, December has the highest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index — positive in 77% of years.
Which month has the lowest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, August has the lowest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index — positive in 53% of years.
Which quarter has the highest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, Q4 has the highest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index — positive in 77% of years.
Which quarter has the lowest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index?
Historically, Q3 has the lowest win rate for Russell 2000 (^RUT) index — positive in 56% of years.
Data & methodology
How are returns calculated?
We compare the closing price at the end of each period (month or quarter) with the closing price at the end of the previous period. The return is the percentage change. Based on historical closing prices from our data provider.
What is average vs median?
Average is the arithmetic mean of returns for each period across years. Median is the middle value. Both exclude empty cells. Use median to reduce impact of outliers.
What does the heatmap show?
Green cells indicate positive returns, red cells indicate negative returns. The darker the color, the stronger the move. Average and Median rows summarize each column across years.
What is Win %?
Percentage of years when the period had a positive return. For example, 80% for January means January was positive in 80% of the years in the selected range.