S&P 500 (SPX) Historical Monthly & Quarterly Returns
Close-to-close returns by month and quarter. Compare performance across years.
Calculated from 84 years of price history (1943–2026).
SPX
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +1.4% | 0.9% | 5.1% | +10.4% | +0.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | +2.7% | 1.4% | 5.8% | 0.8% | +6.2% | +5.0% | +2.2% | +1.9% | +3.5% | +2.3% | +0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2024 | +1.6% | +5.2% | +3.1% | 4.2% | +4.8% | +3.5% | +1.1% | +2.3% | +2.0% | 1.0% | +5.7% | 2.5% |
| 2023 | +6.2% | 2.6% | +3.5% | +1.5% | +0.2% | +6.5% | +3.1% | 1.8% | 4.9% | 2.2% | +8.9% | +4.4% |
| 2022 | 5.3% | 3.1% | +3.6% | 8.8% | +0.0% | 8.4% | +9.1% | 4.2% | 9.3% | +8.0% | +5.4% | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.1% | +2.6% | +4.2% | +5.2% | +0.5% | +2.2% | +2.3% | +2.9% | 4.8% | +6.9% | 0.8% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 8.4% | 12.5% | +12.7% | +4.5% | +1.8% | +5.5% | +7.0% | 3.9% | 2.8% | +10.8% | +3.7% |
| 2019 | +7.9% | +3.0% | +1.8% | +3.9% | 6.6% | +6.9% | +1.3% | 1.8% | +1.7% | +2.0% | +3.4% | +2.9% |
| 2018 | +5.6% | 3.9% | 2.7% | +0.3% | +2.2% | +0.5% | +3.6% | +3.0% | +0.4% | 6.9% | +1.8% | 9.2% |
| 2017 | +1.8% | +3.7% | 0.0% | +0.9% | +1.2% | +0.5% | +1.9% | +0.1% | +1.9% | +2.2% | +2.8% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | 0.4% | +6.6% | +0.3% | +1.5% | +0.1% | +3.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1.9% | +3.4% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 3.1% | +5.5% | 1.7% | +0.9% | +1.0% | 2.1% | +2.0% | 6.3% | 2.6% | +8.3% | +0.1% | 1.8% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | +4.3% | +0.7% | +0.6% | +2.1% | +1.9% | 1.5% | +3.8% | 1.6% | +2.3% | +2.5% | 0.4% |
| 2013 | +5.0% | +1.1% | +3.6% | +1.8% | +2.1% | 1.5% | +4.9% | 3.1% | +3.0% | +4.5% | +2.8% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | +4.4% | +4.1% | +3.1% | 0.7% | 6.3% | +4.0% | +1.3% | +2.0% | +2.4% | 2.0% | +0.3% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | +2.3% | +3.2% | 0.1% | +2.8% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 5.7% | 7.2% | +10.8% | 0.5% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 3.7% | +2.9% | +5.9% | +1.5% | 8.2% | 5.4% | +6.9% | 4.7% | +8.8% | +3.7% | 0.2% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | 11.0% | +8.5% | +9.4% | +5.3% | +0.0% | +7.4% | +3.4% | +3.6% | 2.0% | +5.7% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 6.1% | 3.5% | 0.6% | +4.8% | +1.1% | 8.6% | 1.0% | +1.2% | 9.1% | 16.9% | 7.5% | +0.8% |
| 2007 | +1.4% | 2.2% | +1.0% | +4.3% | +3.3% | 1.8% | 3.2% | +1.3% | +3.6% | +1.5% | 4.4% | 0.9% |
| 2006 | +2.5% | +0.0% | +1.1% | +1.2% | 3.1% | +0.0% | +0.5% | +2.1% | +2.5% | +3.2% | +1.6% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | +1.9% | 1.9% | 2.0% | +3.0% | 0.0% | +3.6% | 1.1% | +0.7% | 1.8% | +3.5% | 0.1% |
| 2004 | +1.7% | +1.2% | 1.6% | 1.7% | +1.2% | +1.8% | 3.4% | +0.2% | +0.9% | +1.4% | +3.9% | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | 1.7% | +0.8% | +8.1% | +5.1% | +1.1% | +1.6% | +1.8% | 1.2% | +5.5% | +0.7% | +5.1% |
| 2002 | 1.6% | 2.1% | +3.7% | 6.1% | 0.9% | 7.2% | 7.9% | +0.5% | 11.0% | +8.6% | +5.7% | 6.0% |
| 2001 | +3.5% | 9.2% | 6.4% | +7.7% | +0.5% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 6.4% | 8.2% | +1.8% | +7.5% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | 2.0% | +9.7% | 3.1% | 2.2% | +2.4% | 1.6% | +6.1% | 5.3% | 0.5% | 8.0% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | +4.1% | 3.2% | +3.9% | +3.8% | 2.5% | +5.4% | 3.2% | 0.6% | 2.9% | +6.3% | +1.9% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | +1.0% | +7.0% | +5.0% | +0.9% | 1.9% | +3.9% | 1.2% | 14.6% | +6.2% | +8.0% | +5.9% | +5.6% |
| 1997 | +6.1% | +0.6% | 4.3% | +5.8% | +5.9% | +4.3% | +7.8% | 5.7% | +5.3% | 3.4% | +4.5% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | +3.3% | +0.7% | +0.8% | +1.3% | +2.3% | +0.2% | 4.6% | +1.9% | +5.4% | +2.6% | +7.3% | 2.2% |
| 1995 | +2.4% | +3.6% | +2.7% | +2.8% | +3.6% | +2.1% | +3.2% | 0.0% | +4.0% | 0.5% | +4.1% | +1.7% |
| 1994 | +3.3% | 3.0% | 4.6% | +1.2% | +1.2% | 2.7% | +3.1% | +3.8% | 2.7% | +2.1% | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | +0.7% | +1.0% | +1.9% | 2.5% | +2.3% | +0.1% | 0.5% | +3.4% | 1.0% | +1.9% | 1.3% | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 2.0% | +1.0% | 2.2% | +2.8% | +0.1% | 1.7% | +3.9% | 2.4% | +0.9% | +0.2% | +3.0% | +1.0% |
| 1991 | +4.2% | +6.7% | +2.2% | +0.0% | +3.9% | 4.8% | +4.5% | +2.0% | 1.9% | +1.2% | 4.4% | +11.2% |
| 1990 | 6.9% | +0.9% | +2.4% | 2.7% | +9.2% | 0.9% | 0.5% | 9.4% | 5.1% | 0.7% | +6.0% | +2.5% |
| 1989 | +7.1% | 2.9% | +2.1% | +5.0% | +3.5% | 0.8% | +8.8% | +1.6% | 0.7% | 2.5% | +1.7% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | +4.0% | +4.2% | 3.3% | +0.9% | +0.3% | +4.3% | 0.5% | 3.9% | +4.0% | +2.6% | 1.9% | +1.5% |
| 1987 | +13.2% | +3.7% | +2.6% | 1.1% | +0.6% | +4.8% | +4.8% | +3.5% | 2.4% | 21.8% | 8.5% | +7.3% |
| 1986 | +0.2% | +7.1% | +5.3% | 1.4% | +5.0% | +1.4% | 5.9% | +7.1% | 8.5% | +5.5% | +2.1% | 2.8% |
| 1985 | +7.4% | +0.9% | 0.3% | 0.5% | +5.4% | +1.2% | 0.5% | 1.2% | 3.5% | +4.3% | +6.5% | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | 3.9% | +1.3% | +0.5% | 5.9% | +1.7% | 1.6% | +10.6% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 1.5% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | +3.3% | +1.9% | +3.3% | +7.5% | 1.2% | +3.2% | 3.0% | +1.1% | +1.0% | 1.5% | +1.7% | 0.9% |
| 1982 | 1.8% | 6.1% | 1.0% | +4.0% | 3.9% | 2.0% | 2.3% | +11.6% | +0.8% | +11.0% | +3.6% | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 4.6% | +1.3% | +3.6% | 2.3% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% | +4.9% | +3.7% | 3.0% |
| 1980 | +5.8% | 0.4% | 10.2% | +4.1% | +4.7% | +2.7% | +6.5% | +0.6% | +2.5% | +1.6% | +10.2% | 3.4% |
| 1979 | +4.0% | 3.7% | +5.5% | +0.2% | 2.6% | +3.9% | +0.9% | +5.3% | +0.0% | 6.9% | +4.3% | +1.7% |
| 1978 | 6.2% | 2.5% | +2.5% | +8.5% | +0.4% | 1.8% | +5.4% | +2.6% | 0.7% | 9.2% | +1.7% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 5.1% | 2.2% | 1.4% | +0.0% | 2.4% | +4.5% | 1.6% | 2.1% | 0.2% | 4.3% | +2.7% | +0.3% |
| 1976 | +11.8% | 1.1% | +3.1% | 1.1% | 1.4% | +4.1% | 0.8% | 0.5% | +2.3% | 2.2% | 0.8% | +5.2% |
| 1975 | +12.3% | +6.0% | +2.2% | +4.7% | +4.4% | +4.4% | 6.8% | 2.1% | 3.5% | +6.2% | +2.5% | 1.2% |
| 1974 | 1.0% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 7.8% | 9.0% | 11.9% | +16.3% | 5.3% | 2.0% |
| 1973 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 0.1% | 4.1% | 1.9% | 0.7% | +3.8% | 3.7% | +4.0% | 0.1% | 11.4% | +1.7% |
| 1972 | +1.8% | +2.5% | +0.6% | +0.4% | +1.7% | 2.2% | +0.2% | +3.4% | 0.5% | +0.9% | +4.6% | +1.2% |
| 1971 | +4.0% | +0.9% | +3.7% | +3.6% | 4.2% | 0.9% | 3.2% | +3.6% | 0.7% | 4.2% | 0.3% | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 7.6% | +5.3% | +0.1% | 9.0% | 6.1% | 5.0% | +7.3% | +4.4% | +3.4% | 1.2% | +4.7% | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 0.8% | 4.7% | +3.4% | +2.1% | 0.2% | 5.6% | 6.0% | +4.0% | 2.5% | +4.3% | 3.4% | 1.9% |
| 1968 | 4.4% | 3.1% | +0.9% | +8.0% | +1.3% | +0.9% | 1.8% | +1.1% | +3.9% | +0.7% | +4.8% | 4.2% |
| 1967 | +7.8% | +0.2% | +3.9% | +4.2% | 5.2% | +1.8% | +4.5% | 1.2% | +3.3% | 3.5% | +0.8% | +2.6% |
| 1966 | +0.5% | 1.8% | 2.2% | +2.1% | 5.4% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 7.8% | 0.7% | +4.8% | +0.3% | 0.1% |
| 1965 | +3.3% | 0.1% | 1.5% | +3.4% | 0.8% | 4.9% | +1.3% | +2.3% | +3.2% | +2.7% | 0.9% | +0.9% |
| 1964 | +2.7% | +1.0% | +1.5% | +0.6% | +1.1% | +1.6% | +1.8% | 1.6% | +2.9% | +0.8% | 0.5% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | +4.9% | 2.9% | +3.5% | +4.9% | +1.4% | 2.0% | 0.3% | +4.9% | 1.1% | +3.2% | 1.1% | +2.4% |
| 1962 | 3.8% | +1.6% | 0.6% | 6.2% | 8.6% | 8.2% | +6.4% | +1.5% | 4.8% | +0.4% | +10.2% | +1.3% |
| 1961 | +6.3% | +2.7% | +2.6% | +0.4% | +1.9% | 2.9% | +3.3% | +2.0% | 2.0% | +2.8% | +3.9% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 7.1% | +0.9% | 1.4% | 1.8% | +2.7% | +2.0% | 2.5% | +2.6% | 6.0% | 0.2% | +4.0% | +4.6% |
| 1959 | +0.4% | 0.1% | +0.1% | +3.9% | +1.9% | 0.4% | +3.5% | 1.5% | 4.6% | +1.1% | +1.3% | +2.8% |
| 1958 | +4.3% | 2.1% | +3.1% | +3.2% | +1.5% | +2.6% | +4.3% | +1.2% | +4.8% | +2.5% | +2.2% | +5.2% |
| 1957 | 4.2% | 3.3% | +2.0% | +3.7% | +3.7% | 0.1% | +1.1% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 3.2% | +1.6% | 4.1% |
| 1956 | 3.6% | +3.5% | +6.9% | 0.2% | 6.6% | +3.9% | +5.2% | 3.8% | 5.9% | +2.0% | 1.1% | +3.5% |
| 1955 | +1.8% | +0.4% | 0.5% | +3.8% | 0.1% | +8.2% | +6.1% | 0.8% | +1.1% | 3.0% | +7.5% | 0.1% |
| 1954 | +5.1% | +0.3% | +3.0% | +4.9% | +3.3% | +0.1% | +5.7% | 3.4% | +8.3% | 1.9% | +8.1% | +5.1% |
| 1953 | 0.7% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 0.3% | 1.6% | +2.5% | 5.8% | +0.1% | +5.1% | +0.9% | +0.2% |
| 1952 | +1.6% | 3.6% | +4.8% | 4.3% | +2.3% | +4.6% | +1.8% | 1.5% | 2.0% | 0.1% | +4.6% | +3.5% |
| 1951 | +6.0% | +0.6% | 1.5% | +4.4% | 4.1% | 2.6% | +6.9% | +3.9% | 0.1% | 1.4% | 0.3% | +3.9% |
| 1950 | +1.5% | +1.0% | +0.4% | +3.9% | +4.6% | 5.8% | +0.8% | +3.3% | +5.6% | +0.4% | 0.1% | +4.7% |
| 1949 | +0.1% | 3.9% | +3.0% | 2.3% | 3.5% | 0.2% | +6.2% | +1.2% | +2.4% | +3.0% | +0.1% | +4.5% |
| 1948 | 4.1% | 5.1% | +8.3% | +2.7% | +7.8% | +0.3% | 5.3% | +0.8% | 3.0% | +6.5% | 10.6% | +3.1% |
| 1947 | +2.4% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 3.9% | 0.9% | +5.3% | +3.6% | 2.8% | 1.4% | +2.1% | 2.9% | +2.1% |
| 1946 | +7.0% | 6.9% | +4.4% | +4.0% | +2.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 0.8% | 1.1% | +4.2% |
| 1945 | +1.4% | +6.2% | 4.8% | +9.0% | +1.1% | 0.9% | 1.4% | +5.8% | +3.5% | +3.7% | +3.2% | +1.0% |
| 1944 | +1.5% | 0.3% | +1.7% | 1.2% | +4.0% | +5.1% | 2.1% | +0.9% | 0.6% | +0.3% | +0.4% | +3.5% |
| 1943 | +6.9% | +5.1% | +5.6% | +0.1% | +4.0% | +2.5% | 4.0% | 0.4% | +2.4% | 1.4% | 7.5% | — |
| Avg | +1.2% | 0.1% | +1.1% | +1.5% | +0.5% | +0.3% | +1.1% | +0.0% | 0.7% | +1.0% | +1.5% | +1.5% |
| Median | +1.6% | +0.1% | +1.6% | +1.2% | +1.1% | +0.1% | +1.3% | +0.8% | 0.3% | +1.2% | +1.7% | +1.5% |
| Win % | 63% | 51% | 64% | 69% | 63% | 55% | 58% | 55% | 45% | 60% | 67% | 74% |
2026
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2024
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1943
Avg
Median
Win %
Frequently asked questions
What is the best performing month for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, December is the best performing month for S&P 500 (SPX) index with an average return of +1.54%.
What is the worst performing month for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, September is the worst performing month for S&P 500 (SPX) index with an average return of 0.67%.
What is the best performing quarter for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, Q4 is the best performing quarter for S&P 500 (SPX) index with an average return of +2.87%.
What is the worst performing quarter for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, Q3 is the worst performing quarter for S&P 500 (SPX) index with an average return of +1.39%.
What is the best performing year for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, 1954 is the best performing year for S&P 500 (SPX) index with a return of +45.02%.
What is the worst performing year for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, 1931 is the worst performing year for S&P 500 (SPX) index with a return of 47.07%.
Which month has the highest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, December has the highest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index — positive in 74% of years.
Which month has the lowest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, September has the lowest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index — positive in 45% of years.
Which quarter has the highest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, Q4 has the highest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index — positive in 74% of years.
Which quarter has the lowest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index?
Historically, Q1 has the lowest win rate for S&P 500 (SPX) index — positive in 60% 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.
Explore more
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