S&P 500 Index - 90 Year Historical Chart (2024)

FAQs

What is the average return of the S&P 500 over the last 90 years? ›

Since 1957, the S&P 500's average annual rate of return has been approximately 10.5% (through March 2023) and around 6.6% after adjusting for inflation.

The average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 10.56% over the last 100 years, as of the end of February 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Dividends account for about 40% of the total gain over this period. Adjusted for inflation, the 100-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 7.4%.

S&P 500: $100 in 1990 → $3,058.10 in 2024

This lump-sum investment beats inflation during this period for an inflation-adjusted return of about 1,179.71% cumulatively, or 7.73% per year. If you used dollar-cost averaging (monthly) instead of a lump-sum investment, you'd have $2,842.89.

The S&P index returns start in 1926 when the index was first composed of 90 companies. The name of the index at that time was the Composite Index or S&P 90. In 1957 the index expanded to include the 500 components we now have today. The returns include both price returns and re-invested dividends.

Since 1957, the S&P 500 has only fallen more sharply than 19.4% in three years: 1974, 2002, and 2008. Each of those downturns was precipitated by major economic headwinds. In 1974, gasoline shortages and double-digit inflation rates caused the S&P 500 to plunge 29.7%.

Basic Info. S&P 500 10 Year Return is at 167.3%, compared to 180.6% last month and 161.0% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 114.6%.

Overall, the S&P 500 grew at a compound annual growth rate of 13.8% over the last 15 years. Adjusting for inflation, the index grew 11.2% per year during that period.

For a point of reference, the S&P 500 has a historical average annual total return of about 10%, not accounting for inflation. This doesn't mean you can expect 10% growth every year; you could experience a gain one year and a loss the next.

Over the past decade, you would have done even better, as the S&P 500 posted an average annual return of a whopping 12.68%. Here's how much your account balance would be now if you were invested over the past 10 years: $1,000 would grow to $3,300. $5,000 would grow to $16,498.

Investing $1,000 per month for 5 years through a systematic investment plan could have you end up with $83,156.62.

Should I put my life savings in S&P 500? ›

Choosing your investments

Investing in an S&P 500 fund can instantly diversify your portfolio and is generally considered less risky. S&P 500 index funds or ETFs will track the performance of the S&P 500, which means when the S&P 500 does well, your investment will, too.

The bounce-back from the 2008 crash took five and a half years, but an additional half year to regain your purchasing power.

Does the S&P 500 Pay Dividends? The S&P 500 is an index, so it does not pay dividends; however, there are mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the index, which you can invest in. If the companies in these funds pay dividends, you'll receive yours based on how many shares of the funds you hold.

In 1962, Ultronic Systems became the compiler of the S&P indices including the S&P 500 Stock Composite Index, the 425 Stock Industrial Index, the 50 Stock Utility Index, and the 25 Stock Rail Index. On August 31, 1976, The Vanguard Group offered the first mutual fund to retail investors that tracked the index.

Stock market returns since 1957

If you invested $100 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1957, you would have about $78,832.98 at the end of 2024, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 78,732.98%, or 10.43% per year.

Stock market returns since 1900

If you invested $100 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1900, you would have about $12,520,925.85 at the end of 2024, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 12,520,825.85%, or 9.91% per year.