S&P 500: $35 in 1950 → $90,945.55 in 2021

$

Stock market returns between 1950 and 2021

If you invested $35 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1950, you would have about $90,945.55 at the end of 2021, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 259,744.44%, or 11.54% per year.

This lump-sum investment beats inflation during this period for an inflation-adjusted return of about 23,010.48% cumulatively, or 7.85% per year.

If you used dollar-cost averaging (monthly) instead of a lump-sum investment, you'd have $71,362.12.

The graph below shows the performance of $35 over time if invested in an S&P 500 index fund. The returns assume that all dividends are automatically reinvested.

This chart shows the rate of gains and loss by month, including dividends:

Adjusting stock market return for inflation

The nominal return on investment of $35 is $90,910.55, or 259,744.44%. This means by 2021 you would have $90,945.55 in your pocket.

However, it's important to take into account the effect of inflation when considering an investment and especially a long-term investment. You can convert S&P returns to their real (inflation-adjusted) value using an inflation calculation based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI).

In the case of the returns described above, the CPI in 1950 was 24.100 and the CPI in 2021 was 270.970.

The ratio between these CPIs describes how relative buying power of a dollar has changed over 71 years.

Adjusted for inflation, the $90,945.55 nominal end value of the original $35 investment would have a real return of roughly $8,053.67 in 1950 dollars. This means the inflation-adjusted return is 23,010.48% as opposed to the original 259,744.44%.

For more information on inflation, see our U.S. inflation calculator for 1950.

Full monthly data

The table below shows the full dataset pertaining to a $35 investment, including gains and losses over the 864-month period between 1950 and 2021.

Note that data shown is the monthly average closing price. Returns include dividends.

YearMonthReturn (%)Amount ($)CPI
195012.52%35.8823.50
195021.38%36.3823.50
195033.39%37.6123.60
195043.91%39.0823.60
195052.16%39.9323.70
19506-6.72%37.2423.80
195076.64%39.7124.10
195084.11%41.3524.30
195094.72%43.3024.40
1950100.38%43.4624.60
1950110.19%43.5424.70
1950128.01%47.0325.00
195114.31%49.0625.40
19512-1.11%48.5125.70
195131.93%49.4525.80
195140.63%49.7625.80
19515-1.15%49.1925.90
195162.37%50.3525.90
195174.97%52.8525.90
195183.14%54.5125.90
195190.03%54.5326.10
195110-2.25%53.3026.20
1951113.61%55.2226.40
1951123.83%57.3426.50
19521-1.33%56.5826.50
195220.75%57.0026.30
195230.20%57.1226.30
195240.46%57.3826.40
195253.24%59.2426.40
195263.37%61.2426.50
195270.88%61.7826.70
19528-1.11%61.0926.70
19529-1.61%60.1126.70
1952103.67%62.3126.70
1952114.51%65.1226.70
1952120.99%65.7726.70
19531-0.77%65.2626.60
195320.96%65.8826.50
19533-4.47%62.9326.60
195341.00%63.5726.60
19535-3.11%61.5926.70
195361.91%62.7726.80
195370.90%63.3326.80
19538-4.11%60.7326.90
195393.52%62.8726.90
1953102.71%64.5727.00
1953111.84%65.7626.90
1953123.02%67.7426.90
195412.68%69.5626.90
195422.58%71.3526.90
195434.45%74.5326.90
195444.42%77.8326.80
195451.22%78.7826.90
195464.46%82.2926.90
195472.39%84.2626.90
195482.74%86.5726.90
195492.71%88.9126.80
1954104.30%92.7426.80
1954114.95%97.3326.80
1954122.17%99.4426.70
195513.70%103.1326.70
19552-0.44%102.6826.70
195533.81%106.5926.70
19554-0.08%106.5026.70
195556.15%113.0526.70
195567.64%121.6926.70
19557-0.30%121.3326.80
195584.82%127.1726.80
19559-4.72%121.1626.90
1955107.07%129.7226.90
1955111.24%131.3326.90
195512-2.39%128.1926.80
195610.95%129.4126.80
195627.21%138.7326.80
195631.48%140.7926.80
19564-2.84%136.8026.90
19565-0.26%136.4427.00
195665.75%144.2827.20
19567-0.28%143.8727.40
19568-3.09%139.4327.30
19569-0.95%138.1027.40
195610-0.71%137.1127.50
1956111.81%139.5927.50
195612-1.86%136.9927.60
19571-4.00%131.5227.60
195721.62%133.6527.70
195732.64%137.1827.80
195744.16%142.8927.90
195751.95%145.6828.00
195762.32%149.0728.10
19577-5.21%141.3128.30
19578-3.74%136.0228.30
19579-5.90%128.0028.30
195710-1.80%125.7028.30
1957110.32%126.1028.40
1957122.33%129.0328.40
195810.70%129.9428.60
195822.42%133.0828.60
195830.90%134.2828.80
195843.56%139.0528.90
195852.74%142.8628.90
195863.07%147.2428.90
195874.05%153.2129.00
195882.94%157.7228.90
195894.36%164.6028.90
1958103.33%170.0728.90
1958112.16%173.7529.00
1958124.25%181.1428.90
19591-1.27%178.8529.00
195922.81%183.8728.90
195931.94%187.4328.90
195941.77%190.7429.00
19595-0.61%189.5829.00
195964.23%197.6029.10
19597-0.32%196.9729.20
19598-3.70%189.6829.20
195990.18%190.0129.30
1959100.67%191.2829.40
1959113.46%197.9129.40
195912-1.49%194.9729.40
19601-3.61%187.9329.30
19602-1.08%185.9029.40
196031.58%188.8529.40
19604-0.62%187.6729.50
196053.99%195.1529.50
19606-2.20%190.8729.60
196071.49%193.7129.60
19608-2.72%188.4429.60
19609-1.67%185.2929.60
1960103.54%191.8529.80
1960112.69%197.0129.80
1960125.43%207.7029.80
196114.37%216.7929.80
196123.40%224.1529.80
196132.92%230.6929.80
196141.26%233.6129.80
19615-1.08%231.0929.80
19616-0.03%231.0229.80
196173.84%239.8930.00
19618-0.54%238.5929.90
196191.34%241.8030.00
1961104.77%253.3330.00
1961111.16%256.2830.00
196112-3.49%247.3430.00
196211.91%252.0730.00
196220.34%252.9330.10
19623-2.94%245.4830.10
19624-7.19%227.8430.20
19625-11.41%201.8430.20
196262.72%207.3230.20
196273.02%213.5930.30
19628-0.59%212.3230.30
19629-2.86%206.2630.40
1962107.20%221.1130.40
1962114.62%231.3330.40
1962124.15%240.9330.40
196311.60%244.7730.40
19632-0.11%244.5030.40
196334.98%256.6830.50
196342.27%262.5030.50
196350.22%263.0730.50
19636-1.22%259.8630.60
196373.03%267.7330.70
196382.89%275.4830.70
196390.50%276.8630.70
196310-0.31%276.0130.80
1963112.39%282.6130.80
1963123.33%292.0330.90
196411.48%296.3530.90
196422.07%302.4830.90
196431.69%307.6130.90
196441.22%311.3630.90
19645-0.35%310.2730.90
196463.96%322.5631.00
19647-1.23%318.6031.10
196481.97%324.8731.00
196491.97%331.2731.10
1964100.94%334.3731.10
196411-1.49%329.3931.20
1964122.82%338.6831.20
196510.98%341.9831.20
196520.34%343.1331.20
196531.56%348.4731.30
196541.73%354.5131.40
19655-4.51%338.5331.40
196560.10%338.8831.60
196572.12%346.0631.60
196583.60%358.5031.60
196592.50%367.4631.60
1965101.08%371.4131.70
196511-0.21%370.6231.70
1965121.98%377.9631.80
19661-0.43%376.3431.80
19662-3.86%361.8032.00
196633.32%373.8232.10
19664-5.01%355.1032.30
19665-0.56%353.1132.30
196660.02%353.1832.40
19667-5.77%332.8032.50
19668-3.22%322.0732.70
19669-0.56%320.2532.70
1966105.32%337.2732.90
1966110.72%339.6932.90
1966124.13%353.7232.90
196713.73%366.9132.90
196722.63%376.5832.90
196731.99%384.0833.00
196742.06%391.9833.10
19675-0.99%388.0933.20
196761.99%395.8333.30
196771.85%403.1633.40
196781.65%409.8233.50
196790.10%410.2233.60
196710-2.88%398.4033.70
1967113.11%410.8033.80
196712-0.02%410.7333.90
19681-4.26%393.2434.10
19682-1.56%387.1134.20
196837.66%416.7734.30
196842.56%427.4334.40
196852.94%440.0034.50
196860.05%440.2134.70
19687-1.93%431.7034.90
196883.51%446.8435.00
196892.72%458.9835.10
1968101.79%467.1835.30
1968111.29%473.1935.40
196812-3.99%454.3335.50
19691-0.24%453.2435.60
19692-1.91%444.5735.80
196932.27%454.6836.10
196943.51%470.6636.30
19695-4.97%447.2636.40
19696-4.21%428.4536.60
19697-0.28%427.2336.80
196980.63%429.9237.00
196991.35%435.7137.10
1969101.00%440.0537.30
196911-5.03%417.9337.50
196912-0.59%415.4737.70
19701-3.20%402.1937.80
197022.01%410.28-
19703-2.75%399.01-
19704-11.20%354.33-
19705-0.27%353.37-
197060.52%355.22-
197073.26%366.78-
197086.32%389.97-
197092.49%399.67-
1970100.21%400.50-
1970117.16%429.17-
1970124.11%446.81-
197114.15%465.36-
197122.83%478.54-
197133.67%496.12-
19714-1.11%490.62-
19715-1.60%482.79-
19716-0.46%480.56-
19717-1.52%473.27-
197182.49%485.03-
19719-1.86%475.99-
197110-4.37%455.19-
1971117.16%487.79-
1971124.42%509.37-
197212.09%520.00-
197222.62%533.62-
197231.26%540.34-
19724-0.78%536.14-
197250.52%538.91-
19726-0.50%536.20-
197273.78%556.48-
19728-1.21%549.75-
197290.42%552.04-
1972105.25%581.05-
1972112.31%594.48-
1972120.99%600.36-
19731-3.33%580.40-
19732-1.35%572.59-
19733-1.63%563.24-
19734-2.57%548.76-
19735-1.99%537.84-
197361.21%544.35-
19737-1.64%535.45-
197382.00%546.13-
197394.24%569.26-
197310-6.85%530.25-
197311-6.81%494.17-
1973121.70%502.57-
19741-2.47%490.14-
197424.57%512.57-
19743-4.82%487.88-
19744-2.71%474.68-
197450.46%476.85-
19746-11.35%422.74-
19747-3.76%406.83-
19748-10.01%366.09-
197492.38%374.79-
1974103.74%388.82-
197411-6.09%365.13-
1974128.63%396.65-
1975110.81%439.52-
197524.97%461.38-
197531.49%468.24-
197546.71%499.68-
197552.89%514.14-
197560.43%516.36-
19757-7.00%480.23-
19758-0.85%476.14-
197594.97%499.81-
1975102.04%510.01-
197511-1.18%504.00-
1975129.55%552.11-
197614.18%575.17-
197620.80%579.79-
197631.10%586.14-
19764-0.38%583.89-
197650.90%589.15-
197662.67%604.85-
19767-0.56%601.46-
197682.44%616.13-
19769-3.11%596.98-
197610-0.37%594.79-
1976113.79%617.31-
197612-0.54%613.99-
19771-2.37%599.45-
19772-0.05%599.12-
19773-1.19%591.97-
197740.06%592.36-
197750.90%597.68-
197761.28%605.35-
19777-2.08%592.77-
19778-1.18%585.80-
19779-2.20%572.92-
1977100.98%578.55-
197711-0.08%578.08-
197712-3.39%558.48-
19781-0.97%553.05-
197820.27%554.52-
197834.83%581.31-
197845.50%613.30-
197850.67%617.44-
19786-0.06%617.05-
197877.33%662.27-
197880.40%664.92-
19789-2.77%646.48-
197810-5.44%611.32-
1978111.92%623.08-
1978124.19%649.15-
19791-1.06%642.29-
197922.34%657.33-
197932.43%673.31-
19794-1.89%660.56-
197952.42%676.53-
197961.42%686.15-
197975.01%720.55-
197981.54%731.65-
19799-3.35%707.12-
197910-0.32%704.84-
1979114.40%735.88-
1979123.31%760.26-
198014.40%793.68-
19802-8.78%724.01-
19803-1.16%715.60-
198045.04%751.64-
198056.86%803.22-
198064.97%843.13-
198073.50%872.68-
198082.84%897.43-
198093.32%927.27-
1980104.61%970.06-
198011-1.24%957.98-
1980120.01%958.08-
19811-3.07%928.67-
198124.14%967.14-
198131.29%979.66-
19814-1.62%963.81-
198150.86%972.08-
19816-2.02%952.48-
198170.80%960.12-
19818-8.30%880.41-
198191.73%895.61-
1981103.04%922.87-
1981111.18%933.76-
198112-4.80%888.90-
19821-1.91%871.89-
19822-2.74%847.96-
198235.47%894.33-
198240.57%899.43-
19825-5.27%852.02-
198260.24%854.10-
198270.79%860.88-
1982812.10%965.02-
198298.88%1,050.73-
1982104.50%1,098.01-
1982111.36%1,112.89-
1982123.93%1,156.58-
198312.13%1,181.21-
198323.87%1,226.88-
198334.20%1,278.37-
198344.42%1,334.93-
198351.75%1,358.34-
198360.71%1,367.96-
19837-2.41%1,335.03-
198383.31%1,379.27-
198390.65%1,388.20-
198310-1.14%1,372.36-
198311-0.13%1,370.60-
1983121.58%1,392.20-
19841-5.11%1,321.03-
198420.44%1,326.87-
198430.51%1,333.60-
19844-0.25%1,330.23-
19845-1.85%1,305.65-
19846-0.91%1,293.78-
198479.21%1,412.90-
198481.41%1,432.78-
19849-0.41%1,426.87-
1984101.29%1,445.22-
198411-0.71%1,434.99-
1984124.70%1,502.40-
198515.79%1,589.35-
19852-0.48%1,581.75-
198531.02%1,597.96-
198542.74%1,641.67-
198552.51%1,682.89-
198562.25%1,720.71-
19857-1.85%1,688.96-
19858-1.88%1,657.12-
198591.50%1,681.90-
1985106.42%1,789.89-
1985115.29%1,884.66-
1985120.75%1,898.82-
198615.70%2,007.01-
198626.18%2,131.09-
198632.74%2,189.52-
198640.49%2,200.29-
198653.13%2,269.23-
19866-1.80%2,228.29-
198672.28%2,279.11-
19868-2.46%2,223.13-
19869-0.09%2,221.14-
1986103.53%2,299.61-
1986111.71%2,338.91-
1986126.67%2,494.99-
198716.46%2,656.21-
198724.38%2,772.46-
19873-0.86%2,748.72-
198740.17%2,753.47-
198754.50%2,877.33-
198763.12%2,967.16-
198776.45%3,158.66-
19878-3.03%3,062.94-
19879-11.85%2,699.87-
198710-12.30%2,367.69-
198711-1.33%2,336.09-
1987124.25%2,435.29-
198813.33%2,516.35-
198823.23%2,597.68-
19883-0.89%2,574.67-
19884-2.19%2,518.33-
198856.00%2,669.38-
19886-0.31%2,661.19-
19887-1.72%2,615.45-
198881.93%2,665.86-
198893.80%2,767.20-
198810-2.02%2,711.30-
1988112.33%2,774.36-
1988123.51%2,871.82-
198913.30%2,966.58-
19892-0.16%2,961.79-
198933.56%3,067.37-
198944.12%3,193.60-
198953.39%3,301.95-
198962.80%3,394.41-
198974.69%3,553.63-
198980.46%3,569.82-
198990.29%3,580.04-
198910-1.81%3,515.11-
1989112.74%3,611.31-
198912-2.21%3,531.46-
19901-2.53%3,442.21-
199022.71%3,535.40-
199030.20%3,542.33-
199043.85%3,678.74-
199053.17%3,795.35-
199060.17%3,801.79-
19907-7.86%3,502.93-
19908-4.34%3,350.86-
19909-2.32%3,273.26-
1990102.98%3,370.93-
1990114.59%3,525.54-
199012-0.69%3,501.39-
1991111.61%3,907.79-
199123.04%4,026.76-
199132.26%4,117.72-
19914-0.18%4,110.35-
199150.35%4,124.62-
199160.78%4,156.81-
199172.68%4,268.17-
19918-0.30%4,255.23-
199190.18%4,262.96-
1991100.02%4,263.63-
1991110.94%4,303.51-
1991127.36%4,620.16-
19921-0.60%4,592.40-
19922-1.01%4,545.91-
199230.26%4,557.92-
199242.07%4,652.19-
19925-1.33%4,590.36-
199261.91%4,678.13-
199270.94%4,722.19-
199280.38%4,740.05-
19929-1.18%4,684.02-
1992102.76%4,813.15-
1992113.27%4,970.60-
1992120.14%4,977.70-
199311.72%5,063.53-
199322.15%5,172.40-
19933-1.34%5,103.00-
199340.72%5,139.99-
199350.87%5,184.46-
199360.06%5,187.62-
199371.76%5,279.05-
199381.35%5,350.58-
199391.24%5,417.03-
1993100.01%5,417.44-
1993110.89%5,465.50-
1993121.74%5,560.37-
19941-0.08%5,556.16-
19942-1.42%5,477.06-
19943-3.35%5,293.77-
199441.06%5,349.79-
199451.11%5,409.07-
19946-0.52%5,381.01-
199473.08%5,546.85-
199480.82%5,592.20-
19949-0.44%5,567.37-
199410-0.37%5,546.78-
199411-1.03%5,489.88-
1994122.45%5,624.45-
199513.82%5,839.25-
199522.56%5,988.63-
199533.22%6,181.20-
199543.35%6,388.13-
199553.18%6,591.17-
199563.55%6,824.99-
199570.51%6,860.01-
199583.72%7,115.04-
199590.91%7,179.97-
1995102.36%7,349.30-
1995113.39%7,598.38-
1995120.16%7,610.74-
199615.90%8,060.10-
19962-0.20%8,043.93-
199630.20%8,059.78-
199642.35%8,249.57-
199651.28%8,355.05-
19966-3.48%8,064.58-
199673.08%8,312.63-
199682.02%8,480.85-
199694.12%8,830.22-
1996105.05%9,276.33-
1996111.20%9,387.48-
1996123.26%9,693.28-
199714.36%10,116.02-
19972-0.62%10,052.93-
19973-3.41%9,710.60-
199749.22%10,605.71-
199755.34%11,171.72-
199765.74%11,812.52-
199770.35%11,853.60-
199781.19%11,994.90-
199791.65%12,192.26-
199710-1.15%12,051.80-
1997112.63%12,369.32-
1997120.24%12,398.65-
199816.40%13,192.43-
199825.31%13,893.32-
199833.41%14,366.48-
19984-0.22%14,334.61-
199850.12%14,351.30-
199864.47%14,992.47-
19987-6.97%13,947.35-
19988-4.90%13,264.14-
199891.29%13,435.36-
19981010.97%14,909.81-
1998114.10%15,521.73-
1998125.05%16,305.21-
19991-0.07%16,294.34-
199922.92%16,770.70-
199934.25%17,483.46-
19994-0.10%17,466.18-
19995-0.61%17,359.33-
199964.52%18,144.39-
19997-3.77%17,459.55-
19998-0.60%17,355.14-
19999-1.27%17,134.30-
1999107.11%18,351.85-
1999112.81%18,867.31-
199912-0.12%18,844.87-
20001-2.48%18,377.88-
200023.94%19,102.14-
200031.42%19,374.28-
20004-2.84%18,824.29-
200053.16%19,419.79-
200060.85%19,584.92-
200070.94%19,768.97-
20008-1.08%19,555.53-
20009-5.21%18,535.86-
200010-0.77%18,392.66-
200011-3.32%17,782.01-
2000120.46%17,862.92-
20011-2.14%17,481.32-
20012-9.08%15,894.03-
200130.45%15,965.35-
200146.88%17,063.66-
20015-2.39%16,656.07-
20016-2.66%16,212.98-
20017-2.05%15,881.29-
20018-11.25%14,095.07-
200193.18%14,543.86-
2001105.05%15,278.78-
2001111.47%15,502.77-
200112-0.30%15,456.62-
20021-3.35%14,938.40-
200224.95%15,677.14-
20023-3.51%15,126.18-
20024-2.82%14,699.57-
20025-5.92%13,829.21-
20026-10.76%12,341.40-
200271.14%12,481.94-
20028-4.76%11,888.08-
20029-1.37%11,725.57-
2002106.63%12,502.45-
200211-1.04%12,373.04-
200212-0.22%12,345.51-
20031-6.41%11,553.57-
200321.31%11,704.68-
200335.29%12,323.37-
200345.31%12,978.01-
200355.70%13,718.30-
200360.60%13,800.05-
20037-0.17%13,777.10-
200383.16%14,212.62-
200392.03%14,500.82-
2003101.21%14,676.37-
2003113.06%15,126.03-
2003124.93%15,872.49-
200411.09%16,044.97-
20042-1.57%15,793.83-
200430.97%15,946.74-
20044-2.56%15,537.82-
200452.86%15,981.85-
20046-2.24%15,624.05-
20047-1.39%15,407.25-
200482.78%15,835.98-
200490.10%15,852.23-
2004104.77%16,608.99-
2004112.73%17,062.00-
200412-1.35%16,831.79-
200511.68%17,114.77-
20052-0.26%17,071.03-
20053-2.41%16,659.80-
200541.34%16,882.35-
200552.18%17,250.51-
200561.81%17,562.36-
200570.31%17,616.80-
200580.28%17,666.08-
20059-2.62%17,202.48-
2005103.96%17,883.96-
2005112.14%18,267.42-
2005121.47%18,535.36-
20061-0.02%18,532.28-
200621.49%18,807.69-
200630.80%18,957.84-
20064-0.79%18,808.71-
20065-2.71%18,299.79-
200660.72%18,431.55-
200672.29%18,853.96-
200682.53%19,331.18-
200693.62%20,030.18-
2006102.00%20,431.12-
2006112.15%20,870.03-
2006120.69%21,014.62-
200711.60%21,350.03-
20072-2.47%20,821.85-
200734.18%21,692.26-
200743.39%22,428.01-
200750.34%22,505.36-
200760.57%22,634.68-
20077-4.20%21,683.77-
200783.07%22,350.49-
200792.99%23,019.14-
200710-4.81%21,912.77-
2007111.24%22,184.10-
200712-6.64%20,712.14-
20081-1.56%20,388.21-
20082-2.63%19,852.68-
200834.24%20,695.19-
200842.56%21,225.53-
20085-4.25%20,324.17-
20086-6.08%19,088.77-
200872.11%19,491.64-
20088-4.85%18,546.78-
20089-20.19%14,801.52-
200810-8.61%13,527.80-
200811-0.35%13,480.29-
200812-1.10%13,332.60-
20091-6.70%12,438.98-
20092-5.69%11,731.52-
2009312.32%13,177.05-
200946.66%14,054.62-
200952.87%14,457.83-
200961.28%14,642.55-
200978.12%15,831.63-
200983.65%16,409.54-
200992.40%16,803.88-
2009102.09%17,155.81-
2009112.23%17,537.67-
2009121.36%17,775.65-
20101-2.90%17,260.43-
201025.94%18,286.22-
201034.09%19,033.75-
20104-5.88%17,914.11-
20105-3.54%17,279.31-
20106-0.16%17,251.83-
201070.86%17,400.81-
201083.37%17,987.42-
201094.58%18,810.79-
2010102.49%19,279.35-
2010113.71%19,995.33-
2010123.46%20,687.61-
201113.15%21,339.45-
20112-1.11%21,102.05-
201132.22%21,570.73-
201140.66%21,712.93-
20115-3.66%20,917.67-
201163.10%21,566.48-
20117-10.40%19,323.43-
20118-0.79%19,170.92-
201193.02%19,749.67-
2011101.77%20,098.67-
2011111.55%20,411.16-
2011124.78%21,387.33-
201214.16%22,277.60-
201222.88%22,920.05-
20123-0.04%22,911.29-
20124-3.09%22,203.12-
20125-1.15%21,947.24-
201262.92%22,588.34-
201273.39%23,353.57-
201283.02%24,059.12-
20129-0.22%24,006.88-
201210-2.84%23,325.68-
2012112.18%23,833.14-
2012124.27%24,850.52-
201312.33%25,430.29-
201322.72%26,122.62-
201331.45%26,502.39-
201344.57%27,714.68-
20135-1.12%27,404.89-
201363.25%28,296.78-
201370.25%28,368.23-
201381.19%28,706.52-
201392.12%29,314.39-
2013103.86%30,445.92-
2013111.52%30,909.21-
2013120.97%31,208.35-
20141-0.13%31,167.77-
201422.72%32,016.24-
201430.20%32,080.82-
201441.53%32,572.31-
201453.20%33,613.43-
201461.50%34,116.22-
20147-0.43%33,970.56-
201481.78%34,574.57-
20149-2.65%33,659.53-
2014105.71%35,580.02-
2014110.63%35,805.56-
201412-1.11%35,408.10-
201512.83%36,409.23-
201520.06%36,429.39-
201530.88%36,749.39-
201540.98%37,109.13-
20155-0.44%36,947.52-
20156-0.08%36,918.10-
20157-2.42%36,023.05-
20158-4.51%34,399.46-
201594.32%35,884.53-
2015102.93%36,936.83-
201511-1.10%36,529.43-
201512-6.42%34,184.38-
20161-0.55%33,996.39-
201626.36%36,159.49-
201632.83%37,183.26-
20164-0.30%37,070.09-
201651.07%37,465.44-
201663.30%38,700.84-
201671.20%39,164.96-
20168-0.44%38,993.15-
20169-0.51%38,795.86-
2016101.20%39,261.86-
2016113.95%40,811.11-
2016121.44%41,397.83-
201712.58%42,464.42-
201721.75%43,207.23-
20173-0.15%43,140.69-
201741.69%43,870.79-
201751.78%44,650.13-
201760.99%45,091.22-
201770.25%45,202.96-
201781.65%45,950.28-
201792.73%47,206.93-
2017101.59%47,957.32-
2017112.88%49,340.16-
2017124.86%51,739.03-
20181-2.89%50,245.48-
201820.06%50,277.93-
20183-1.66%49,441.32-
201841.96%50,411.17-
201852.11%51,476.34-
201861.58%52,290.05-
201872.45%53,571.58-
201881.68%54,471.45-
20189-3.85%52,374.85-
201810-2.08%51,287.49-
201811-5.56%48,434.62-
2018121.74%49,275.27-
201915.83%52,147.47-
201921.95%53,163.32-
201933.72%55,142.70-
20194-1.53%54,298.04-
201951.40%55,060.79-
201963.83%57,168.15-
20197-3.13%55,376.27-
201983.09%57,084.75-
201990.01%57,090.35-
2019104.43%59,621.56-
2019112.47%61,093.80-
2019123.35%63,138.24-
202010.12%63,215.32-
20202-18.92%51,256.43-
202034.32%53,470.00-
202045.89%56,617.97-
202056.51%60,302.82-
202063.48%62,399.21-
202075.89%66,076.71-
20208-0.63%65,662.41-
202091.73%66,795.74-
2020103.95%69,436.93-
2020114.26%72,394.99-
2020122.80%74,418.65-
202112.49%76,272.81-
202120.82%76,899.29-
202136.02%81,529.77-
202140.76%82,149.58-
202151.81%83,636.84-
202163.07%86,202.98-
202172.19%88,086.66-
20218-0.08%88,012.22-
202190.45%88,410.20-
2021104.74%92,605.03-
2021110.27%92,850.81-
202112-2.05%90,945.55-
Click to show 846 more rows

Remember, returns are based on the average closing price across the entire month. Some losses are offset by dividend returns.

Dollar-cost averaging

Dollar-cost averaging is an alternative to investing the full lump-sum of $35.00 up-front. Instead, the capital is invested over a period of time.

Consider a strategy in which $35.00 was invested in the S&P 500 over a period of no more than 24 months beginning in 1950. This would result in a final amount of $71,362.12, including dividend reinvestments. In this particular case, dollar-cost average returns are less than the returns of a lump-sum investment (which ends with $90,945.55).

YearMonthContribution ($)Amount ($)
195011.451.48
195021.452.96
195031.454.55
195041.456.23
195051.457.84
195061.458.65
195071.4510.77
195081.4512.71
195091.4514.82
1950101.4516.32
1950111.4517.80
1950121.4520.78
195111.4523.18
195121.4524.35
195131.4526.29
195141.4527.90
195151.4529.01
195161.4531.17
195171.4534.23
195181.4536.79
195191.4538.25
1951101.4538.79
1951111.4541.69
1951121.6544.99
19521-44.40
19522-44.73
19523-44.82
19524-45.02
19525-46.49
19526-48.05
19527-48.47
19528-47.94
19529-47.16
195210-48.89
195211-51.10
195212-51.60
19531-51.21
19532-51.70
19533-49.38
19534-49.88
19535-48.33
19536-49.25
19537-49.70
19538-47.65
19539-49.33
195310-50.67
195311-51.60
195312-53.16
19541-54.58
19542-55.99
19543-58.48
19544-61.07
19545-61.81
19546-64.57
19547-66.12
19548-67.93
19549-69.77
195410-72.77
195411-76.37
195412-78.03
19551-80.92
19552-80.57
19553-83.64
19554-83.57
19555-88.71
19556-95.49
19557-95.20
19558-99.79
19559-95.07
195510-101.79
195511-103.05
195512-100.59
19561-101.54
19562-108.86
19563-110.48
19564-107.34
19565-107.06
19566-113.21
19567-112.89
19568-109.40
19569-108.36
195610-107.59
195611-109.53
195612-107.49
19571-103.20
19572-104.87
19573-107.64
19574-112.12
19575-114.31
19576-116.97
19577-110.88
19578-106.73
19579-100.44
195710-98.63
195711-98.94
195712-101.25
19581-101.96
19582-104.43
19583-105.36
19584-109.11
19585-112.10
19586-115.54
19587-120.22
19588-123.76
19589-129.16
195810-133.45
195811-136.34
195812-142.14
19591-140.34
19592-144.28
19593-147.07
19594-149.67
19595-148.76
19596-155.05
19597-154.56
19598-148.83
19599-149.10
195910-150.09
195911-155.29
195912-152.98
19601-147.46
19602-145.87
19603-148.18
19604-147.26
19605-153.13
19606-149.77
19607-152.00
19608-147.86
19609-145.39
196010-150.54
196011-154.59
196012-162.98
19611-170.11
19612-175.88
19613-181.02
19614-183.31
19615-181.33
19616-181.28
19617-188.23
19618-187.21
19619-189.73
196110-198.78
196111-201.09
196112-194.08
19621-197.79
19622-198.46
19623-192.62
19624-178.78
19625-158.37
19626-162.68
19627-167.60
19628-166.60
19629-161.84
196210-173.50
196211-181.52
196212-189.05
19631-192.06
19632-191.85
19633-201.41
19634-205.98
19635-206.42
19636-203.90
19637-210.08
19638-216.16
19639-217.24
196310-216.57
196311-221.76
196312-229.14
19641-232.53
19642-237.35
19643-241.37
19644-244.31
19645-243.46
19646-253.10
19647-250.00
19648-254.91
19649-259.93
196410-262.37
196411-258.46
196412-265.75
19651-268.34
19652-269.24
19653-273.44
19654-278.17
19655-265.64
19656-265.91
19657-271.54
19658-281.31
19659-288.33
196510-291.43
196511-290.82
196512-296.58
19661-295.30
19662-283.89
19663-293.32
19664-278.63
19665-277.07
19666-277.13
19667-261.14
19668-252.72
19669-251.29
196610-264.65
196611-266.54
196612-277.55
19671-287.90
19672-295.49
19673-301.37
19674-307.58
19675-304.52
19676-310.59
19677-316.34
19678-321.58
19679-321.89
196710-312.61
196711-322.34
196712-322.28
19681-308.56
19682-303.75
19683-327.03
19684-335.39
19685-345.25
19686-345.42
19687-338.74
19688-350.62
19689-360.15
196810-366.58
196811-371.29
196812-356.50
19691-355.65
19692-348.84
19693-356.77
19694-369.31
19695-350.95
19696-336.19
19697-335.24
19698-337.34
19699-341.89
196910-345.30
196911-327.94
196912-326.01
19701-315.59
19702-321.94
19703-313.09
19704-278.03
19705-277.28
19706-278.73
19707-287.80
19708-305.99
19709-313.61
197010-314.26
197011-336.76
197012-350.60
19711-365.15
19712-375.49
19713-389.29
19714-384.98
19715-378.83
19716-377.08
19717-371.36
19718-380.59
19719-373.50
197110-357.17
197111-382.76
197112-399.68
19721-408.02
19722-418.71
19723-423.98
19724-420.70
19725-422.87
19726-420.74
19727-436.65
19728-431.37
19729-433.17
197210-455.93
197211-466.47
197212-471.08
19731-455.42
19732-449.29
19733-441.95
19734-430.60
19735-422.03
19736-427.14
19737-420.15
19738-428.53
19739-446.68
197310-416.07
197311-387.76
197312-394.35
19741-384.60
19742-402.19
19743-382.82
19744-372.46
19745-374.17
19746-331.71
19747-319.22
19748-287.26
19749-294.09
197410-305.09
197411-286.51
197412-311.24
19751-344.88
19752-362.03
19753-367.42
19754-392.08
19755-403.43
19756-405.17
19757-376.82
19758-373.61
19759-392.18
197510-400.19
197511-395.47
197512-433.22
19761-451.32
19762-454.94
19763-459.93
19764-458.16
19765-462.29
19766-474.61
19767-471.95
19768-483.46
19769-468.43
197610-466.71
197611-484.38
197612-481.78
19771-470.37
19772-470.11
19773-464.50
19774-464.80
19775-468.98
19776-475.00
19777-465.13
19778-459.66
19779-449.56
197710-453.97
197711-453.60
197712-438.22
19781-433.96
19782-435.12
19783-456.13
19784-481.24
19785-484.48
19786-484.18
19787-519.66
19788-521.74
19789-507.27
197810-479.69
197811-488.91
197812-509.37
19791-503.99
19792-515.79
19793-528.32
19794-518.32
19795-530.85
19796-538.40
19797-565.39
19798-574.10
19799-554.86
197910-553.07
197911-577.42
197912-596.55
19801-622.78
19802-568.11
19803-561.51
19804-589.79
19805-630.26
19806-661.58
19807-684.77
19808-704.19
19809-727.60
198010-761.18
198011-751.70
198012-751.78
19811-728.69
19812-758.89
19813-768.71
19814-756.27
19815-762.76
19816-747.38
19817-753.38
19818-690.83
19819-702.76
198110-724.15
198111-732.69
198112-697.49
19821-684.14
19822-665.37
19823-701.76
19824-705.75
19825-668.56
19826-670.19
19827-675.51
19828-757.22
19829-824.47
198210-861.57
198211-873.25
198212-907.53
19831-926.86
19832-962.69
19833-1,003.10
19834-1,047.48
19835-1,065.84
19836-1,073.39
19837-1,047.55
19838-1,082.27
19839-1,089.28
198310-1,076.85
198311-1,075.47
198312-1,092.42
19841-1,036.57
19842-1,041.15
19843-1,046.43
19844-1,043.79
19845-1,024.50
19846-1,015.19
19847-1,108.66
19848-1,124.26
19849-1,119.62
198410-1,134.02
198411-1,125.99
198412-1,178.89
19851-1,247.11
19852-1,241.15
19853-1,253.87
19854-1,288.17
19855-1,320.51
19856-1,350.19
19857-1,325.27
19858-1,300.29
19859-1,319.74
198510-1,404.47
198511-1,478.83
198512-1,489.95
19861-1,574.83
19862-1,672.20
19863-1,718.04
19864-1,726.49
19865-1,780.59
19866-1,748.47
19867-1,788.35
19868-1,744.42
19869-1,742.86
198610-1,804.43
198611-1,835.27
198612-1,957.74
19871-2,084.25
19872-2,175.46
19873-2,156.83
19874-2,160.56
19875-2,257.75
19876-2,328.24
19877-2,478.51
19878-2,403.40
19879-2,118.50
198710-1,857.85
198711-1,833.06
198712-1,910.90
19881-1,974.50
19882-2,038.32
19883-2,020.26
19884-1,976.05
19885-2,094.58
19886-2,088.15
19887-2,052.27
19888-2,091.82
19889-2,171.34
198810-2,127.47
198811-2,176.96
198812-2,253.43
19891-2,327.78
19892-2,324.02
19893-2,406.87
19894-2,505.92
19895-2,590.93
19896-2,663.49
19897-2,788.42
19898-2,801.13
19899-2,809.14
198910-2,758.20
198911-2,833.68
198912-2,771.02
19901-2,700.99
19902-2,774.11
19903-2,779.55
19904-2,886.59
19905-2,978.09
19906-2,983.15
19907-2,748.64
19908-2,629.32
19909-2,568.43
199010-2,645.06
199011-2,766.38
199012-2,747.43
19911-3,066.32
19912-3,159.67
19913-3,231.05
19914-3,225.27
19915-3,236.46
19916-3,261.72
19917-3,349.10
19918-3,338.95
19919-3,345.01
199110-3,345.54
199111-3,376.83
199112-3,625.29
19921-3,603.51
19922-3,567.03
19923-3,576.46
19924-3,650.43
19925-3,601.91
19926-3,670.79
19927-3,705.35
19928-3,719.37
19929-3,675.40
199210-3,776.73
199211-3,900.27
199212-3,905.85
19931-3,973.19
19932-4,058.62
19933-4,004.17
19934-4,033.19
19935-4,068.08
19936-4,070.56
19937-4,142.30
19938-4,198.43
19939-4,250.57
199310-4,250.89
199311-4,288.61
199312-4,363.05
19941-4,359.75
19942-4,297.67
19943-4,153.86
19944-4,197.81
19945-4,244.33
19946-4,222.31
19947-4,352.44
19948-4,388.02
19949-4,368.54
199410-4,352.38
199411-4,307.74
199412-4,413.33
19951-4,581.88
19952-4,699.09
19953-4,850.19
19954-5,012.56
19955-5,171.88
19956-5,355.36
19957-5,382.84
19958-5,582.95
19959-5,633.90
199510-5,766.77
199511-5,962.21
199512-5,971.91
19961-6,324.51
19962-6,311.82
19963-6,324.25
19964-6,473.18
19965-6,555.94
19966-6,328.02
19967-6,522.66
19968-6,654.66
19969-6,928.80
199610-7,278.85
199611-7,366.06
199612-7,606.01
19971-7,937.73
19972-7,888.22
19973-7,619.61
19974-8,321.97
19975-8,766.10
19976-9,268.91
19977-9,301.15
19978-9,412.02
19979-9,566.88
199710-9,456.67
199711-9,705.82
199712-9,728.83
19981-10,351.68
19982-10,901.65
19983-11,272.93
19984-11,247.92
19985-11,261.02
19986-11,764.12
19987-10,944.05
19988-10,407.96
19989-10,542.31
199810-11,699.26
199811-12,179.41
199812-12,794.19
19991-12,785.66
19992-13,159.45
19993-13,718.72
19994-13,705.17
19995-13,621.32
19996-14,237.33
19997-13,699.96
19998-13,618.03
19999-13,444.75
199910-14,400.12
199911-14,804.58
199912-14,786.98
20001-14,420.54
20002-14,988.85
20003-15,202.39
20004-14,770.83
20005-15,238.10
20006-15,367.67
20007-15,512.09
20008-15,344.61
20009-14,544.51
200010-14,432.14
200011-13,952.98
200012-14,016.47
20011-13,717.04
20012-12,471.55
20013-12,527.51
20014-13,389.32
20015-13,069.49
20016-12,721.81
20017-12,461.55
20018-11,059.96
20019-11,412.11
200110-11,988.78
200111-12,164.54
200112-12,128.33
20021-11,721.69
20022-12,301.36
20023-11,869.04
20024-11,534.29
20025-10,851.35
20026-9,683.91
20027-9,794.19
20028-9,328.20
20029-9,200.68
200210-9,810.28
200211-9,708.74
200212-9,687.14
20031-9,065.72
20032-9,184.29
20033-9,669.76
20034-10,183.44
20035-10,764.32
20036-10,828.47
20037-10,810.46
20038-11,152.19
20039-11,378.34
200310-11,516.09
200311-11,868.92
200312-12,454.64
20041-12,589.98
20042-12,392.93
20043-12,512.91
20044-12,192.04
20045-12,540.45
20046-12,259.70
20047-12,089.59
20048-12,426.00
20049-12,438.74
200410-13,032.56
200411-13,388.01
200412-13,207.38
20051-13,429.42
20052-13,395.10
20053-13,072.42
20054-13,247.05
20055-13,535.93
20056-13,780.63
20057-13,823.35
20058-13,862.02
20059-13,498.25
200510-14,032.99
200511-14,333.87
200512-14,544.12
20061-14,541.70
20062-14,757.81
20063-14,875.62
20064-14,758.60
20065-14,359.27
20066-14,462.66
20067-14,794.11
20068-15,168.57
20069-15,717.06
200610-16,031.66
200611-16,376.06
200612-16,489.52
20071-16,752.70
20072-16,338.25
20073-17,021.23
20074-17,598.55
20075-17,659.25
20076-17,760.72
20077-17,014.58
20078-17,537.73
20079-18,062.40
200710-17,194.26
200711-17,407.16
200712-16,252.16
20081-15,997.99
20082-15,577.78
20083-16,238.87
20084-16,655.00
20085-15,947.74
20086-14,978.36
20087-15,294.48
20088-14,553.08
20089-11,614.29
200810-10,614.84
200811-10,577.56
200812-10,461.67
20091-9,760.48
20092-9,205.36
20093-10,339.62
20094-11,028.22
20095-11,344.60
20096-11,489.55
20097-12,422.58
20098-12,876.05
20099-13,185.48
200910-13,461.62
200911-13,761.26
200912-13,948.00
20101-13,543.72
20102-14,348.63
20103-14,935.19
20104-14,056.64
20105-13,558.53
20106-13,536.97
20107-13,653.87
20108-14,114.17
20109-14,760.23
201010-15,127.90
201011-15,689.71
201012-16,232.92
20111-16,744.39
20112-16,558.12
20113-16,925.87
20114-17,037.45
20115-16,413.44
20116-16,922.54
20117-15,162.49
20118-15,042.82
20119-15,496.95
201110-15,770.80
201111-16,015.99
201112-16,781.97
20121-17,480.53
20122-17,984.64
20123-17,977.77
20124-17,422.09
20125-17,221.31
20126-17,724.36
20127-18,324.81
20128-18,878.44
20129-18,837.44
201210-18,302.93
201211-18,701.12
201212-19,499.42
20131-19,954.35
20132-20,497.60
20133-20,795.59
20134-21,746.84
20135-21,503.76
20136-22,203.59
20137-22,259.66
20138-22,525.10
20139-23,002.08
201310-23,889.96
201311-24,253.48
201312-24,488.21
20141-24,456.37
20142-25,122.14
20143-25,172.81
20144-25,558.47
20145-26,375.40
20146-26,769.93
20147-26,655.63
20148-27,129.58
20149-26,411.57
201410-27,918.53
201411-28,095.50
201412-27,783.63
20151-28,569.18
20152-28,585.00
20153-28,836.09
20154-29,118.37
20155-28,991.56
20156-28,968.47
20157-28,266.16
20158-26,992.18
20159-28,157.46
201510-28,983.17
201511-28,663.50
201512-26,823.41
20161-26,675.90
20162-28,373.22
20163-29,176.54
20164-29,087.73
20165-29,397.95
20166-30,367.33
20167-30,731.51
20168-30,596.70
20169-30,441.89
201610-30,807.55
201611-32,023.20
201612-32,483.58
20171-33,320.50
20172-33,903.36
20173-33,851.15
20174-34,424.04
20175-35,035.55
20176-35,381.66
20177-35,469.34
20178-36,055.74
20179-37,041.80
201710-37,630.60
201711-38,715.67
201712-40,597.99
20181-39,426.05
20182-39,451.51
20183-38,795.05
20184-39,556.06
20185-40,391.87
20186-41,030.36
20187-42,035.94
20188-42,742.03
20189-41,096.90
201810-40,243.68
201811-38,005.12
201812-38,664.75
20191-40,918.49
20192-41,715.59
20193-43,268.75
20194-42,605.96
20195-43,204.47
20196-44,858.05
20197-43,452.02
20198-44,792.61
20199-44,797.00
201910-46,783.16
201911-47,938.39
201912-49,542.60
20201-49,603.08
20202-40,219.31
20203-41,956.23
20204-44,426.35
20205-47,317.73
20206-48,962.70
20207-51,848.32
20208-51,523.23
20209-52,412.52
202010-54,484.98
202011-56,806.08
202012-58,393.98
20211-59,848.88
20212-60,340.46
20213-63,973.85
20214-64,460.20
20215-65,627.20
20216-67,640.77
20217-69,118.83
20218-69,060.43
20219-69,372.70
202110-72,664.26
202111-72,857.12
202112-71,362.12
Click to show 846 more rows

Data Sources

The information on this page is derived from Robert Shiller's book, Irrational Exuberance and the accompanying dataset, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly CPI logs.

Note that S&P index value for the current quarter is based on a moving average of closing prices, per Robert Shiller's methodology. The inflation data used is based on annual CPI averages.


Ian Webster

About the author

Ian Webster is an engineer and data expert based in San Mateo, California. He has worked for Google, NASA, and consulted for governments around the world on data pipelines and data analysis. Disappointed by the lack of clear resources on the impacts of inflation on economic indicators, Ian believes this website serves as a valuable public tool. Ian earned his degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

Email · LinkedIn · Twitter


S&P 500 from 1950 to 2021
Start Value
Average monthly close
$16.88
End Value
Average monthly close
$3,793.75
Change in price +22,374.81%
+7.93% / yr
Change incl. dividends +259,744.44%
+11.54% / yr
Change incl. dividends, inflation-adjusted +23,010.48%
+7.85% / yr
Final amount, nominal
($35 base)
$90,945.55
Final amount, inflation-adjusted
($35 base)
$8,088.67