S&P 500: $100 in 1959 → $79,716.32 in 2026

$

Stock market returns since 1959

If you invested $100 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 1959, you would have about $79,716.32 at the end of 2026, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment of 79,616.32%, or 10.49% per year.

This lump-sum investment beats inflation during this period for an inflation-adjusted return of about 7,057.01% cumulatively, or 6.58% per year.

If you used dollar-cost averaging (monthly) instead of a lump-sum investment, you'd have $75,795.44.

The graph below shows the performance of $100 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 $100 is $79,616.32, or 79,616.32%. This means by 2026 you would have $79,716.32 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 1959 was 29.100 and the CPI in 2026 was 324.122.

The ratio between these CPIs describes how relative buying power of a dollar has changed over 67 years.

Adjusted for inflation, the $79,716.32 nominal end value of the original $100 investment would have a real return of roughly $7,057.01 in 1959 dollars. This means the inflation-adjusted return is 7,057.01% as opposed to the original 79,616.32%.

For more information on inflation, see our U.S. inflation calculator for 1959.

Full monthly data

The table below shows the full dataset pertaining to a $100 investment, including gains and losses over the 804-month period between 1959 and 2026.

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

YearMonthReturn (%)Amount ($)CPI
19591-1.27%98.7329.00
195922.81%101.5128.90
195931.94%103.4728.90
195941.77%105.3029.00
19595-0.61%104.6629.00
195964.23%109.0829.10
19597-0.32%108.7429.20
19598-3.70%104.7129.20
195990.18%104.8929.30
1959100.67%105.6029.40
1959113.46%109.2529.40
195912-1.49%107.6329.40
19601-3.61%103.7529.30
19602-1.08%102.6329.40
196031.58%104.2529.40
19604-0.62%103.6029.50
196053.99%107.7329.50
19606-2.20%105.3729.60
196071.49%106.9429.60
19608-2.72%104.0329.60
19609-1.67%102.2929.60
1960103.54%105.9129.80
1960112.69%108.7629.80
1960125.43%114.6629.80
196114.37%119.6829.80
196123.40%123.7429.80
196132.92%127.3529.80
196141.26%128.9629.80
19615-1.08%127.5729.80
19616-0.03%127.5329.80
196173.84%132.4330.00
19618-0.54%131.7129.90
196191.34%133.4830.00
1961104.77%139.8530.00
1961111.16%141.4830.00
196112-3.49%136.5530.00
196211.91%139.1530.00
196220.34%139.6330.10
19623-2.94%135.5230.10
19624-7.19%125.7830.20
19625-11.41%111.4230.20
196262.72%114.4530.20
196273.02%117.9130.30
19628-0.59%117.2130.30
19629-2.86%113.8630.40
1962107.20%122.0630.40
1962114.62%127.7130.40
1962124.15%133.0030.40
196311.60%135.1230.40
19632-0.11%134.9830.40
196334.98%141.7030.50
196342.27%144.9130.50
196350.22%145.2330.50
19636-1.22%143.4530.60
196373.03%147.8030.70
196382.89%152.0830.70
196390.50%152.8430.70
196310-0.31%152.3730.80
1963112.39%156.0230.80
1963123.33%161.2130.90
196411.48%163.6030.90
196422.07%166.9930.90
196431.69%169.8130.90
196441.22%171.8930.90
19645-0.35%171.2830.90
196463.96%178.0731.00
19647-1.23%175.8831.10
196481.97%179.3431.00
196491.97%182.8831.10
1964100.94%184.5931.10
196411-1.49%181.8431.20
1964122.82%186.9731.20
196510.98%188.7931.20
196520.34%189.4231.20
196531.56%192.3731.30
196541.73%195.7131.40
19655-4.51%186.8931.40
196560.10%187.0831.60
196572.12%191.0431.60
196583.60%197.9131.60
196592.50%202.8531.60
1965101.08%205.0431.70
196511-0.21%204.6031.70
1965121.98%208.6531.80
19661-0.43%207.7631.80
19662-3.86%199.7332.00
196633.32%206.3632.10
19664-5.01%196.0332.30
19665-0.56%194.9332.30
196660.02%194.9732.40
19667-5.77%183.7232.50
19668-3.22%177.8032.70
19669-0.56%176.7932.70
1966105.32%186.1932.90
1966110.72%187.5232.90
1966124.13%195.2732.90
196713.73%202.5532.90
196722.63%207.8932.90
196731.99%212.0333.00
196742.06%216.3933.10
19675-0.99%214.2533.20
196761.99%218.5233.30
196771.85%222.5633.40
196781.65%226.2433.50
196790.10%226.4633.60
196710-2.88%219.9433.70
1967113.11%226.7833.80
196712-0.02%226.7433.90
19681-4.26%217.0934.10
19682-1.56%213.7034.20
196837.66%230.0834.30
196842.56%235.9634.40
196852.94%242.9034.50
196860.05%243.0234.70
19687-1.93%238.3234.90
196883.51%246.6835.00
196892.72%253.3835.10
1968101.79%257.9135.30
1968111.29%261.2235.40
196812-3.99%250.8135.50
19691-0.24%250.2135.60
19692-1.91%245.4235.80
196932.27%251.0136.10
196943.51%259.8336.30
19695-4.97%246.9136.40
19696-4.21%236.5336.60
19697-0.28%235.8536.80
196980.63%237.3437.00
196991.35%240.5337.10
1969101.00%242.9337.30
196911-5.03%230.7237.50
196912-0.59%229.3637.70
19701-3.20%222.0337.80
197022.01%226.50-
19703-2.75%220.27-
19704-11.20%195.60-
19705-0.27%195.08-
197060.52%196.10-
197073.26%202.48-
197086.32%215.28-
197092.49%220.64-
1970100.21%221.10-
1970117.16%236.92-
1970124.11%246.66-
197114.15%256.90-
197122.83%264.18-
197133.67%273.88-
19714-1.11%270.85-
19715-1.60%266.52-
19716-0.46%265.29-
19717-1.52%261.27-
197182.49%267.76-
19719-1.86%262.77-
197110-4.37%251.28-
1971117.16%269.29-
1971124.42%281.19-
197212.09%287.06-
197222.62%294.58-
197231.26%298.29-
19724-0.78%295.98-
197250.52%297.50-
19726-0.50%296.01-
197273.78%307.21-
19728-1.21%303.49-
197290.42%304.75-
1972105.25%320.77-
1972112.31%328.18-
1972120.99%331.43-
19731-3.33%320.41-
19732-1.35%316.10-
19733-1.63%310.93-
19734-2.57%302.94-
19735-1.99%296.92-
197361.21%300.51-
19737-1.64%295.59-
197382.00%301.49-
197394.24%314.26-
197310-6.85%292.73-
197311-6.81%272.80-
1973121.70%277.44-
19741-2.47%270.58-
197424.57%282.96-
19743-4.82%269.33-
19744-2.71%262.04-
197450.46%263.24-
19746-11.35%233.37-
19747-3.76%224.59-
19748-10.01%202.10-
197492.38%206.90-
1974103.74%214.65-
197411-6.09%201.57-
1974128.63%218.97-
1975110.81%242.64-
197524.97%254.71-
197531.49%258.49-
197546.71%275.84-
197552.89%283.83-
197560.43%285.06-
19757-7.00%265.11-
19758-0.85%262.85-
197594.97%275.92-
1975102.04%281.55-
197511-1.18%278.23-
1975129.55%304.79-
197614.18%317.52-
197620.80%320.07-
197631.10%323.58-
19764-0.38%322.34-
197650.90%325.24-
197662.67%333.91-
19767-0.56%332.04-
197682.44%340.13-
19769-3.11%329.56-
197610-0.37%328.35-
1976113.79%340.78-
197612-0.54%338.95-
19771-2.37%330.92-
19772-0.05%330.75-
19773-1.19%326.80-
197740.06%327.01-
197750.90%329.95-
197761.28%334.18-
19777-2.08%327.24-
19778-1.18%323.39-
19779-2.20%316.28-
1977100.98%319.39-
197711-0.08%319.13-
197712-3.39%308.31-
19781-0.97%305.31-
197820.27%306.12-
197834.83%320.91-
197845.50%338.57-
197850.67%340.85-
19786-0.06%340.64-
197877.33%365.60-
197880.40%367.07-
19789-2.77%356.89-
197810-5.44%337.48-
1978111.92%343.97-
1978124.19%358.36-
19791-1.06%354.58-
197922.34%362.88-
197932.43%371.70-
19794-1.89%364.66-
197952.42%373.48-
197961.42%378.79-
197975.01%397.78-
197981.54%403.91-
19799-3.35%390.37-
197910-0.32%389.11-
1979114.40%406.24-
1979123.31%419.70-
198014.40%438.15-
19802-8.78%399.69-
19803-1.16%395.04-
198045.04%414.94-
198056.86%443.42-
198064.97%465.45-
198073.50%481.76-
198082.84%495.43-
198093.32%511.90-
1980104.61%535.52-
198011-1.24%528.85-
1980120.01%528.91-
19811-3.07%512.67-
198124.14%533.91-
198131.29%540.82-
19814-1.62%532.07-
198150.86%536.63-
19816-2.02%525.81-
198170.80%530.03-
19818-8.30%486.03-
198191.73%494.42-
1981103.04%509.47-
1981111.18%515.48-
198112-4.80%490.71-
19821-1.91%481.32-
19822-2.74%468.11-
198235.47%493.72-
198240.57%496.53-
19825-5.27%470.36-
198260.24%471.50-
198270.79%475.25-
1982812.10%532.74-
198298.88%580.05-
1982104.50%606.15-
1982111.36%614.37-
1982123.93%638.49-
198312.13%652.09-
198323.87%677.29-
198334.20%705.72-
198344.42%736.94-
198351.75%749.87-
198360.71%755.18-
19837-2.41%737.00-
198383.31%761.42-
198390.65%766.35-
198310-1.14%757.61-
198311-0.13%756.64-
1983121.58%768.56-
19841-5.11%729.27-
198420.44%732.50-
198430.51%736.21-
19844-0.25%734.35-
19845-1.85%720.78-
19846-0.91%714.23-
198479.21%779.99-
198481.41%790.96-
19849-0.41%787.70-
1984101.29%797.83-
198411-0.71%792.18-
1984124.70%829.40-
198515.79%877.40-
19852-0.48%873.20-
198531.02%882.15-
198542.74%906.28-
198552.51%929.04-
198562.25%949.91-
19857-1.85%932.39-
19858-1.88%914.81-
198591.50%928.49-
1985106.42%988.11-
1985115.29%1,040.42-
1985120.75%1,048.24-
198615.70%1,107.96-
198626.18%1,176.47-
198632.74%1,208.72-
198640.49%1,214.66-
198653.13%1,252.72-
19866-1.80%1,230.12-
198672.28%1,258.18-
19868-2.46%1,227.28-
19869-0.09%1,226.17-
1986103.53%1,269.49-
1986111.71%1,291.19-
1986126.67%1,377.35-
198716.46%1,466.36-
198724.38%1,530.53-
19873-0.86%1,517.42-
198740.17%1,520.05-
198754.50%1,588.42-
198763.12%1,638.02-
198776.45%1,743.73-
19878-3.03%1,690.89-
19879-11.85%1,490.46-
198710-12.30%1,307.08-
198711-1.33%1,289.63-
1987124.25%1,344.40-
198813.33%1,389.15-
198823.23%1,434.05-
19883-0.89%1,421.34-
19884-2.19%1,390.24-
198856.00%1,473.63-
19886-0.31%1,469.10-
19887-1.72%1,443.86-
198881.93%1,471.68-
198893.80%1,527.63-
198810-2.02%1,496.77-
1988112.33%1,531.58-
1988123.51%1,585.38-
198913.30%1,637.70-
19892-0.16%1,635.05-
198933.56%1,693.34-
198944.12%1,763.02-
198953.39%1,822.83-
198962.80%1,873.88-
198974.69%1,961.78-
198980.46%1,970.71-
198990.29%1,976.35-
198910-1.81%1,940.51-
1989112.74%1,993.62-
198912-2.21%1,949.53-
19901-2.53%1,900.27-
199022.71%1,951.71-
199030.20%1,955.53-
199043.85%2,030.84-
199053.17%2,095.22-
199060.17%2,098.77-
19907-7.86%1,933.78-
19908-4.34%1,849.84-
19909-2.32%1,807.00-
1990102.98%1,860.92-
1990114.59%1,946.27-
199012-0.69%1,932.93-
1991111.61%2,157.29-
199123.04%2,222.97-
199132.26%2,273.18-
19914-0.18%2,269.11-
199150.35%2,276.99-
199160.78%2,294.76-
199172.68%2,356.23-
19918-0.30%2,349.09-
199190.18%2,353.36-
1991100.02%2,353.73-
1991110.94%2,375.74-
1991127.36%2,550.55-
19921-0.60%2,535.22-
19922-1.01%2,509.56-
199230.26%2,516.19-
199242.07%2,568.23-
19925-1.33%2,534.10-
199261.91%2,582.56-
199270.94%2,606.88-
199280.38%2,616.73-
19929-1.18%2,585.80-
1992102.76%2,657.09-
1992113.27%2,744.01-
1992120.14%2,747.93-
199311.72%2,795.31-
199322.15%2,855.42-
19933-1.34%2,817.10-
199340.72%2,837.52-
199350.87%2,862.07-
199360.06%2,863.82-
199371.76%2,914.29-
199381.35%2,953.78-
199391.24%2,990.46-
1993100.01%2,990.69-
1993110.89%3,017.22-
1993121.74%3,069.59-
19941-0.08%3,067.27-
19942-1.42%3,023.60-
19943-3.35%2,922.42-
199441.06%2,953.34-
199451.11%2,986.07-
19946-0.52%2,970.57-
199473.08%3,062.13-
199480.82%3,087.16-
19949-0.44%3,073.45-
199410-0.37%3,062.09-
199411-1.03%3,030.68-
1994122.45%3,104.97-
199513.82%3,223.55-
199522.56%3,306.01-
199533.22%3,412.32-
199543.35%3,526.55-
199553.18%3,638.64-
199563.55%3,767.72-
199570.51%3,787.06-
199583.72%3,927.85-
199590.91%3,963.69-
1995102.36%4,057.17-
1995113.39%4,194.67-
1995120.16%4,201.49-
199615.90%4,449.56-
19962-0.20%4,440.63-
199630.20%4,449.38-
199642.35%4,554.16-
199651.28%4,612.39-
19966-3.48%4,452.04-
199673.08%4,588.97-
199682.02%4,681.84-
199694.12%4,874.71-
1996105.05%5,120.98-
1996111.20%5,182.34-
1996123.26%5,351.16-
199714.36%5,584.53-
19972-0.62%5,549.70-
19973-3.41%5,360.72-
199749.22%5,854.86-
199755.34%6,167.33-
199765.74%6,521.08-
199770.35%6,543.76-
199781.19%6,621.76-
199791.65%6,730.71-
199710-1.15%6,653.17-
1997112.63%6,828.46-
1997120.24%6,844.65-
199816.40%7,282.85-
199825.31%7,669.78-
199833.41%7,930.99-
19984-0.22%7,913.39-
199850.12%7,922.61-
199864.47%8,276.57-
19987-6.97%7,699.61-
19988-4.90%7,322.44-
199891.29%7,416.97-
19981010.97%8,230.93-
1998114.10%8,568.74-
1998125.05%9,001.26-
19991-0.07%8,995.26-
199922.92%9,258.23-
199934.25%9,651.71-
19994-0.10%9,642.17-
19995-0.61%9,583.19-
199964.52%10,016.57-
19997-3.77%9,638.51-
19998-0.60%9,580.87-
19999-1.27%9,458.96-
1999107.11%10,131.10-
1999112.81%10,415.66-
199912-0.12%10,403.27-
20001-2.48%10,145.47-
200023.94%10,545.30-
200031.42%10,695.54-
20004-2.84%10,391.91-
200053.16%10,720.66-
200060.85%10,811.82-
200070.94%10,913.42-
20008-1.08%10,795.59-
20009-5.21%10,232.69-
200010-0.77%10,153.63-
200011-3.32%9,816.52-
2000120.46%9,861.19-
20011-2.14%9,650.53-
20012-9.08%8,774.27-
200130.45%8,813.64-
200146.88%9,419.96-
20015-2.39%9,194.95-
20016-2.66%8,950.34-
20017-2.05%8,767.23-
20018-11.25%7,781.15-
200193.18%8,028.91-
2001105.05%8,434.62-
2001111.47%8,558.28-
200112-0.30%8,532.80-
20021-3.35%8,246.71-
200224.95%8,654.54-
20023-3.51%8,350.38-
20024-2.82%8,114.87-
20025-5.92%7,634.39-
20026-10.76%6,813.04-
200271.14%6,890.63-
20028-4.76%6,562.79-
20029-1.37%6,473.08-
2002106.63%6,901.95-
200211-1.04%6,830.52-
200212-0.22%6,815.32-
20031-6.41%6,378.12-
200321.31%6,461.54-
200335.29%6,803.09-
200345.31%7,164.49-
200355.70%7,573.16-
200360.60%7,618.29-
20037-0.17%7,605.62-
200383.16%7,846.05-
200392.03%8,005.15-
2003101.21%8,102.06-
2003113.06%8,350.29-
2003124.93%8,762.38-
200411.09%8,857.59-
20042-1.57%8,718.96-
200430.97%8,803.37-
20044-2.56%8,577.63-
200452.86%8,822.75-
20046-2.24%8,625.22-
20047-1.39%8,505.54-
200482.78%8,742.22-
200490.10%8,751.19-
2004104.77%9,168.96-
2004112.73%9,419.04-
200412-1.35%9,291.96-
200511.68%9,448.18-
20052-0.26%9,424.03-
20053-2.41%9,197.01-
200541.34%9,319.87-
200552.18%9,523.11-
200561.81%9,695.27-
200570.31%9,725.32-
200580.28%9,752.52-
20059-2.62%9,496.60-
2005103.96%9,872.81-
2005112.14%10,084.49-
2005121.47%10,232.41-
20061-0.02%10,230.71-
200621.49%10,382.75-
200630.80%10,465.64-
20064-0.79%10,383.31-
20065-2.71%10,102.36-
200660.72%10,175.10-
200672.29%10,408.29-
200682.53%10,671.74-
200693.62%11,057.62-
2006102.00%11,278.96-
2006112.15%11,521.26-
2006120.69%11,601.08-
200711.60%11,786.24-
20072-2.47%11,494.66-
200734.18%11,975.17-
200743.39%12,381.34-
200750.34%12,424.04-
200760.57%12,495.43-
20077-4.20%11,970.49-
200783.07%12,338.55-
200792.99%12,707.67-
200710-4.81%12,096.90-
2007111.24%12,246.69-
200712-6.64%11,434.10-
20081-1.56%11,255.27-
20082-2.63%10,959.63-
200834.24%11,424.74-
200842.56%11,717.51-
20085-4.25%11,219.92-
20086-6.08%10,537.92-
200872.11%10,760.32-
20088-4.85%10,238.71-
20089-20.19%8,171.15-
200810-8.61%7,467.99-
200811-0.35%7,441.77-
200812-1.10%7,360.24-
20091-6.70%6,866.92-
20092-5.69%6,476.36-
2009312.32%7,274.37-
200946.66%7,758.83-
200952.87%7,981.42-
200961.28%8,083.39-
200978.12%8,739.82-
200983.65%9,058.86-
200992.40%9,276.55-
2009102.09%9,470.83-
2009112.23%9,681.64-
2009121.36%9,813.01-
20101-2.90%9,528.59-
201025.94%10,094.87-
201034.09%10,507.55-
20104-5.88%9,889.45-
20105-3.54%9,539.01-
20106-0.16%9,523.84-
201070.86%9,606.09-
201083.37%9,929.92-
201094.58%10,384.46-
2010102.49%10,643.13-
2010113.71%11,038.38-
2010123.46%11,420.55-
201113.15%11,780.40-
20112-1.11%11,649.35-
201132.22%11,908.08-
201140.66%11,986.58-
20115-3.66%11,547.56-
201163.10%11,905.73-
20117-10.40%10,667.46-
20118-0.79%10,583.27-
201193.02%10,902.77-
2011101.77%11,095.43-
2011111.55%11,267.94-
2011124.78%11,806.83-
201214.16%12,298.31-
201222.88%12,652.97-
20123-0.04%12,648.13-
20124-3.09%12,257.19-
20125-1.15%12,115.93-
201262.92%12,469.85-
201273.39%12,892.29-
201283.02%13,281.79-
20129-0.22%13,252.95-
201210-2.84%12,876.90-
2012112.18%13,157.04-
2012124.27%13,718.68-
201312.33%14,038.74-
201322.72%14,420.94-
201331.45%14,630.59-
201344.57%15,299.83-
20135-1.12%15,128.82-
201363.25%15,621.18-
201370.25%15,660.63-
201381.19%15,847.38-
201392.12%16,182.95-
2013103.86%16,807.61-
2013111.52%17,063.37-
2013120.97%17,228.51-
20141-0.13%17,206.11-
201422.72%17,674.50-
201430.20%17,710.16-
201441.53%17,981.48-
201453.20%18,556.23-
201461.50%18,833.79-
20147-0.43%18,753.38-
201481.78%19,086.83-
20149-2.65%18,581.68-
2014105.71%19,641.88-
2014110.63%19,766.39-
201412-1.11%19,546.97-
201512.83%20,099.64-
201520.06%20,110.77-
201530.88%20,287.43-
201540.98%20,486.02-
20155-0.44%20,396.81-
20156-0.08%20,380.56-
20157-2.42%19,886.46-
20158-4.51%18,990.16-
201594.32%19,809.98-
2015102.93%20,390.91-
201511-1.10%20,166.00-
201512-6.42%18,871.42-
20161-0.55%18,767.64-
201626.36%19,961.78-
201632.83%20,526.95-
20164-0.30%20,464.47-
201651.07%20,682.72-
201663.30%21,364.72-
201671.20%21,620.94-
20168-0.44%21,526.09-
20169-0.51%21,417.18-
2016101.20%21,674.43-
2016113.95%22,529.70-
2016121.44%22,853.59-
201712.58%23,442.40-
201721.75%23,852.47-
20173-0.15%23,815.74-
201741.69%24,218.79-
201751.78%24,649.02-
201760.99%24,892.52-
201770.25%24,954.20-
201781.65%25,366.76-
201792.73%26,060.49-
2017101.59%26,474.74-
2017112.88%27,238.14-
2017124.86%28,562.43-
20181-2.89%27,737.92-
201820.06%27,755.83-
20183-1.66%27,293.98-
201841.96%27,829.39-
201852.11%28,417.42-
201861.58%28,866.62-
201872.45%29,574.09-
201881.68%30,070.86-
20189-3.85%28,913.43-
201810-2.08%28,313.16-
201811-5.56%26,738.24-
2018121.74%27,202.32-
201915.83%28,787.91-
201921.95%29,348.71-
201933.72%30,441.42-
20194-1.53%29,975.12-
201951.40%30,396.20-
201963.83%31,559.57-
20197-3.13%30,570.36-
201983.09%31,513.53-
201990.01%31,516.61-
2019104.43%32,913.96-
2019112.47%33,726.71-
2019123.35%34,855.34-
202010.12%34,897.90-
20202-18.92%28,296.01-
202034.32%29,518.01-
202045.89%31,255.84-
202056.51%33,290.06-
202063.48%34,447.36-
202075.89%36,477.52-
20208-0.63%36,248.81-
202091.73%36,874.46-
2020103.95%38,332.52-
2020114.26%39,965.52-
2020122.80%41,082.67-
202112.49%42,106.26-
202120.82%42,452.10-
202136.02%45,008.35-
202140.76%45,350.52-
202151.81%46,171.55-
202163.07%47,588.19-
202172.19%48,628.07-
20218-0.08%48,586.98-
202190.45%48,806.68-
2021104.74%51,122.43-
2021110.27%51,258.11-
202112-2.05%50,206.32-
20221-2.90%48,749.04-
20222-0.89%48,313.92-
202230.12%48,371.07-
20224-7.87%44,562.95-
20225-3.37%43,061.45-
202260.46%43,261.55-
202276.45%46,050.80-
20228-7.28%42,699.49-
20229-3.09%41,379.58-
2022105.29%43,566.53-
2022110.01%43,571.25-
2022121.38%44,170.99-
202313.15%45,561.04-
20232-2.59%44,383.09-
202334.00%46,156.73-
202340.74%46,497.23-
202354.94%48,795.21-
202363.88%50,686.53-
20237-1.00%50,180.87-
20238-0.95%49,702.35-
20239-3.04%48,192.74-
2023104.60%50,410.43-
2023115.18%53,019.30-
2023122.91%54,563.13-
202414.20%56,854.39-
202423.28%58,720.42-
20243-1.01%58,127.85-
202442.52%59,590.76-
202453.55%61,706.58-
202462.38%63,174.99-
20247-0.97%62,561.81-
202482.72%64,264.81-
202493.15%66,290.36-
2024102.48%67,935.55-
2024111.47%68,934.42-
202412-0.42%68,645.91-
202511.09%69,397.25-
20252-5.77%65,393.43-
20253-5.42%61,848.30-
202548.34%67,006.30-
202553.88%69,605.92-
202564.53%72,757.17-
202571.89%74,131.41-
202582.83%76,231.69-
202592.40%78,063.53-
2025100.17%78,199.66-
2025111.76%79,576.73-
2025120.18%79,716.32-
Click to show 798 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 $100.00 up-front. Instead, the capital is invested over a period of time.

Consider a strategy in which $100.00 was invested in the S&P 500 over a period of no more than 24 months beginning in 1959. This would result in a final amount of $75,795.44, including dividend reinvestments. In this particular case, dollar-cost average returns are less than the returns of a lump-sum investment (which ends with $79,716.32).

YearMonthContribution ($)Amount ($)
195914.164.10
195924.168.48
195934.1612.87
195944.1617.32
195954.1621.34
195964.1626.57
195974.1630.62
195984.1633.48
195994.1637.70
1959104.1642.12
1959114.1647.88
1959124.1651.25
196014.1653.40
196024.1656.93
196034.1662.04
196044.1665.78
196054.1672.72
196064.1675.18
196074.1680.51
196084.1682.35
196094.1685.05
1960104.1692.36
1960114.1699.10
1960124.32109.02
19611-113.79
19612-117.66
19613-121.09
19614-122.62
19615-121.30
19616-121.26
19617-125.92
19618-125.24
19619-126.92
196110-132.97
196111-134.52
196112-129.83
19621-132.31
19622-132.76
19623-128.85
19624-119.59
19625-105.94
19626-108.82
19627-112.11
19628-111.45
19629-108.26
196210-116.06
196211-121.43
196212-126.46
19631-128.48
19632-128.34
19633-134.73
19634-137.79
19635-138.08
19636-136.40
19637-140.53
19638-144.60
19639-145.32
196310-144.88
196311-148.34
196312-153.28
19641-155.55
19642-158.77
19643-161.46
19644-163.43
19645-162.86
19646-169.31
19647-167.23
19648-170.52
19649-173.88
196410-175.51
196411-172.89
196412-177.77
19651-179.50
19652-180.11
19653-182.91
19654-186.08
19655-177.69
19656-177.88
19657-181.65
19658-188.18
19659-192.88
196510-194.95
196511-194.54
196512-198.39
19661-197.54
19662-189.91
19663-196.21
19664-186.39
19665-185.35
19666-185.38
19667-174.68
19668-169.05
19669-168.10
196610-177.03
196611-178.30
196612-185.66
19671-192.59
19672-197.66
19673-201.60
19674-205.75
19675-203.71
19676-207.77
19677-211.61
19678-215.11
19679-215.32
196710-209.12
196711-215.63
196712-215.59
19681-206.41
19682-203.19
19683-218.76
19684-224.36
19685-230.95
19686-231.07
19687-226.60
19688-234.55
19689-240.92
196810-245.22
196811-248.37
196812-238.48
19691-237.91
19692-233.35
19693-238.66
19694-247.05
19695-234.76
19696-224.89
19697-224.25
19698-225.66
19699-228.70
196910-230.98
196911-219.37
196912-218.08
19701-211.11
19702-215.36
19703-209.44
19704-185.98
19705-185.48
19706-186.45
19707-192.52
19708-204.69
19709-209.79
197010-210.22
197011-225.27
197012-234.53
19711-244.26
19712-251.18
19713-260.41
19714-257.52
19715-253.42
19716-252.24
19717-248.42
19718-254.59
19719-249.85
197110-238.92
197111-256.04
197112-267.36
19721-272.94
19722-280.09
19723-283.62
19724-281.42
19725-282.87
19726-281.45
19727-292.10
19728-288.56
19729-289.76
197210-304.99
197211-312.04
197212-315.13
19731-304.65
19732-300.55
19733-295.64
19734-288.04
19735-282.31
19736-285.73
19737-281.06
19738-286.66
19739-298.80
197310-278.33
197311-259.39
197312-263.80
19741-257.27
19742-269.04
19743-256.08
19744-249.16
19745-250.30
19746-221.89
19747-213.54
19748-192.16
19749-196.73
197410-204.09
197411-191.66
197412-208.20
19751-230.70
19752-242.18
19753-245.78
19754-262.28
19755-269.87
19756-271.03
19757-252.07
19758-249.92
19759-262.35
197510-267.70
197511-264.55
197512-289.80
19761-301.91
19762-304.33
19763-307.66
19764-306.48
19765-309.24
19766-317.49
19767-315.71
19768-323.40
19769-313.35
197610-312.20
197611-324.02
197612-322.28
19771-314.65
19772-314.48
19773-310.72
19774-310.92
19775-313.72
19776-317.75
19777-311.14
19778-307.48
19779-300.73
197710-303.68
197711-303.43
197712-293.15
19781-290.30
19782-291.07
19783-305.13
19784-321.92
19785-324.09
19786-323.89
19787-347.62
19788-349.01
19789-339.33
197810-320.88
197811-327.05
197812-340.74
19791-337.14
19792-345.03
19793-353.42
19794-346.73
19795-355.11
19796-360.15
19797-378.21
19798-384.04
19799-371.17
197910-369.97
197911-386.26
197912-399.06
19801-416.60
19802-380.03
19803-375.61
19804-394.53
19805-421.61
19806-442.56
19807-458.07
19808-471.06
19809-486.72
198010-509.18
198011-502.84
198012-502.89
19811-487.45
19812-507.65
19813-514.22
19814-505.90
19815-510.24
19816-499.95
19817-503.96
19818-462.12
19819-470.10
198110-484.41
198111-490.13
198112-466.58
19821-457.65
19822-445.09
19823-469.43
19824-472.11
19825-447.22
19826-448.31
19827-451.87
19828-506.53
19829-551.52
198210-576.34
198211-584.15
198212-607.08
19831-620.01
19832-643.98
19833-671.01
19834-700.70
19835-712.98
19836-718.03
19837-700.75
19838-723.97
19839-728.66
198310-720.34
198311-719.42
198312-730.76
19841-693.40
19842-696.47
19843-700.00
19844-698.23
19845-685.33
19846-679.10
19847-741.62
19848-752.06
19849-748.96
198410-758.59
198411-753.22
198412-788.60
19851-834.24
19852-830.25
19853-838.76
19854-861.70
19855-883.34
19856-903.19
19857-886.53
19858-869.82
19859-882.82
198510-939.51
198511-989.25
198512-996.68
19861-1,053.47
19862-1,118.60
19863-1,149.27
19864-1,154.92
19865-1,191.11
19866-1,169.62
19867-1,196.30
19868-1,166.91
19869-1,165.86
198610-1,207.05
198611-1,227.68
198612-1,309.61
19871-1,394.23
19872-1,455.25
19873-1,442.79
19874-1,445.28
19875-1,510.30
19876-1,557.45
19877-1,657.97
19878-1,607.72
19879-1,417.15
198710-1,242.79
198711-1,226.20
198712-1,278.27
19881-1,320.82
19882-1,363.51
19883-1,351.43
19884-1,321.86
19885-1,401.14
19886-1,396.84
19887-1,372.84
19888-1,399.30
19889-1,452.49
198810-1,423.15
198811-1,456.25
198812-1,507.40
19891-1,557.15
19892-1,554.63
19893-1,610.05
19894-1,676.31
19895-1,733.18
19896-1,781.71
19897-1,865.28
19898-1,873.78
19899-1,879.15
198910-1,845.07
198911-1,895.56
198912-1,853.65
19901-1,806.80
19902-1,855.71
19903-1,859.35
19904-1,930.95
19905-1,992.16
19906-1,995.54
19907-1,838.67
19908-1,758.85
19909-1,718.12
199010-1,769.39
199011-1,850.54
199012-1,837.86
19911-2,051.18
19912-2,113.63
19913-2,161.37
19914-2,157.51
19915-2,164.99
19916-2,181.89
19917-2,240.34
19918-2,233.55
19919-2,237.61
199110-2,237.96
199111-2,258.89
199112-2,425.10
19921-2,410.53
19922-2,386.12
19923-2,392.43
19924-2,441.92
19925-2,409.46
19926-2,455.53
19927-2,478.66
19928-2,488.03
19929-2,458.62
199210-2,526.40
199211-2,609.04
199212-2,612.77
19931-2,657.82
19932-2,714.97
19933-2,678.54
19934-2,697.96
19935-2,721.30
19936-2,722.96
19937-2,770.95
19938-2,808.49
19939-2,843.37
199310-2,843.59
199311-2,868.82
199312-2,918.61
19941-2,916.41
19942-2,874.88
19943-2,778.68
19944-2,808.08
19945-2,839.20
19946-2,824.47
19947-2,911.52
19948-2,935.32
19949-2,922.29
199410-2,911.48
199411-2,881.61
199412-2,952.25
19951-3,065.00
19952-3,143.40
19953-3,244.48
19954-3,353.10
19955-3,459.67
19956-3,582.41
19957-3,600.79
19958-3,734.65
19959-3,768.73
199510-3,857.62
199511-3,988.36
199512-3,994.84
19961-4,230.71
19962-4,222.22
19963-4,230.54
19964-4,330.16
19965-4,385.53
19966-4,233.06
19967-4,363.26
19968-4,451.56
19969-4,634.94
199610-4,869.10
199611-4,927.45
199612-5,087.96
19971-5,309.85
19972-5,276.74
19973-5,097.05
19974-5,566.89
19975-5,863.98
19976-6,200.34
19977-6,221.90
19978-6,296.07
19979-6,399.66
199710-6,325.93
199711-6,492.60
199712-6,507.99
19981-6,924.64
19982-7,292.54
19983-7,540.90
19984-7,524.17
19985-7,532.93
19986-7,869.48
19987-7,320.90
19988-6,962.29
19989-7,052.16
199810-7,826.09
199811-8,147.28
199812-8,558.53
19991-8,552.82
19992-8,802.86
19993-9,176.99
19994-9,167.92
19995-9,111.83
19996-9,523.90
19997-9,164.44
19998-9,109.63
19999-8,993.71
199910-9,632.80
199911-9,903.36
199912-9,891.58
20001-9,646.46
20002-10,026.63
20003-10,169.47
20004-9,880.78
20005-10,193.36
20006-10,280.04
20007-10,376.64
20008-10,264.61
20009-9,729.39
200010-9,654.22
200011-9,333.69
200012-9,376.16
20011-9,175.86
20012-8,342.70
20013-8,380.14
20014-8,956.63
20015-8,742.69
20016-8,510.12
20017-8,336.01
20018-7,398.43
20019-7,634.00
200110-8,019.76
200111-8,137.33
200112-8,113.11
20021-7,841.10
20022-8,228.86
20023-7,939.66
20024-7,715.73
20025-7,258.89
20026-6,477.94
20027-6,551.71
20028-6,240.00
20029-6,154.70
200210-6,562.48
200211-6,494.55
200212-6,480.10
20031-6,064.41
20032-6,143.73
20033-6,468.48
20034-6,812.10
20035-7,200.67
20036-7,243.58
20037-7,231.53
20038-7,460.14
20039-7,611.42
200310-7,703.56
200311-7,939.58
200312-8,331.40
20041-8,421.93
20042-8,290.11
20043-8,370.37
20044-8,155.73
20045-8,388.80
20046-8,200.99
20047-8,087.20
20048-8,312.23
20049-8,320.76
200410-8,717.98
200411-8,955.76
200412-8,834.93
20051-8,983.46
20052-8,960.50
20053-8,744.65
20054-8,861.47
20055-9,054.71
20056-9,218.40
20057-9,246.98
20058-9,272.84
20059-9,029.50
200510-9,387.21
200511-9,588.48
200512-9,729.12
20061-9,727.51
20062-9,872.07
20063-9,950.88
20064-9,872.60
20065-9,605.47
20066-9,674.64
20067-9,896.36
20068-10,146.85
20069-10,513.75
200610-10,724.20
200611-10,954.58
200612-11,030.48
20071-11,206.53
20072-10,929.29
20073-11,386.17
20074-11,772.36
20075-11,812.96
20076-11,880.84
20077-11,381.71
20078-11,731.67
20079-12,082.64
200710-11,501.91
200711-11,644.33
200712-10,871.70
20081-10,701.67
20082-10,420.58
20083-10,862.81
20084-11,141.18
20085-10,668.06
20086-10,019.61
20087-10,231.07
20088-9,735.12
20089-7,769.25
200810-7,100.68
200811-7,075.74
200812-6,998.22
20091-6,529.16
20092-6,157.82
20093-6,916.57
20094-7,377.21
20095-7,588.85
20096-7,685.81
20097-8,309.95
20098-8,613.29
20099-8,820.28
200910-9,005.00
200911-9,205.44
200912-9,330.36
20101-9,059.92
20102-9,598.35
20103-9,990.73
20104-9,403.03
20105-9,069.83
20106-9,055.40
20107-9,133.61
20108-9,441.51
20109-9,873.69
201010-10,119.64
201011-10,495.46
201012-10,858.83
20111-11,200.98
20112-11,076.37
20113-11,322.37
20114-11,397.01
20115-10,979.59
20116-11,320.15
20117-10,142.78
20118-10,062.73
20119-10,366.51
201110-10,549.70
201111-10,713.72
201112-11,226.11
20121-11,693.41
20122-12,030.63
20123-12,026.03
20124-11,654.31
20125-11,520.01
20126-11,856.52
20127-12,258.18
20128-12,628.52
20129-12,601.10
201210-12,243.54
201211-12,509.91
201212-13,043.92
20131-13,348.24
20132-13,711.64
20133-13,910.98
20134-14,547.31
20135-14,384.70
20136-14,852.85
20137-14,890.35
20138-15,067.92
20139-15,386.99
201310-15,980.92
201311-16,224.10
201312-16,381.12
20141-16,359.82
20142-16,805.17
20143-16,839.07
20144-17,097.06
20145-17,643.53
20146-17,907.45
20147-17,830.99
20148-18,148.03
20149-17,667.73
201410-18,675.79
201411-18,794.17
201412-18,585.55
20151-19,111.04
20152-19,121.62
20153-19,289.58
20154-19,478.41
20155-19,393.58
20156-19,378.14
20157-18,908.33
20158-18,056.12
20159-18,835.62
201510-19,387.97
201511-19,174.13
201512-17,943.22
20161-17,844.55
20162-18,979.95
20163-19,517.32
20164-19,457.92
20165-19,665.43
20166-20,313.89
20167-20,557.51
20168-20,467.33
20169-20,363.76
201610-20,608.37
201611-21,421.56
201612-21,729.53
20171-22,289.38
20172-22,679.28
20173-22,644.35
20174-23,027.58
20175-23,436.64
20176-23,668.17
20177-23,726.82
20178-24,119.09
20179-24,778.70
201710-25,172.57
201711-25,898.42
201712-27,157.57
20181-26,373.62
20182-26,390.65
20183-25,951.52
20184-26,460.59
20185-27,019.69
20186-27,446.81
20187-28,119.47
20188-28,591.81
20189-27,491.31
201810-26,920.57
201811-25,423.11
201812-25,864.36
20191-27,371.97
20192-27,905.18
20193-28,944.15
20194-28,500.79
20195-28,901.15
20196-30,007.30
20197-29,066.74
20198-29,963.52
20199-29,966.46
201910-31,295.08
201911-32,067.85
201912-33,140.97
20201-33,181.43
20202-26,904.26
20203-28,066.15
20204-29,718.51
20205-31,652.67
20206-32,753.06
20207-34,683.36
20208-34,465.89
20209-35,060.78
202010-36,447.12
202011-37,999.80
202012-39,062.00
20211-40,035.25
20212-40,364.08
20213-42,794.60
20214-43,119.93
20215-43,900.59
20216-45,247.55
20217-46,236.28
20218-46,197.21
20219-46,406.10
202110-48,607.95
202111-48,736.96
202112-47,736.90
20221-46,351.30
20222-45,937.58
20223-45,991.92
20224-42,371.10
20225-40,943.46
20226-41,133.72
20227-43,785.77
20228-40,599.30
20229-39,344.31
202210-41,423.69
202211-41,428.18
202212-41,998.42
20231-43,320.10
20232-42,200.09
20233-43,886.50
20234-44,210.25
20235-46,395.20
20236-48,193.50
20237-47,712.70
20238-47,257.72
20239-45,822.36
202310-47,930.98
202311-50,411.52
202312-51,879.42
20241-54,057.98
20242-55,832.23
20243-55,268.81
20244-56,659.77
20245-58,671.52
20246-60,067.70
20247-59,484.68
20248-61,103.92
20249-63,029.85
202410-64,594.11
202411-65,543.85
202412-65,269.54
20251-65,983.92
20252-62,177.03
20253-58,806.27
20254-63,710.56
20255-66,182.32
20256-69,178.58
20257-70,485.23
20258-72,482.20
20259-74,223.94
202510-74,353.38
202511-75,662.71
202512-75,795.44
Click to show 798 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 1959 to 2026
Start Value
Average monthly close
$55.62
End Value
Average monthly close
$6,858.47
Change in price +12,230.94%
+7.45% / yr
Change incl. dividends +79,616.32%
+10.49% / yr
Change incl. dividends, inflation-adjusted +7,057.01%
+6.58% / yr
Final amount, nominal
($100 base)
$79,716.32
Final amount, inflation-adjusted
($100 base)
$7,157.01