What is the DAX YTD return in 2026?
The DAX is down -2.59% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Oct 12, 2026), or -4.48% on price alone — dividends have added 1.89 points so far. DAX started the year at $45.62 and closed at $43.58. That makes 2026 the 9th best start in 12 years of data through this date.
Price return vs total return#
Total return assumes distributions are reinvested; price return measures only the change in the ETF's share price. The 1.89 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily DAX price since the final market close of 2025. Hover for the close, price YTD, total return YTD with dividends reinvested, and that day's price move.
- Total-return high
- +6.7% · Aug 28, 2026
- Total-return low
- -11.3% · Mar 27, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -14.8%
- All-time-high closes
- 13 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Oct 12 — the same calendar date as the current result — so the comparison is not skewed by full-year outcomes.
Years that looked like this one
The five closest starts to 2026's -2.6%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2016 (-1.0% then → finished +2.7%) · 2015 (-4.4% then → finished -3.6%) · 2021 (+4.4% then → finished +7.7%) · 2020 (+5.0% then → finished +12.3%) · 2023 (+8.4% then → finished +23.6%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Oct 12, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +35.8% | +39.0% |
| 2017 | +26.5% | +28.2% |
| 2024 | +14.0% | +10.5% |
| 2019 | +13.4% | +22.1% |
| 2023 | +8.4% | +23.6% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -34.9% | -18.5% |
| 2018 | -15.1% | -22.9% |
| 2015 | -4.4% | -3.6% |
| 2026 (now) | -2.6% | — |
| 2016 | -1.0% | +2.7% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 | +35.8% | +39.0% |
| 2 | 2017 | +26.5% | +28.2% |
| 3 | 2024 | +14.0% | +10.5% |
| 4 | 2019 | +13.4% | +22.1% |
| 5 | 2023 | +8.4% | +23.6% |
| 6 | 2020 | +5.0% | +12.3% |
| 7 | 2021 | +4.4% | +7.7% |
| 8 | 2016 | -1.0% | +2.7% |
| 9 | 2026 (now) | -2.6% | — |
| 10 | 2015 | -4.4% | -3.6% |
| 11 | 2018 | -15.1% | -22.9% |
| 12 | 2022 | -34.9% | -18.5% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Oct 12, 2026.
2026 YTD return by month#
Monthly total return and the compounded year-to-date result after each month.
| Month | Monthly return | Cumulative YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +1.0% | +1.0% |
| Feb | +2.6% | +3.7% |
| Mar | -10.8% | -7.6% |
| Apr | +7.3% | -0.8% |
| May | +2.0% | +1.2% |
| Jun | -2.4% | -1.3% |
| Jul | +3.8% | +2.5% |
| Aug | +2.9% | +5.4% |
| Sep | -6.7% | -1.7% |
| Oct | -1.0% | -2.6% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from DAX (the DAX ETF): total return uses dividend-adjusted closes, price return uses split-adjusted closes only. “YTD through the same date” compares each year at the identical month-day, so early-year rankings aren't skewed by full-year outcomes. Data updates after each market close.
Keep going: DAX returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on DAX
- Returns by year-2.6%
- Monthly returns-1.0%
- Weekly returns-0.0%
- Trailing returns-0.3%
- Drawdown from high−8.7%