Dow Jones
IndexWhat is the Dow Jones YTD return in 2026?
The Dow Jones is up +12.29% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Aug 28, 2026), or +11.33% on price alone — dividends have added 0.96 points so far. DIA started the year at $480.57 and closed at $535.04. That makes 2026 the 6th best start in 28 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 0.96 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily total return since the final market close of 2025, with dividends reinvested.
- High of the year
- +13.8% · Aug 5, 2026
- Low of the year
- -5.7% · Mar 27, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -9.8%
- All-time-high closes
- 25 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Aug 28 — 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 +12.3%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2017 (+12.0% then → finished +28.1%) · 2009 (+11.6% then → finished +22.3%) · 2019 (+13.3% then → finished +25.0%) · 2003 (+14.0% then → finished +27.9%) · 2024 (+10.3% then → finished +14.8%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Aug 28, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +22.4% | +27.6% |
| 2021 | +17.2% | +20.8% |
| 2013 | +15.1% | +29.6% |
| 2003 | +14.0% | +27.9% |
| 2019 | +13.3% | +25.0% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -11.8% | -14.7% |
| 2008 | -10.4% | -32.2% |
| 2022 | -10.1% | -7.0% |
| 2015 | -5.1% | +0.1% |
| 2001 | -3.3% | -5.1% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1999 | +22.4% | +27.6% |
| 2 | 2021 | +17.2% | +20.8% |
| 3 | 2013 | +15.1% | +29.6% |
| 4 | 2003 | +14.0% | +27.9% |
| 5 | 2019 | +13.3% | +25.0% |
| 6 | 2026 (now) | +12.3% | — |
| 7 | 2017 | +12.0% | +28.1% |
| 8 | 2009 | +11.6% | +22.3% |
| 9 | 2024 | +10.3% | +14.8% |
| 10 | 2012 | +9.2% | +9.7% |
| 11 | 2025 | +8.3% | +14.7% |
| 12 | 2016 | +7.4% | +16.4% |
| 13 | 2006 | +7.2% | +18.6% |
| 14 | 2018 | +6.8% | -3.7% |
| 15 | 2007 | +6.2% | +8.8% |
| 16 | 2023 | +5.6% | +16.0% |
| 17 | 2014 | +4.5% | +9.7% |
| 18 | 2020 | +2.0% | +9.6% |
| 19 | 2010 | -0.9% | +14.0% |
| 20 | 2011 | -0.9% | +8.1% |
| 21 | 2004 | -1.1% | +5.0% |
| 22 | 2000 | -1.3% | -5.9% |
| 23 | 2005 | -2.0% | +1.4% |
| 24 | 2001 | -3.3% | -5.1% |
| 25 | 2015 | -5.1% | +0.1% |
| 26 | 2022 | -10.1% | -7.0% |
| 27 | 2008 | -10.4% | -32.2% |
| 28 | 2002 | -11.8% | -14.7% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Aug 28, 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 | +1.8% | +1.8% |
| Feb | +0.3% | +2.1% |
| Mar | -5.2% | -3.3% |
| Apr | +7.3% | +3.8% |
| May | +2.9% | +6.8% |
| Jun | +2.6% | +9.5% |
| Jul | +0.4% | +10.0% |
| Aug | +2.1% | +12.3% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from DIA (the Dow Jones 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: Dow Jones returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.