S&P 500
IndexS&P 500 return calculator
Calculate a lump-sum or recurring investment using monthly S&P 500 history back to 1871. Compare total return with price return, or switch to inflation-adjusted purchasing power.
A $1,000 investment in the S&P 500 in January 2016 would be worth $4,691 as of August 2026 with dividends reinvested — 15.7% a year. Use the controls above to try any amount or starting month back to January 1871.
Over the same period, the same $1,000 in the Nasdaq-100 proxy QQQ would be worth $7,568.
Growth of $1,000 in the S&P 500 by starting month#
$1,000 invested in the S&P 500, by starting year#
| Invested in | Worth today | Same in QQQ | Multiple | Annualized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $4,691 | $7,568 | 4.7× | 15.7% |
| 2017 | $3,873 | $6,256 | 3.9× | 15.2% |
| 2018 | $3,099 | $4,559 | 3.1× | 14.1% |
| 2019 | $3,253 | $4,554 | 3.3× | 16.8% |
| 2020 | $2,538 | $3,468 | 2.5× | 15.2% |
| 2021 | $2,154 | $2,398 | 2.2× | 14.7% |
| 2022 | $1,762 | $2,068 | 1.8× | 13.2% |
| 2023 | $2,003 | $2,529 | 2.0× | 21.4% |
| 2024 | $1,652 | $1,775 | 1.7× | 21.5% |
| 2025 | $1,309 | $1,409 | 1.3× | 18.6% |
Methodology#
The calculator uses a monthly S&P 500 total-return index reconstructed from Robert Shiller's public price and dividend history, with the modern tail chained to SPY's split- and dividend-adjusted returns. Price-only values use the corresponding price index. Inflation-adjusted values divide total return by CPI. Monthly contributions are fixed nominal dollar amounts; taxes, fees and transaction costs are excluded.
Monthly observations are used throughout, so results can differ slightly from a calculator using exact daily closes. Data runs from January 1871 through August 2026. See the 150-year returns analysis, the annual S&P 500 returns, or the SPY fund page. Past performance does not predict future results; not investment advice.
ChartRow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P Global, or Nasdaq, Inc. "S&P 500®" and "Dow Jones®" are registered trademarks of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC; "Nasdaq-100®" is a registered trademark of Nasdaq, Inc. They are used here only to identify the indexes discussed. All index-related figures on this page are independently derived from public sources — SEC filings, Robert Shiller's public dataset, and our own computations — not from any index provider's data feed.
FAQ#
- What would $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 10 years ago be worth?
- $1,000 invested in the S&P 500 in January 2016 would be worth about $4,691 as of August 2026, with dividends reinvested — an annualized return of 15.7%.
- Does the S&P 500 return calculator include dividends?
- Yes. Dividends reinvested is the default total-return basis. You can turn it off to see price appreciation alone. Taxes, fund fees and trading costs are excluded.
- Can the calculator adjust S&P 500 returns for inflation?
- Yes. The After inflation option deflates the dividends-reinvested total-return series by CPI, expressing the ending value in the starting investment's purchasing-power dollars.
- How far back does the S&P 500 calculator go?
- The monthly series begins January 1871. Early history is reconstructed from Robert Shiller's public S&P data; the modern tail is chained to SPY returns so it stays current.