S&P 500 in September
Since 1994, September has returned -0.5% on average (median +0.6%), and the S&P 500 has risen in 55% of Septembers — 12th of the 12 months by average. Total return, dividends reinvested, from SPY's month-end closes.
September 2026: -0.3% — 19th of 33 Septembers since 1994.
Every September since 1994 (total return)#
How September returns are spread#
33 Septembers since 1994, counted in 2% bins; the blue line is September 2026.
S&P 500 September returns by year#
| Year | Total return | Price return |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -0.3% | -0.6% |
| 2025 | +3.6% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | +2.1% | +1.8% |
| 2023 | -4.7% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | -9.2% | -9.6% |
| 2021 | -4.7% | -5.0% |
| 2020 | -3.7% | -4.1% |
| 2019 | +1.9% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | +0.6% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +2.0% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | +0.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | -2.6% | -3.1% |
| 2014 | -1.4% | -1.8% |
| 2013 | +3.2% | +2.7% |
| 2012 | +2.5% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | -6.9% | -7.4% |
| 2010 | +9.0% | +8.4% |
| 2009 | +3.5% | +3.1% |
| 2008 | -9.4% | -9.9% |
| 2007 | +3.9% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | +2.7% | +2.3% |
| 2005 | +0.8% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | +1.0% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | -1.1% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | -10.5% | -10.9% |
| 2001 | -8.2% | -8.5% |
| 2000 | -5.5% | -5.7% |
| 1999 | -2.2% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | +6.4% | +6.0% |
| 1997 | +4.8% | +4.4% |
| 1996 | +5.6% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | +4.2% | +3.7% |
| 1994 | -2.5% | -3.1% |
Methodology#
Each September is the return from the last close of the month before to the last close of September, from SPY's closes since 1994: total return over its dividend-adjusted closes, price return over its split-adjusted closes. The month in progress is as of the last close and moves with the tape during the session; it is shown beside the record and never averaged into it. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
ChartRow is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, S&P Global, Nasdaq, Inc., Robert Shiller, RSBB-I, LLC, or Yale University. "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.; "CAPE®" is a registered trademark of RSBB-I, LLC. They are used here only to identify the indexes and series discussed. All index-related figures on this page are independently derived from public sources — SEC filings, the public Shiller S&P 500 monthly series, and our own computations — not from any index provider's data feed.
FAQ#
- Is September a good month for the S&P 500?
- Since 1994, September has returned -0.5% on average (total return, dividends reinvested) with a median of +0.6%, and the S&P 500 rose in 18 of 33 Septembers (55%). By average return it ranks 12th of the 12 months.
- What was the S&P 500's best and worst September?
- The best September since 1994 was 2010 (+9.0%), the worst 2002 (-10.5%).
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