US Stock Market total returns by year (including dividends)
As of market close, Oct 13, 2026
US Stock Market total returns by year (2002–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.
See every year as a chart, with the events that moved it → Or click a year below for its own chart.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $335.27 | $381.32 | chart → | 1.0% | +14.7% |
| 2025 | $289.81 | $335.27 | chart → | 1.4% | +17.1% |
| 2024 | $237.22 | $289.81 | chart → | 1.6% | +23.8% |
| 2023 | $191.19 | $237.22 | chart → | 2.0% | +26.0% |
| 2022 | $241.44 | $191.19 | chart → | 1.3% | -19.5% |
| 2021 | $194.64 | $241.44 | chart → | 1.6% | +25.7% |
| 2020 | $163.62 | $194.64 | chart → | 2.1% | +21.1% |
| 2019 | $127.63 | $163.62 | chart → | 2.5% | +30.7% |
| 2018 | $137.25 | $127.63 | chart → | 1.8% | -5.2% |
| 2017 | $115.32 | $137.25 | chart → | 2.2% | +21.2% |
| 2016 | $104.30 | $115.32 | chart → | 2.3% | +12.8% |
| 2015 | $106.00 | $104.30 | chart → | 2.0% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | $95.92 | $106.00 | chart → | 2.0% | +12.5% |
| 2013 | $73.28 | $95.92 | chart → | 2.6% | +33.4% |
| 2012 | $64.30 | $73.28 | chart → | 2.5% | +16.5% |
| 2011 | $64.93 | $64.30 | chart → | 1.9% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | $56.37 | $64.93 | chart → | 2.2% | +17.4% |
| 2009 | $44.74 | $56.37 | chart → | 2.9% | +28.9% |
| 2008 | $72.58 | $44.74 | chart → | 1.4% | -37.0% |
| 2007 | $70.11 | $72.58 | chart → | 1.8% | +5.4% |
| 2006 | $61.67 | $70.11 | chart → | 2.0% | +15.7% |
| 2005 | $59.03 | $61.67 | chart → | 1.8% | +6.3% |
| 2004 | $53.23 | $59.03 | chart → | 1.9% | +12.8% |
| 2003 | $41.32 | $53.23 | chart → | 1.9% | +30.7% |
| 2002 | $52.70 | $41.32 | chart → | 1.1% | -20.5% |
- Annualized
- +9.7%
- 2002–2026
- Positive years
- 20/24
- 83% up
Annualized (CAGR)
+9.7%
2002–2026
Average year
+11.5%
24 full years
US Stock Market average annual return →
Best year
+33.4%
2013
2013 chart & events →
Worst year
-37.0%
2008
2008 chart & events →
Positive years
20/24
83% up
Total return by period#
Annual
-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%30%
2002-20%'02
2003+31%
2004+13%'04
2005+6.3%
2006+16%'06
2007+5.4%
2008-37%'08
2009+29%
2010+17%'10
2011+0.97%
2012+16%'12
2013+33%
2014+13%'14
2015+0.36%
2016+13%'16
2017+21%
2018-5.2%'18
2019+31%
2020+21%'20
2021+26%
2022-20%'22
2023+26%
2024+24%'24
2025+17%
2026+15%'26
Methodology#
Total returns, dividends reinvested, measured on VTI. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate; the current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns.
FAQ#
- What is US Stock Market's average annual return?
- Since 2002, the US Stock Market (proxied by VTI, dividends reinvested) has returned about 9.7% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 11.5%.
- What were US Stock Market's best and worst years?
- Over 2002–2026, the best year was 2013 (+33.4%) and the worst was 2008 (-37.0%).
- How often is US Stock Market up in a year?
- 20 of the 24 full years since 2002 were positive — about 83% of the time.
More on US Stock Market
- Yearly charts+17.1%
- Trailing returns+18.0%
- YTD return+14.7%
- Return calculator$1,812
- Average return10%?
- Companies & weights3477
- Stock performance3477
- Dividend yield1.06%
All 20 US Stock Market pages →Annual returns for: S&P 500 · S&P 500 Equal Weight · Nasdaq-100 · Dow JonesTracked by VTI, ITOT, SCHB · all US Stock Market ETFs compared · VTI vs VOO · VTI vs VOO vs SPY · VTI vs VXUS · VTI vs VT