Long-Term Treasury Bonds returns by year
Long-Term Treasury Bonds has returned +2.2% annually (CAGR) since 2003. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for Long-Term Treasury Bonds (proxied by TLT, dividends reinvested) below, through September 4, 2026 — the most recent year is Through September 4, 2026; the running year is year-to-date.
- Annualized
- +2.2%
- 2003–2026
- Average year
- +3.1%
- 23 full years
- Best year
- +30.2%
- 2011
- Worst year
- -31.2%
- 2022
- Positive years
- 14/23
- 61% up
Long-Term Treasury Bonds returns by year (2003–2026)#
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.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $87.16 | $82.22 | +2.9% | -2.8% | |
| 2025 | $87.33 | $87.16 | +4.4% | +4.2% | |
| 2024 | $98.88 | $87.33 | +3.6% | -8.1% | |
| 2023 | $99.56 | $98.88 | +3.5% | +2.8% | |
| 2022 | $148.19 | $99.56 | +1.6% | -31.2% | |
| 2021 | $157.73 | $148.19 | +1.4% | -4.6% | |
| 2020 | $135.48 | $157.73 | +1.7% | +18.2% | |
| 2019 | $121.51 | $135.48 | +2.6% | +14.1% | |
| 2018 | $126.86 | $121.51 | +2.6% | -1.6% | |
| 2017 | $119.13 | $126.86 | +2.7% | +9.2% | |
| 2016 | $120.58 | $119.13 | +2.4% | +1.2% | |
| 2015 | $125.92 | $120.58 | +2.5% | -1.8% | |
| 2014 | $101.86 | $125.92 | +3.7% | +27.3% | |
| 2013 | $121.18 | $101.86 | +2.6% | -13.4% | |
| 2012 | $121.25 | $121.18 | +0.9% | +0.8% | |
| 2011 | $94.12 | $121.25 | +1.4% | +30.2% | |
| 2010 | $89.89 | $94.12 | +0.0% | +4.7% | |
| 2009 | $119.35 | $89.89 | +0.0% | -24.7% | |
| 2008 | $93.04 | $119.35 | +0.0% | +28.3% | |
| 2007 | $88.43 | $93.04 | +0.8% | +6.0% | |
| 2006 | $91.9 | $88.43 | +3.3% | -0.4% | |
| 2005 | $88.55 | $91.9 | +0.9% | +4.7% | |
| 2004 | $85.45 | $88.55 | +2.9% | +6.6% | |
| 2003 | $88.57 | $85.45 | +3.0% | -0.5% |
Total return by period#
Methodology#
Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from TLT's split- and dividend-adjusted closes — a standard proxy for Long-Term Treasury Bonds. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.
FAQ#
- What is Long-Term Treasury Bonds's average annual return?
- Since 2003, Long-Term Treasury Bonds (proxied by TLT, dividends reinvested) has returned about 2.2% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 3.1%.
- What were Long-Term Treasury Bonds's best and worst years?
- Over 2003–2026, the best year was 2011 (+30.2%) and the worst was 2022 (-31.2%).
- How often is Long-Term Treasury Bonds up in a year?
- 14 of the 23 full years since 2003 were positive — about 61% of the time.