September 26, 2023
London, UK

S&P 500 Annual Returns

S&P 500 Annual Returns

Looking at the S&P 500 annual returns from 1928 to 2021, we can extract some critical hints about the returns of the most important stock index in the world.

2022 was the seventh-worst year in the history of the S&P 500 index.

The five worst years in the history of the S&P 500:

1931 -47.07%

1937 -38.59%

2008 -38.49%

1974 -29.72%

1930 -28.48%

The five best years in the history of the S&P 500 were:

1928 37.88%

1958 38.06%

1935 41.37%

1954 45.02%

1933 46.59%

The longest winning streak for the index was from 1982 to 1989; 8 years in a row with gains.

1989 27.25%

1988 12.40%

1987 2.03%

1986 14.62%

1985 26.33%

1984 1.40%

1983 17.27%

1982 14.76%

It was only one time in the S&P 500 history that the index had 4 negative years in a row:

1932 -15.15%

1931 -47.07%

1930 -28.48%

1929 -11.91%

On two occasions we had three negative years in a row:

2002 -23.37%

2001 -13.04%

2000 -10.14%

and

1941 – 17,86%

1940 -15,29%

1939 -5,45%

Two negative years in a row the index had only in 1973-1974:

1974 -29.72%

1973 -17.37%

Table of annual returns of the S&P 500 since 1928

Year
Annual Return
2022-19,44%
202126.89%
202016.26%
201928.88%
2018-6.24%
201719.42%
20169.54%
2015-0.73%
201411.39%
201329.60%
201213.41%
20110.00%
201012.78%
200923.45%
2008-38.49%
20073.53%
200613.62%
20053.00%
20048.99%
200326.38%
2002-23.37%
2001-13.04%
2000-10.14%
199919.53%
199826.67%
199731.01%
199620.26%
199534.11%
1994-1.54%
19937.06%
19924.46%
199126.31%
1990-6.56%
198927.25%
198812.40%
19872.03%
198614.62%
198526.33%
19841.40%
198317.27%
198214.76%
1981-9.73%
198025.77%
197912.31%
19781.06%
1977-11.50%
197619.15%
197531.55%
1974-29.72%
1973-17.37%
197215.63%
197110.79%
19700.10%
1969-11.36%
19687.66%
196720.09%
1966-13.09%
19659.06%
196412.97%
196318.89%
1962-11.81%
196123.13%
1960-2.97%
19598.48%
195838.06%
1957-14.31%
19562.62%
195526.40%
195445.02%
1953-6.62%
195211.78%
195116.46%
195021.78%
194910.26%
1948-0.65%
19470.00%
1946-11.87%
194530.72%
194413.80%
194319.45%
194212.43%
1941-17.86%
1940-15.29%
1939-5.45%
193825.21%
1937-38.59%
193627.92%
193541.37%
1934-5.94%
193346.59%
1932-15.15%
1931-47.07%
1930-28.48%
1929-11.91%
192837.88%

S&P 500 is the main benchmark of the performance of the U.S. stock market starting back in the 1920s

S&P 500 εntire history mean annual return is 11.2%

The S&P 500 index gained value in 63 years and lost value in 30 years. The index finished unchanged two years.

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