S&P 500 Performance Over 10 years

S&P 500 (SPX)

For the last 10 years, S&P 500 went from $2,095.15 to about $7,173.91. All in, roughly +242.4% total return, or about 13.1% annualized. In practical terms, this was a moderate-volatility stretch with a positive total.

Price today

$7,173.91

+242.4% over 10 years

What this means

  • Same methodology as other performance pages—useful for apples-to-apples checks.
  • Two investors entering years apart often see different paths.
  • Past performance does not guarantee future results.

S&P 500 10 years shows how price evolved over this period using historical daily closing prices, including total return and (when available) CAGR.

Investors often start with index performance to benchmark other assets, then use the Compare tool to see how they stack up side by side.

Who uses this comparison?

Asset allocators, ETF investors and retirement savers use index performance pages like this to plan broad market exposure and compare benchmarks.

Want to simulate an investment in S&P 500?

Use the S&P 500 Investment Calculator to test other lump sum or monthly investment scenarios.

Open S&P 500 Calculator

Key performance metrics

Total return
242.4%
CAGR
13.1%
Max drawdown
-33.9%
Best year
28.8%
Worst year
-20.0%
Volatility
14.8%
Avg annual return
12.8%

Data through 2026-04-27.

Historical context

This page summarizes the S&P 500’s historical performance over the selected period. Returns are shaped by earnings growth, valuation changes, sector leadership, and the broader economic environment.

What to explore next

Key takeaways

S&P 500 increased 242.4% over the selected time window.

Performance insights

  • S&P 500 returned +242.4% over 10 years
  • Average annual return was +12.8%
  • Worst drawdown was -33.9%

Yearly performance

Year2017
Price$2,673.61
Annual return+19.4%
Year2018
Price$2,506.85
Annual return-6.2%
Year2019
Price$3,230.78
Annual return+28.9%
Year2020
Price$3,756.07
Annual return+16.3%
Year2021
Price$4,766.18
Annual return+26.9%
Year2022
Price$3,839.50
Annual return-19.4%
Year2023
Price$4,769.83
Annual return+24.2%
Year2024
Price$5,881.63
Annual return+23.3%
Year2025
Price$6,845.50
Annual return+16.4%
Year2026
Price$7,173.91
Annual return+4.8%

About S&P 500

The S&P 500 is a stock market index of 500 large U.S. companies. It is widely used as a benchmark for U.S. equity performance.

The S&P 500 is often used as a core holding for diversified portfolios and as a benchmark when comparing other assets.

From2016-04-27
To2026-04-27

What this shows

Based on daily closing prices from 2016-04-27 to 2026-04-27.

How performance is measured

  • Total return reflects the change in historical price over the selected period.
  • CAGR shows the compound annual growth rate over the same time window.
  • Maximum drawdown measures the largest peak-to-trough decline during the period.
  • Volatility reflects how widely returns moved over time.
  • Dividends and split adjustments may be included where supported by the data source and asset type.
  • This page is for educational and informational purposes only.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Results are nominal and do not account for inflation.

Final verdict

Best for time-window evaluation: see how this span looked in isolation, then contrast with other periods or tickers on the site. It is context, not a forecast. Educational only.

FAQ

What does total return mean?
Total return is the percentage change in price between the start and end of the selected period.
How is CAGR calculated?
CAGR is the annualized return over the full period, smoothing the result into a single yearly rate.
What is maximum drawdown?
Maximum drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough decline observed during the selected time window.
Where does the data come from?
The page uses historical daily closing prices from third-party market data providers used across CalculatorInvest tools.
Is this financial advice?
No. This page is for educational and informational purposes only.