FIREscape

Historical Returns Explorer

See how any asset class actually performed — annualized (CAGR), total, and year by year — over any period back to 1928. Real US market data, computed in your browser.

1928
2026

Annualized return (CAGR)

9.5%

US Equities — S&P 500 · 1928–2026 · 99 years

Total return — dividends & interest reinvested

$10,000 became

$81,705,017

Total return: 816950.2%

Total return

816950.2%

Best year

1954 · 52.6%

Worst year

1931 · -43.8%

Positive years

71 / 99

Growth of $10,000

Year-by-year returns

YearReturn
20268.9%
202516.4%
202423.3%
202324.2%
2022-19.4%
202126.9%
202016.3%
201928.9%
2018-6.2%
201719.4%
20169.5%
2015-0.7%
201411.4%
201329.6%
201213.4%
20110.0%
201012.8%
200923.4%
2008-38.5%
20073.5%
200613.6%
20053.0%
20049.0%
200326.4%
2002-23.4%
2001-13.0%
2000-10.1%
199921.0%
199828.6%
199733.4%
199622.9%
199537.4%
19941.3%
199310.0%
19927.6%
199130.2%
1990-3.1%
198931.5%
198816.5%
19875.8%
198618.5%
198532.2%
19846.3%
198322.5%
198221.4%
1981-4.9%
198032.4%
197918.4%
19786.6%
1977-7.2%
197623.8%
197537.2%
1974-26.5%
1973-14.7%
197219.0%
197114.3%
19704.0%
1969-8.2%
196810.8%
196723.8%
1966-10.0%
196512.4%
196416.4%
196322.6%
1962-8.8%
196126.6%
19600.3%
195912.1%
195843.7%
1957-10.5%
19567.4%
195532.6%
195452.6%
1953-1.2%
195218.1%
195123.7%
195030.8%
194918.3%
19485.6%
19475.2%
1946-8.4%
194535.7%
194419.4%
194325.3%
194219.2%
1941-12.8%
1940-10.7%
1939-1.1%
193829.3%
1937-35.3%
193631.9%
193546.7%
1934-1.2%
193350.0%
1932-8.6%
1931-43.8%
1930-25.1%
1929-8.3%
192843.8%

How this is calculated

Annualized return (CAGR) is the constant yearly rate that compounds the starting value into the ending value over the period, using each year's actual total return. Real return divides each year's growth by that year's US CPI inflation to show purchasing power.

All figures are nominal USD total returns (price change plus reinvested dividends or interest) unless the real-return toggle is on. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Related tools