S&P 500 Monthly Total Return Monthly Trends: S&P 500 Returns (2024)

FAQs

What is the total return of the S&P 500 monthly? ›

S&P 500 Monthly Total Return is at 3.22%, compared to 5.34% last month and 3.67% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 0.72%. The S&P 500 Monthly Total Return is the investment return received each month, including dividends, when holding the S&P 500 index.

Bottom Line. Since 1957, the S&P 500's average annual rate of return has been approximately 10.5% (through March 2023) and around 6.6% after adjusting for inflation.

The SPTR is different from the standard S&P Index (SPX), which does not include dividend gains. The total return indexes follow a similar pattern in which many mutual funds operate, where all resulting cash payouts are automatically reinvested back into the fund itself.

S&P 500 Annual Total Return is at 26.29%, compared to -18.11% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 9.95%.

Take the ending balance and either add back net withdrawals or subtract out net deposits during the period. Then, divide the result by the starting balance at the beginning of the month. Subtract 1 and multiply by 100, and you'll have the percentage gain or loss that corresponds to your monthly return.

Expressed as a percentage, this figure is calculated by taking the change in accumulation unit value (AUV) during the period and dividing by the starting AUV.

The average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 10.22% over the last 30 years, as of the end of February 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 30-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 7.5%.

Imagine you wish to amass $3000 monthly from your investments, amounting to $36,000 annually. If you park your funds in a savings account offering a 2% annual interest rate, you'd need to inject roughly $1.8 million into the account.

If you want some added exposure to mid- and small-cap stocks, but not as much as the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF provides, you could simply buy both. Splitting your money between the two evenly will put most of your investments in large-cap stocks, but around 7% in mid- and small-cap stocks outside the S&P 500.

Should I put all my investments in S&P 500? ›

Investing in an S&P 500 fund can instantly diversify your portfolio and is generally considered less risky. S&P 500 index funds or ETFs will track the performance of the S&P 500, which means when the S&P 500 does well, your investment will, too. (The opposite is also true, of course.)

For investors with small-cap exposure elsewhere in their portfolios, the large- and mid-cap S&P 500 fund may suffice. But for a broader, one-stop-shopping fund, the total market index offers maximum diversification within the U.S. equity universe.

Average Market Return for the Last 30 Years

Looking at the S&P 500 for the years 1993 to mid-2023, the average stock market return for the last 30 years is 9.90% (7.22% when adjusted for inflation).

Stock market returns since 1950

This is a return on investment of 308,458.66%, or 11.43% per year. This lump-sum investment beats inflation during this period for an inflation-adjusted return of about 23,708.84% cumulatively, or 7.65% per year.

Basic Info

S&P 500 12 Month Total Return is at 29.88%, compared to 30.45% last month and -7.73% last year.

Looking at the S&P 500 for the years 1993 to mid-2023, the average stock market return for the last 30 years is 9.90% (7.22% when adjusted for inflation). Some of this success can be attributed to the dot-com boom in the late 1990s (before the bust), which resulted in high return rates for five consecutive years.

Basic Info. S&P 500 6 Month Return is at 22.53%, compared to 13.06% last month and 14.61% last year.