Historical month-by-month and year-by-year returns
Based on 42 calendar years of monthly closes, starting 1985.
| Month | Average | Median | % Positive | Best | Worst |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | +0.8% | +1.4% | 61% | +15.2% | −14.2% |
| February | −2.3% | −1.6% | 43% | +11.4% | −20.7% |
| March | +2.4% | +2.5% | 76% | +12.8% | −11.8% |
| April | +1.4% | +1.3% | 67% | +21.0% | −6.9% |
| May | −0.6% | −0.4% | 45% | +10.2% | −16.5% |
| June | +0.4% | +1.0% | 64% | +9.7% | −14.7% |
| July | +1.4% | +2.8% | 60% | +9.4% | −18.0% |
| August | +0.5% | 0.0% | 51% | +21.3% | −7.6% |
| September | +0.3% | +1.0% | 66% | +14.6% | −27.1% |
| October | +2.4% | +2.2% | 76% | +14.6% | −9.2% |
| November | −1.0% | −0.6% | 44% | +7.2% | −10.4% |
| December | +1.6% | +1.5% | 61% | +13.4% | −8.0% |
| Year | Return |
|---|---|
| 2025 | +8.8% |
| 2024 | +11.0% |
| 2023 | −5.8% |
| 2022 | −1.8% |
| 2021 | +14.6% |
| 2020 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | +5.7% |
| 2018 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | +8.4% |
| 2016 | +8.7% |
| 2015 | −14.5% |
| 2014 | +21.1% |
| 2013 | +8.2% |
| 2012 | −3.3% |
| 2011 | +23.5% |
| 2010 | +3.5% |
| 2009 | +14.7% |
| 2008 | −25.6% |
| 2007 | +4.5% |
| 2006 | +21.0% |
| 2005 | +8.4% |
| 2004 | +23.9% |
| 2003 | +4.7% |
| 2002 | −50.2% |
| 2001 | −7.9% |
| 2000 | +70.1% |
| 1999 | −21.8% |
| 1998 | +15.7% |
| 1997 | +19.7% |
| 1996 | −2.4% |
| 1995 | +24.3% |
| 1994 | −10.0% |
| 1993 | +17.3% |
| 1992 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | +14.3% |
| 1990 | +9.1% |
| 1989 | +21.4% |
| 1988 | +7.9% |
| 1987 | −5.2% |
| 1986 | +27.9% |
| 1985 | +20.9% |
These are historical patterns, not a forecast — past calendar-month performance does not predict future returns.