- Dow Jones historical returns since inception (1897).
- Dow Jones (DJIA) annual returns calculated from closing index values as on last trading day of December.
- Dow Jones (DJIA) yearly rolling return is absolute return.
- Dow Jones (DJIA) historical 5, 10 years rolling return is compound return (CAGR).
Dow Jones Yearly Returns
| Year | DJIA | Yearly Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 49 | |
| 1898 | 61 | 22% |
| 1899 | 66 | 9% |
| 1900 | 71 | 8% |
| 1901 | 65 | -9% |
| 1902 | 64 | -0.4% |
| 1903 | 49 | -24% |
| 1904 | 70 | 43% |
| 1905 | 97 | 38% |
| 1906 | 94 | -2% |
| 1907 | 59 | -38% |
| 1908 | 86 | 47% |
| 1909 | 99 | 15% |
| 1910 | 81 | -18% |
| 1911 | 82 | 0% |
| 1912 | 88 | 8% |
| 1913 | 79 | -10% |
| 1914 | 55 | -31% |
| 1915 | 99 | 82% |
| 1916 | 95 | -4% |
| 1917 | 74 | -22% |
| 1918 | 82 | 11% |
| 1919 | 107 | 30% |
| 1920 | 72 | -33% |
| 1921 | 81 | 12% |
| 1922 | 98 | 21% |
| 1923 | 96 | -3% |
| 1924 | 121 | 26% |
| 1925 | 157 | 30% |
| 1926 | 157 | 0% |
| 1927 | 201 | 28% |
| 1928 | 300 | 49% |
| 1929 | 248 | -17% |
| 1930 | 165 | -34% |
| 1931 | 78 | -53% |
| 1932 | 60 | -23% |
| 1933 | 99 | 64% |
| 1934 | 104 | 5% |
| 1935 | 144 | 39% |
| 1936 | 180 | 25% |
| 1937 | 121 | -33% |
| 1938 | 154 | 28% |
| 1939 | 150 | -3% |
| 1940 | 131 | -13% |
| 1941 | 111 | -15% |
| 1942 | 119 | 8% |
| 1943 | 136 | 14% |
| 1944 | 152 | 12% |
| 1945 | 193 | 27% |
| 1946 | 177 | -8% |
| 1947 | 181 | 2% |
| 1948 | 177 | -2% |
| 1949 | 201 | 13% |
| 1950 | 235 | 17% |
| 1951 | 269 | 14% |
| 1952 | 292 | 8% |
| 1953 | 281 | -4% |
| 1954 | 404 | 44% |
| 1955 | 488 | 21% |
| 1956 | 499 | 2% |
| 1957 | 436 | -13% |
| 1958 | 584 | 34% |
| 1959 | 679 | 16% |
| 1960 | 616 | -9% |
| 1961 | 731 | 19% |
| 1962 | 652 | -11% |
| 1963 | 763 | 17% |
| 1964 | 874 | 15% |
| 1965 | 969 | 11% |
| 1966 | 786 | -19% |
| 1967 | 905 | 15% |
| 1968 | 944 | 4% |
| 1969 | 800 | -15% |
| 1970 | 839 | 5% |
| 1971 | 890 | 6% |
| 1972 | 1,020 | 15% |
| 1973 | 851 | -17% |
| 1974 | 616 | -28% |
| 1975 | 852 | 38% |
| 1976 | 1,005 | 18% |
| 1977 | 831 | -17% |
| 1978 | 805 | -3% |
| 1979 | 839 | 4% |
| 1980 | 964 | 15% |
| 1981 | 875 | -9% |
| 1982 | 1,047 | 20% |
| 1983 | 1,259 | 20% |
| 1984 | 1,212 | -4% |
| 1985 | 1,547 | 28% |
| 1986 | 1,896 | 23% |
| 1987 | 1,939 | 2% |
| 1988 | 2,169 | 12% |
| 1989 | 2,753 | 27% |
| 1990 | 2,634 | -4% |
| 1991 | 3,169 | 20% |
| 1992 | 3,301 | 4% |
| 1993 | 3,754 | 14% |
| 1994 | 3,834 | 2% |
| 1995 | 5,117 | 33% |
| 1996 | 6,448 | 26% |
| 1997 | 7,908 | 23% |
| 1998 | 9,181 | 16% |
| 1999 | 11,497 | 25% |
| 2000 | 10,787 | -6% |
| 2001 | 10,022 | -7% |
| 2002 | 8,342 | -17% |
| 2003 | 10,454 | 25% |
| 2004 | 10,783 | 3% |
| 2005 | 10,718 | -1% |
| 2006 | 12,463 | 16% |
| 2007 | 13,265 | 6% |
| 2008 | 8,776 | -34% |
| 2009 | 10,428 | 19% |
| 2010 | 11,578 | 11% |
| 2011 | 12,218 | 6% |
| 2012 | 13,104 | 7% |
| 2013 | 16,577 | 26% |
| 2014 | 17,823 | 8% |
| 2015 | 17,425 | -2% |
| 2016 | 19,763 | 13% |
| 2017 | 24,719 | 25% |
| 2018 | 23,327 | -6% |
Dow Jones 5 Year Returns
| Year | DJIA | 5 Years Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 49 | |
| 1898 | 61 | |
| 1899 | 66 | |
| 1900 | 71 | |
| 1901 | 65 | |
| 1902 | 64 | 5% |
| 1903 | 49 | -4% |
| 1904 | 70 | 1% |
| 1905 | 97 | 6% |
| 1906 | 94 | 8% |
| 1907 | 59 | -2% |
| 1908 | 86 | 12% |
| 1909 | 99 | 7% |
| 1910 | 81 | -3% |
| 1911 | 82 | -3% |
| 1912 | 88 | 8% |
| 1913 | 79 | -2% |
| 1914 | 55 | -11% |
| 1915 | 99 | 4% |
| 1916 | 95 | 3% |
| 1917 | 74 | -3% |
| 1918 | 82 | 1% |
| 1919 | 107 | 14% |
| 1920 | 72 | -6% |
| 1921 | 81 | -3% |
| 1922 | 98 | 6% |
| 1923 | 96 | 3% |
| 1924 | 121 | 2% |
| 1925 | 157 | 17% |
| 1926 | 157 | 14% |
| 1927 | 201 | 15% |
| 1928 | 300 | 26% |
| 1929 | 248 | 16% |
| 1930 | 165 | 1% |
| 1931 | 78 | -13% |
| 1932 | 60 | -21% |
| 1933 | 99 | -20% |
| 1934 | 104 | -16% |
| 1935 | 144 | -3% |
| 1936 | 180 | 18% |
| 1937 | 121 | 15% |
| 1938 | 154 | 9% |
| 1939 | 150 | 8% |
| 1940 | 131 | -2% |
| 1941 | 111 | -9% |
| 1942 | 119 | -0.2% |
| 1943 | 136 | -3% |
| 1944 | 152 | 0.3% |
| 1945 | 193 | 8% |
| 1946 | 177 | 10% |
| 1947 | 181 | 9% |
| 1948 | 177 | 5% |
| 1949 | 201 | 6% |
| 1950 | 235 | 4% |
| 1951 | 269 | 9% |
| 1952 | 292 | 10% |
| 1953 | 281 | 10% |
| 1954 | 404 | 15% |
| 1955 | 488 | 16% |
| 1956 | 499 | 13% |
| 1957 | 436 | 8% |
| 1958 | 584 | 16% |
| 1959 | 679 | 11% |
| 1960 | 616 | 5% |
| 1961 | 731 | 8% |
| 1962 | 652 | 8% |
| 1963 | 763 | 6% |
| 1964 | 874 | 5% |
| 1965 | 969 | 9% |
| 1966 | 786 | 1% |
| 1967 | 905 | 7% |
| 1968 | 944 | 4% |
| 1969 | 800 | -2% |
| 1970 | 839 | -3% |
| 1971 | 890 | 3% |
| 1972 | 1,020 | 2% |
| 1973 | 851 | -2% |
| 1974 | 616 | -5% |
| 1975 | 852 | 0.3% |
| 1976 | 1,005 | 2% |
| 1977 | 831 | -4% |
| 1978 | 805 | -1% |
| 1979 | 839 | 6% |
| 1980 | 964 | 2% |
| 1981 | 875 | -3% |
| 1982 | 1,047 | 5% |
| 1983 | 1,259 | 9% |
| 1984 | 1,212 | 8% |
| 1985 | 1,547 | 10% |
| 1986 | 1,896 | 17% |
| 1987 | 1,939 | 13% |
| 1988 | 2,169 | 11% |
| 1989 | 2,753 | 18% |
| 1990 | 2,634 | 11% |
| 1991 | 3,169 | 11% |
| 1992 | 3,301 | 11% |
| 1993 | 3,754 | 12% |
| 1994 | 3,834 | 7% |
| 1995 | 5,117 | 14% |
| 1996 | 6,448 | 15% |
| 1997 | 7,908 | 19% |
| 1998 | 9,181 | 20% |
| 1999 | 11,497 | 25% |
| 2000 | 10,787 | 16% |
| 2001 | 10,022 | 9% |
| 2002 | 8,342 | 1% |
| 2003 | 10,454 | 3% |
| 2004 | 10,783 | -1% |
| 2005 | 10,718 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 12,463 | 4% |
| 2007 | 13,265 | 10% |
| 2008 | 8,776 | -3% |
| 2009 | 10,428 | -1% |
| 2010 | 11,578 | 2% |
| 2011 | 12,218 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 13,104 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 16,577 | 14% |
| 2014 | 17,823 | 11% |
| 2015 | 17,425 | 9% |
| 2016 | 19,763 | 10% |
| 2017 | 24,719 | 14% |
| 2018 | 23,327 | 7% |
Dow Jones 10 Year Returns
| Year | DJIA | 10 Years Return |
|---|---|---|
| 1897 | 49 | |
| 1898 | 61 | |
| 1899 | 66 | |
| 1900 | 71 | |
| 1901 | 65 | |
| 1902 | 64 | |
| 1903 | 49 | |
| 1904 | 70 | |
| 1905 | 97 | |
| 1906 | 94 | |
| 1907 | 59 | 2% |
| 1908 | 86 | 4% |
| 1909 | 99 | 4% |
| 1910 | 81 | 1% |
| 1911 | 82 | 2% |
| 1912 | 88 | 3% |
| 1913 | 79 | 5% |
| 1914 | 55 | -2% |
| 1915 | 99 | 0.3% |
| 1916 | 95 | 0.1% |
| 1917 | 74 | 2% |
| 1918 | 82 | -0.5% |
| 1919 | 107 | 1% |
| 1920 | 72 | -1% |
| 1921 | 81 | -0.1% |
| 1922 | 98 | 1% |
| 1923 | 96 | 2% |
| 1924 | 121 | 8% |
| 1925 | 157 | 5% |
| 1926 | 157 | 5% |
| 1927 | 201 | 10% |
| 1928 | 300 | 14% |
| 1929 | 248 | 9% |
| 1930 | 165 | 9% |
| 1931 | 78 | -0.4% |
| 1932 | 60 | -5% |
| 1933 | 99 | 0.3% |
| 1934 | 104 | -1% |
| 1935 | 144 | -1% |
| 1936 | 180 | 1% |
| 1937 | 121 | -5% |
| 1938 | 154 | -6% |
| 1939 | 150 | -5% |
| 1940 | 131 | -2% |
| 1941 | 111 | 4% |
| 1942 | 119 | 7% |
| 1943 | 136 | 3% |
| 1944 | 152 | 4% |
| 1945 | 193 | 3% |
| 1946 | 177 | -0.2% |
| 1947 | 181 | 4% |
| 1948 | 177 | 1% |
| 1949 | 201 | 3% |
| 1950 | 235 | 6% |
| 1951 | 269 | 9% |
| 1952 | 292 | 9% |
| 1953 | 281 | 8% |
| 1954 | 404 | 10% |
| 1955 | 488 | 10% |
| 1956 | 499 | 11% |
| 1957 | 436 | 9% |
| 1958 | 584 | 13% |
| 1959 | 679 | 13% |
| 1960 | 616 | 10% |
| 1961 | 731 | 11% |
| 1962 | 652 | 8% |
| 1963 | 763 | 11% |
| 1964 | 874 | 8% |
| 1965 | 969 | 7% |
| 1966 | 786 | 5% |
| 1967 | 905 | 8% |
| 1968 | 944 | 5% |
| 1969 | 800 | 2% |
| 1970 | 839 | 3% |
| 1971 | 890 | 2% |
| 1972 | 1,020 | 5% |
| 1973 | 851 | 1% |
| 1974 | 616 | -3% |
| 1975 | 852 | -1% |
| 1976 | 1,005 | 2% |
| 1977 | 831 | -1% |
| 1978 | 805 | -2% |
| 1979 | 839 | 0.5% |
| 1980 | 964 | 1% |
| 1981 | 875 | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 1,047 | 0.3% |
| 1983 | 1,259 | 4% |
| 1984 | 1,212 | 7% |
| 1985 | 1,547 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1,896 | 7% |
| 1987 | 1,939 | 9% |
| 1988 | 2,169 | 10% |
| 1989 | 2,753 | 13% |
| 1990 | 2,634 | 11% |
| 1991 | 3,169 | 14% |
| 1992 | 3,301 | 12% |
| 1993 | 3,754 | 12% |
| 1994 | 3,834 | 12% |
| 1995 | 5,117 | 13% |
| 1996 | 6,448 | 13% |
| 1997 | 7,908 | 15% |
| 1998 | 9,181 | 16% |
| 1999 | 11,497 | 15% |
| 2000 | 10,787 | 15% |
| 2001 | 10,022 | 12% |
| 2002 | 8,342 | 10% |
| 2003 | 10,454 | 11% |
| 2004 | 10,783 | 11% |
| 2005 | 10,718 | 8% |
| 2006 | 12,463 | 7% |
| 2007 | 13,265 | 5% |
| 2008 | 8,776 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 10,428 | -1% |
| 2010 | 11,578 | 1% |
| 2011 | 12,218 | 2% |
| 2012 | 13,104 | 5% |
| 2013 | 16,577 | 5% |
| 2014 | 17,823 | 5% |
| 2015 | 17,425 | 5% |
| 2016 | 19,763 | 5% |
| 2017 | 24,719 | 6% |
| 2018 | 23,327 | 10% |
Warren Buffett
The Dow Jones Industrials advanced from 66 to 11,497 in the 20th Century, a staggering 17,320% increase that materialized despite four costly wars, a Great Depression and many recessions.
And don’t forget that shareholders received substantial dividends throughout the century as well.
