The S&P 500 Price index returned 15.96% in 2025. Using an estimate which includes the effects of dividend reinvestment, the S&P 500 returned 17.44%.
The 2025 S&P 500 return: A solid follow-up
For the calculation I did above, I assumed you bought the open price of the S&P 500 on January 2, 2025, and sold the close price on December 31, 2025. Of course, you couldn't actually pull off those trades – but it's a reasonable estimate!
These charts give you a few other ways to estimate the annual return, including buying the close price in 2024, instead. Still impossible, but at this point I have to assume you get the idea...
S&P 500 Index Price Calculation
| Price Based On | 2025 Begin | Dec 31 Close | Return |
| Jan 2 Open | 5,903.26 | 6,845.50 | 15.96% |
| Dec 31 Close | 5,881.63 | 6,845.50 | 16.39% |
S&P 500 Total Return Price Calculation
The S&P 500 Total Return Index includes an estimate of returns with dividend reinvestment. These results are closer to what you would have experienced with reinvestment - again, ignoring fees, taxes, transaction costs, timing, slippage, etc.
| Price Based On | 2025 Begin | Dec 31 Close | Return |
| Jan 2 Open | 12,959.78 | 15,220.45 | 17.44% |
| Dec 31 Close | 12,911.82 | 15,220.45 | 17.88% |
Source on the 2025 S&P 500 Return Calculations
S&P Dow Jones Indices owns the S&P 500 Index and the corresponding Total Return index. They added the total return index in 1987. Before that, I have estimates (with a monthly resolution) you can use at my S&P 500 Periodic Reinvestment and Dividend Calculator. Alternatively, use an S&P 500 ETF or Mutual Fund in my ETF Return Calculator or Mutual Fund Return Calculator.
Here are some other calculators which highlight the S&P 500:
- S&P 500 Dividend Reinvestment Calculator
Dividend reinvestment estimates on the S&P 500 from 1871 - S&P 500 Historical Return Calculator
See the average, median, best, and worst returns on the S&P 500 over a time period.
The 2025 S&P 500 Return
You can also find the S&P 500 and the S&P 500 Total Return index at Yahoo! or at Google Finance. After two consecutive years of 20%+ gains, 2025 came back to earth a bit... just kidding, it had nearly a 16% price return (and over 17% with dividends!) which is nothing to sneeze at.
Other years, we've got them!
