Historical Investment Returns Calculator
Introduction to Historical Investment Calculator
Data updated through year-end 2025 as noted below. The U.S. markets did well in 2025. The S&P 500 Index was up about 16%. Gold closed above $4,600 an ounce for the first time and had an ROI of about 75% for the year. Wheat, down in 2023 and flat in 2024 was down again in 2025 - about 9%. Interest rates, as represented by the U.S. 10-year Treasury were down about 40 basis points in 2025 (4.58% -> 4.18%).
You can use this Historical Investment Calculator to compare investment returns across multiple asset classes. The calculator includes historical price data for 14 widely followed indices, with some series extending back more than 100 years. The calculator compares nominal returns or inflation-adjusted returns. Inflation adjustments use U.S. Consumer Price Index data.
Why review historical investment returns?
Calculate and compare return-on-investment using 15 stock, bond, real estate & commodity indices.
- Invest single amount or series
- Adjust for inflation
- Compare: stocks, bonds, commodities, housing
- A great research and learning tool
The answer is not always obvious.
A category of traders known as chartists use historical price patterns to help predict future movements.
Although you could use this calculator to explore such ideas, there are specialized tools that are better suited for trading analysis.
Instead, this calculator is intended for long-term investors. It provides a high-level overview of how different asset classes have performed over time. I designed it especially for:
- Millennials and Gen Z, and
- bloggers, parents, and anyone who wants to teach or learn about the benefits of long-term investing.
According to an Ally Financial survey cited by Andrea Coombes in Forbes, 66% of people ages 18–29 (and 65% of those 30–39) say that investing in the stock market is scary or intimidating.
Many younger investors lack long-term experience. They were coming of age during the Great Recession and saw firsthand the impact on household finances. Some saw college funds decline. Others saw parents or neighbors lose their homes. Some experienced both.
Recessions can be stressful to live through.
However, this calculator shows that recessions are typically short interruptions in a long investing timeline. History suggests that the greater risk is not investing.
Long-term investing is usually uneventful. Before coding this calculator, I spent time considering its design and the lessons it might reveal.
I expected the analysis to show that one investment might outperform others when interest rates are rising.
I also expected that a different investment might be preferable when interest rates are falling.
While that may occur over shorter periods, the Historical Investment Calculator demonstrates that the consistent act of investing is critical for long-term financial security. In most cases, investing regularly—more than choosing any single asset—shapes financial outcomes. More below…
The Calculator-Calculate and compare historical returns for different assets
To set your preferred currency and date format, click the “$ : MM/DD/YYYY” link in the lower-right corner of any calculator.