If you'd put $1,000 in U.S. small caps in March 2009…
…it would be worth about $8,672 today — roughly 8.7× your money, about 13.5% a year. (price return only)
How this is calculated
We take the closing price of U.S. small caps on March 9, 2009 ($29.22) and the most recent close on March 10, 2026 ($253.39), a span of 17.0 years. The $1,000 grows in proportion to that price change.
This reflects the change in the index level only and excludes dividends. Including reinvested dividends, the total return would be meaningfully higher. Daily closing prices are sourced from public market data. Figures are nominal (not inflation-adjusted).
Common questions
Is this adjusted for inflation?
No. These are nominal figures — what the position would be worth in today's dollars, not adjusted for inflation. In real, inflation-adjusted terms the gain would be smaller.
Does this include dividends?
No. This tracks the price level of U.S. small caps and excludes dividends. With dividends reinvested, the total return would be higher.
Could I have actually bought this?
You can't buy an index directly, but low-cost index funds and ETFs aim to track U.S. small caps. Real-world results would differ slightly because of fees, tracking error, and timing.
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Explore gifting a share that can grow →Past performance does not predict future results. Historical figures are for illustration only and are not investment advice.