DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE SEPTEMBER RETURN · POS / NEG
S&P 500 INDEX SEPTEMBER RETURN · POS / NEG
NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX SEPTEMBER RETURN · POS / NEG
25-YEAR SUMMARY
DOW JONES
S&P 500
NASDAQ
AVERAGE RETURN
-1.09%
-1.16%
-1.33%
MEDIAN RETURN
-0.3%
+0.4%
0.0%
POSITIVE SEPTEMBERS
12 of 25 (48%)
13 of 25 (52%)
12 of 25 (48%)*
NEGATIVE SEPTEMBERS
13 of 25 (52%)
12 of 25 (48%)
12 of 25 (48%)*
BEST SEPTEMBER
+7.7% (2010)
+8.8% (2010)
+12.0% (2010)
WORST SEPTEMBER
-12.4% (2002)
-11.0% (2002)
-17.0% (2001)
KEY TAKEAWAY
September has historically been a weak month for the three major U.S. indexes.
Over 2001–2025, all three had negative average September returns.
MARKET NOTE
Nasdaq had one exactly flat September in 2005. Returns shown are price returns,
calculated month-end to month-end.