S&P 500 in January: seasonality and history
Since 1958, the S&P 500 has risen in January in 61% of years (42 of 69), with an average return of +1.10% and a median of +1.59%. That makes January its #4 month of 12.
Average+1.10%
Years up61%
Best year1987 · +13.18%
Worst year2009 · −8.57%
The seasonal path through January
Cumulative sum of each day's average return through January, all years since 1958.
| Strongest days | Avg | Up |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 31 | +0.29% | 61% |
| Jan 2 | +0.28% | 62% |
| Jan 14 | +0.24% | 67% |
| Weakest days | Avg | Up |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 20 | −0.33% | 39% |
| Jan 8 | −0.17% | 52% |
| Jan 7 | −0.10% | 43% |
Seasonal trend windows touching January
- ▲ Bullish Jan 2 – Jan 6 · 5 days · seasonal Σ +0.81%
January in recent years
| Year | S&P 500 in January |
|---|---|
| 2026 | +1.37% |
| 2025 | +2.70% |
| 2024 | +1.59% |
| 2023 | +6.18% |
| 2022 | −5.26% |
| 2021 | −1.11% |
| 2020 | −0.16% |
| 2019 | +7.87% |
| 2018 | +5.62% |
| 2017 | +1.79% |
Questions
Is January a good month for the S&P 500?
On average, yes: +1.10% since 1958, rising in 61% of years. But the range is wide, from −8.57% in 2009 to +13.18% in 1987, so an average is a tendency, not a forecast.
What are the strongest days in January?
Jan 31 (+0.29%, up 61% of years), Jan 2 (+0.28%, up 62% of years), Jan 14 (+0.24%, up 67% of years).