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SPY's 33-Year Record Shows Recovery From Every Major Bear Market

10/14/2026

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF, which launched on Jan. 22, 1993, has navigated three major bear markets since its inception as the first exchange-traded fund.

As the fund approaches its 33rd year, its performance record illustrates how long-term investors can achieve capital appreciation despite severe market downturns.

The ETF tracks the S&P 500 index, a committee-created list of roughly 500 stocks that serves as the standard benchmark for the U.S.

Because the index is market-cap weighted, the largest companies exert the greatest influence on its overall performance.