PHLX SOX — Semiconductor Historical Annual Returns
SOX year to date: +48.3% as of 2026-11-12.
Semiconductor Annual Returns — Annual returns of the semiconductor benchmark, chronicling extreme cyclical expansions and inventory adjustments.
The plate
Latest Snapshot
- Average
- +19.2%
- Positive years
- 20
- Negative years
- 11
- Best year
- 1999 +101.0%
- Worst year
- 2008 -48.0%
- Observations
- 32
- Sample
- 1995-12-31 – 2026-11-12
Annual price returns of the index since 1995 (dividends not included). While long-term compounding significantly outpaces broad benchmarks, severe periodic drawdowns near 50% underscore the deep cyclicality inherent in semiconductor capital goods.
What this page answers
Since 1995, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) has recorded 31 calendar years: 20 positive and 11 negative (a 65% annual win rate), delivering an arithmetic mean annual return of +19.2%. Its strongest annual advance was 1999 (+101.0%); its steepest contraction occurred in 2008 (-48.0%). The most recent period, 2026 (year-to-date, through 2026-11-12), stands at +48.3%. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) returned an arithmetic average of 19.2% a year on price alone (dividends excluded) over the 31 complete calendar years 1995–2025, or 13.5% a year compounded.
Annual price returns of the index since 1995 (dividends not included). While long-term compounding significantly outpaces broad benchmarks, severe periodic drawdowns near 50% underscore the deep cyclicality inherent in semiconductor capital goods. The data is refreshed by the History of Market pipeline and published as a stable JSON endpoint for research, citation, and AI-agent use.
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) — annual return over the past 5 to 30 years (complete years through 2025)
| Window | Return |
|---|---|
| 5 years | 20.4% |
| 10 years | 26.7% |
| 15 years | 20.9% |
| 20 years | 14.4% |
| 25 years | 10.6% |
| 30 years | 12.6% |
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) — historical calendar-year returns, 1995–2026
| Year | Return |
|---|---|
| 2026 | +48.3% |
| 2025 | +42.2% |
| 2024 | +19.3% |
| 2023 | +64.9% |
| 2022 | -35.8% |
| 2021 | +41.2% |
| 2020 | +51.1% |
| 2019 | +60.1% |
| 2018 | -7.8% |
| 2017 | +38.2% |
| 2016 | +36.6% |
| 2015 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | +28.4% |
| 2013 | +39.3% |
| 2012 | +5.4% |
| 2011 | -11.5% |
| 2010 | +14.4% |
| 2009 | +69.6% |
| 2008 | -48.0% |
| 2007 | -12.6% |
| 2006 | -2.6% |
| 2005 | +10.7% |
| 2004 | -14.7% |
| 2003 | +75.7% |
| 2002 | -44.6% |
| 2001 | -9.4% |
| 2000 | -18.2% |
| 1999 | +101.0% |
| 1998 | +33.0% |
| 1997 | +9.7% |
| 1996 | +19.8% |
| 1995 | +43.2% |
Complete record (32 rows). Raw dataset: https://historyofmarket.com/api/semi/annual-returns.json
Data & Source
GET /api/semi/annual-returns.json — Canonical dataset endpoint.
Exchange closing prices · Company filings · Robert Shiller · FRED · NBER.
FAQ
What is the average annual return of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX)?
The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) returned an arithmetic average of 19.2% a year on price alone (dividends excluded) over the 31 complete calendar years 1995–2025, or 13.5% a year compounded.
What has the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) returned per year over the past 10, 20 and 30 years?
Compound annual rates over complete calendar years through 2025: past 10 years (2016–2025) 26.7% a year; past 20 years (2006–2025) 14.4% a year; past 30 years (1996–2025) 12.6% a year.
What was the best year on record?
1999, when the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) rallied +101.0%.
What was the worst year on record?
2008, when the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) plunged -48.0%.
Where does this data come from?
History of Market combines public market and macro datasets — exchange closing prices, company filings, Robert Shiller, FRED, NBER, and the UBS Global Investment Returns Yearbook (Dimson–Marsh–Staunton). The exact endpoint for this panel is linked below.
How often is it updated?
Daily-tier datasets refresh after the U.S. market close, with a broader weekly refresh each weekend. The timestamp shown on this page comes from the JSON payload.
Can I use the data?
Yes, for research and education with attribution to History of Market. Upstream data sources retain their own terms.