What if you'd held MHF?
A $1,000 investment in Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. (MHF) at the month-end close of 1988-11 would be worth $6,026 at the close of 2026-08 — +502.6% total return, dividends reinvested. The same $1,000 in the S&P 500 would be worth $28,162.
Your scenario
Result
If you'd bought $1,000 at the start of each year
Value of $1,000 invested on January 1 of each year, held to 2026-08, dividends included.
Every year, $1,000 from 1988
| Year | Value of $1,000 | Year return |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $1,000 | — |
| 1989 | $1,027 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | $1,064 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | $1,155 | +8.5% |
| 1992 | $1,291 | +11.8% |
| 1993 | $1,373 | +6.3% |
| 1994 | $1,264 | -7.9% |
| 1995 | $1,445 | +14.4% |
| 1996 | $1,655 | +14.5% |
| 1997 | $1,955 | +18.1% |
| 1998 | $2,036 | +4.2% |
| 1999 | $1,636 | -19.6% |
| 2000 | $1,991 | +21.7% |
| 2001 | $2,064 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | $2,082 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | $2,273 | +9.2% |
| 2004 | $2,264 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | $2,373 | +4.8% |
| 2006 | $2,764 | +16.5% |
| 2007 | $2,664 | -3.6% |
| 2008 | $2,527 | -5.1% |
| 2009 | $3,100 | +22.7% |
| 2010 | $3,200 | +3.2% |
| 2011 | $3,682 | +15.1% |
| 2012 | $3,909 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | $3,500 | -10.5% |
| 2014 | $4,209 | +20.3% |
| 2015 | $4,464 | +6.0% |
| 2016 | $4,282 | -4.1% |
| 2017 | $4,609 | +7.6% |
| 2018 | $4,509 | -2.2% |
| 2019 | $5,136 | +13.9% |
| 2020 | $5,291 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $5,845 | +10.5% |
| 2022 | $4,809 | -17.7% |
| 2023 | $5,036 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $5,636 | +11.9% |
| 2025 | $6,045 | +7.3% |
| 2026 | $6,245 | +3.3% |
Best and worst month-end to buy
The best single month-end close to have bought MHF was 1989-02 ($1.08): $1,000 then is $6,361 today. The worst was 2025-02 ($7.02): $1,000 then is $979.
FAQ
What would $1,000 in MHF be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. (MHF) at the start of 1988 would be worth about $6,026 today, a total return of +502.6%. Dividends are reinvested in these figures.
What were the best and worst years for MHF?
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. (MHF)'s strongest calendar year since 1988 was 2009, a +22.7% return — $1,000 held through that year became about $1,227 by year-end. Its weakest year was 1999, at -19.6%.
Does the calculator include dividends and splits?
Yes where available. Prices are adjusted for both stock splits and reinvested dividends (total return), the same measure brokerages use.
How much would $100 per month in MHF have grown?
Investing $100 at the end of every month since 1988-11 would have grown to about $120,959 on $45,400 invested.
Did MHF beat the S&P 500?
Over the same period, $1,000 in the S&P 500 index would be worth $28,162. MHF trailed the S&P 500 by +78.6% in total return.
Is this investment advice?
No. Wall Street Regrets is an entertainment and education tool. Every number is a historical calculation, not a prediction, and past performance never guarantees future results.
Methodology
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund, Inc. (MHF) historical total-return data from 1988-11 to 2026-08, reduced to month-end closes for the tables above.
Returns use adjusted close prices from Yahoo Finance historical data — adjusted for stock splits and reinvested dividends — the same convention used by major brokerages. A "year" scenario invests $1,000 at the prior December's month-end close and values it at the latest available month-end close. Non-USD amounts are converted at historical month-end exchange rates (Yahoo Finance): to USD on the buy date and back to your currency at the latest rate, so the return reflects the currency move as well as the asset.
Month-end resolution means intra-month extremes are not captured in tables; the calculator uses exact trading-day closes where daily data is available. Figures ignore taxes, fees, and the currency effects of non-USD listings. History is not a forecast. Wall Street Regrets is entertainment, not investment advice.
What if you'd held…
Data: adjusted close prices via Yahoo Finance. As of 2026-08. Not financial advice.