What if you'd held PAI?
A $1,000 investment in Western Asset Investment Grade Income Fund Inc. (PAI) at the month-end close of 1980-03 would be worth $21,109 at the close of 2026-08 — +2010.9% total return, dividends reinvested. The same $1,000 in the S&P 500 would be worth $75,502.
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 1980
| Year | Value of $1,000 | Year return |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $1,000 | — |
| 1981 | $974 | -2.6% |
| 1982 | $1,216 | +24.8% |
| 1983 | $1,228 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | $1,254 | +2.1% |
| 1985 | $1,482 | +18.2% |
| 1986 | $1,659 | +11.9% |
| 1987 | $1,703 | +2.7% |
| 1988 | $1,906 | +11.9% |
| 1989 | $2,163 | +13.5% |
| 1990 | $2,149 | -0.6% |
| 1991 | $2,712 | +26.2% |
| 1992 | $2,938 | +8.3% |
| 1993 | $3,396 | +15.6% |
| 1994 | $2,974 | -12.4% |
| 1995 | $3,755 | +26.2% |
| 1996 | $3,913 | +4.2% |
| 1997 | $4,894 | +25.1% |
| 1998 | $5,213 | +6.5% |
| 1999 | $4,252 | -18.4% |
| 2000 | $5,266 | +23.8% |
| 2001 | $6,108 | +16.0% |
| 2002 | $6,453 | +5.6% |
| 2003 | $7,374 | +14.3% |
| 2004 | $8,170 | +10.8% |
| 2005 | $7,942 | -2.8% |
| 2006 | $9,256 | +16.5% |
| 2007 | $8,696 | -6.0% |
| 2008 | $7,321 | -15.8% |
| 2009 | $9,659 | +31.9% |
| 2010 | $10,372 | +7.4% |
| 2011 | $11,760 | +13.4% |
| 2012 | $13,259 | +12.7% |
| 2013 | $12,419 | -6.3% |
| 2014 | $13,348 | +7.5% |
| 2015 | $13,611 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | $15,727 | +15.6% |
| 2017 | $18,213 | +15.8% |
| 2018 | $15,971 | -12.3% |
| 2019 | $19,678 | +23.2% |
| 2020 | $21,003 | +6.7% |
| 2021 | $21,407 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $16,599 | -22.5% |
| 2023 | $18,118 | +9.2% |
| 2024 | $19,787 | +9.2% |
| 2025 | $20,854 | +5.4% |
| 2026 | $20,566 | -1.4% |
Best and worst month-end to buy
The best single month-end close to have bought PAI was 1981-09 ($0.54): $1,000 then is $22,245 today. The worst was 2021-11 ($13.20): $1,000 then is $908.
FAQ
What would $1,000 in PAI be worth today?
A $1,000 investment in Western Asset Investment Grade Income Fund Inc. (PAI) at the start of 1980 would be worth about $21,109 today, a total return of +2010.9%. Dividends are reinvested in these figures.
What were the best and worst years for PAI?
Western Asset Investment Grade Income Fund Inc. (PAI)'s strongest calendar year since 1980 was 2009, a +31.9% return — $1,000 held through that year became about $1,319 by year-end. Its weakest year was 2022, at -22.5%.
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 PAI have grown?
Investing $100 at the end of every month since 1980-03 would have grown to about $317,959 on $55,800 invested.
Did PAI beat the S&P 500?
Over the same period, $1,000 in the S&P 500 index would be worth $75,502. PAI trailed the S&P 500 by +72.0% 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 Investment Grade Income Fund Inc. (PAI) historical total-return data from 1980-03 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.