The S&P 500 in 1936
The S&P 500 rose 27.9% in 1936, from 13.43 to 17.18; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.9%. That ranks 1936 12th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +27.9%
- Total return
- +31.9%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −12.8%April 29, 1936
- Year-end close
- 17.18December 31, 1936
- Highest close
- 17.69November 9, 1936
- Lowest close
- 13.40January 2, 1936
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +5.8%September 17, 1936
- Worst day
- −5.8%September 16, 1936
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 17.1
How 1936 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 17.69 on November 9, 1936; the lowest was 13.40 on January 2, 1936.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −12.8%, bottoming on April 29, 1936.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was September 17, 1936 (+5.8%); the worst was September 16, 1936 (−5.8%).
No month of 1936 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 17.1 in January 1936.
Drawdowns that touched 1936
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 1929 Crash and the Great Depression | September 16, 1929 → June 1, 1932 | −86.2% | September 22, 1954 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1936.
What $10,000 at the start of 1936 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1936, with dividends reinvested, grew to $108,697,791 by the end of 2025: 10.9% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $5,097,237.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1936?
The S&P 500 rose 27.9% in 1936, from 13.43 to 17.18; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.9%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1936?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1936 was −12.8%, reaching bottom on April 29, 1936.
Was 1936 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1936.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1936?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1936.
Data and sources
Daily closes · Calendar-year price returns · Calendar-year total returns · Intra-year declines · Drawdowns from record closes · Shiller CAPE · NBER recession months (via FRED)
Index levels are daily closes. Price return leaves dividends out; total return reinvests them. A past year's page changes only when a later year completes and the rankings move.