The S&P 500 in 1942
The S&P 500 rose 12.4% in 1942, from 8.69 to 9.77; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +19.2%. That ranks 1942 46th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +12.4%
- Total return
- +19.2%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −17.8%April 28, 1942
- Year-end close
- 9.77December 31, 1942
- Highest close
- 9.77December 31, 1942
- Lowest close
- 7.47April 28, 1942
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 251
- Best day
- +2.5%July 8, 1942
- Worst day
- −2.6%March 6, 1942
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 10.1
How 1942 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 9.77 on December 31, 1942; the lowest was 7.47 on April 28, 1942.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −17.8%, bottoming on April 28, 1942.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was July 8, 1942 (+2.5%); the worst was March 6, 1942 (−2.6%).
No month of 1942 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 10.1 in January 1942.
Drawdowns that touched 1942
| 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 1942.
What $10,000 at the start of 1942 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1942, with dividends reinvested, grew to $127,884,437 by the end of 2025: 11.9% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $7,877,712.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1942?
The S&P 500 rose 12.4% in 1942, from 8.69 to 9.77; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +19.2%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1942?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1942 was −17.8%, reaching bottom on April 28, 1942.
Was 1942 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1942.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1942?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1942.
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.