The S&P 500 in 1947
The S&P 500 rose 0.0% in 1947, from 15.30 to 15.30; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +5.2%. That ranks 1947 32nd-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- 0.0%
- Total return
- +5.2%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −14.7%May 19, 1947
- Year-end close
- 15.30December 31, 1947
- Highest close
- 16.14February 11, 1947
- Lowest close
- 13.77May 19, 1947
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 250
- Best day
- +2.3%June 11, 1947
- Worst day
- −3.1%March 7, 1947
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 11.5
How 1947 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 16.14 on February 11, 1947; the lowest was 13.77 on May 19, 1947.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −14.7%, bottoming on May 19, 1947.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was June 11, 1947 (+2.3%); the worst was March 7, 1947 (−3.1%).
No month of 1947 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 11.5 in January 1947.
Drawdowns that touched 1947
| 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 1947.
What $10,000 at the start of 1947 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1947, with dividends reinvested, grew to $57,964,082 by the end of 2025: 11.6% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $4,474,285.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1947?
The S&P 500 rose 0.0% in 1947, from 15.30 to 15.30; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +5.2%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1947?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1947 was −14.7%, reaching bottom on May 19, 1947.
Was 1947 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1947.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1947?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1947.
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.