The S&P 500 in 1950
The S&P 500 rose 21.7% in 1950, from 16.79 to 20.43; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +30.8%. That ranks 1950 26th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +21.7%
- Total return
- +30.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −14.0%July 17, 1950
- Year-end close
- 20.43December 29, 1950
- Highest close
- 20.43December 29, 1950
- Lowest close
- 16.66January 3, 1950
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 249
- Best day
- +2.3%July 18, 1950
- Worst day
- −3.7%June 29, 1950
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 10.8
How 1950 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 20.43 on December 29, 1950; the lowest was 16.66 on January 3, 1950.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −14.0%, bottoming on July 17, 1950.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was July 18, 1950 (+2.3%); the worst was June 29, 1950 (−3.7%).
No month of 1950 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 10.8 in January 1950.
Drawdowns that touched 1950
| 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 1950.
What $10,000 at the start of 1950 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1950, with dividends reinvested, grew to $44,063,956 by the end of 2025: 11.7% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $4,077,094.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1950?
The S&P 500 rose 21.7% in 1950, from 16.79 to 20.43; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +30.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1950?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1950 was −14.0%, reaching bottom on July 17, 1950.
Was 1950 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1950.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1950?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1950.
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.