The S&P 500 in 1951
The S&P 500 rose 16.4% in 1951, from 20.43 to 23.77; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.7%. That ranks 1951 36th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +16.4%
- Total return
- +23.7%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −8.1%June 29, 1951
- Year-end close
- 23.77December 31, 1951
- Highest close
- 23.85October 15, 1951
- Lowest close
- 20.69January 3, 1951
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 249
- Best day
- +1.9%July 5, 1951
- Worst day
- −1.9%May 15, 1951
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 11.9
How 1951 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 23.85 on October 15, 1951; the lowest was 20.69 on January 3, 1951.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −8.1%, bottoming on June 29, 1951.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was July 5, 1951 (+1.9%); the worst was May 15, 1951 (−1.9%).
No month of 1951 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 11.9 in January 1951.
Drawdowns that touched 1951
| 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 1951.
What $10,000 at the start of 1951 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1951, with dividends reinvested, grew to $33,685,465 by the end of 2025: 11.4% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $3,350,669.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1951?
The S&P 500 rose 16.4% in 1951, from 20.43 to 23.77; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.7%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1951?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1951 was −8.1%, reaching bottom on June 29, 1951.
Was 1951 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1951.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1951?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1951.
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.