The S&P 500 in 1952
The S&P 500 rose 11.8% in 1952, from 23.77 to 26.57; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.1%. That ranks 1952 49th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +11.8%
- Total return
- +18.1%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.9%October 22, 1952
- Year-end close
- 26.57December 31, 1952
- Highest close
- 26.59December 30, 1952
- Lowest close
- 23.09February 20, 1952
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 250
- Best day
- +1.7%May 2, 1952
- Worst day
- −1.7%October 15, 1952
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 12.5
How 1952 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 26.59 on December 30, 1952; the lowest was 23.09 on February 20, 1952.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.9%, bottoming on October 22, 1952.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was May 2, 1952 (+1.7%); the worst was October 15, 1952 (−1.7%).
No month of 1952 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 12.5 in January 1952.
Drawdowns that touched 1952
| 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 1952.
What $10,000 at the start of 1952 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1952, with dividends reinvested, grew to $27,235,984 by the end of 2025: 11.3% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $2,879,819.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1952?
The S&P 500 rose 11.8% in 1952, from 23.77 to 26.57; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.1%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1952?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1952 was −6.9%, reaching bottom on October 22, 1952.
Was 1952 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1952.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1952?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1952.
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.