The S&P 500 in 1954
The S&P 500 rose 45.0% in 1954, from 24.81 to 35.98; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +52.6%. That makes 1954 the best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +45.0%
- Total return
- +52.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −4.4%August 31, 1954
- Year-end close
- 35.98December 31, 1954
- Highest close
- 35.98December 31, 1954
- Lowest close
- 24.80January 11, 1954
- Record closes
- 22
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +2.8%December 17, 1954
- Worst day
- −2.2%June 8, 1954
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 12.0
How 1954 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 35.98 on December 31, 1954; the lowest was 24.80 on January 11, 1954.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −4.4%, bottoming on August 31, 1954.
22 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 31, 1954.
The best session was December 17, 1954 (+2.8%); the worst was June 8, 1954 (−2.2%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 5 months of 1954: January 1954 to May 1954.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 12.0 in January 1954.
Drawdowns that touched 1954
| 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 1954.
What $10,000 at the start of 1954 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1954, with dividends reinvested, grew to $23,334,385 by the end of 2025: 11.4% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $2,758,971.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1954?
The S&P 500 rose 45.0% in 1954, from 24.81 to 35.98; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +52.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1954?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1954 was −4.4%, reaching bottom on August 31, 1954.
Was 1954 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1954.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1954?
Yes: 22 closes set new all-time highs in 1954, the last on December 31, 1954.
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.