The S&P 500 in 1955
The S&P 500 rose 26.4% in 1955, from 35.98 to 45.48; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +32.6%. That ranks 1955 16th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +26.4%
- Total return
- +32.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −10.6%October 11, 1955
- Year-end close
- 45.48December 30, 1955
- Highest close
- 46.41November 14, 1955
- Lowest close
- 34.58January 17, 1955
- Record closes
- 41
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +3.6%July 6, 1955
- Worst day
- −6.6%September 26, 1955
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 16.0
How 1955 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 46.41 on November 14, 1955; the lowest was 34.58 on January 17, 1955.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −10.6%, bottoming on October 11, 1955.
41 closes set new all-time highs, the last on November 14, 1955.
The best session was July 6, 1955 (+3.6%); the worst was September 26, 1955 (−6.6%).
No month of 1955 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 16.0 in January 1955.
Drawdowns that touched 1955
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | January 3, 1955 → January 17, 1955 | −5.9% | February 4, 1955 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | March 4, 1955 → March 14, 1955 | −6.8% | April 12, 1955 |
| Correction (10–20%) | September 23, 1955 → October 11, 1955 | −10.6% | November 14, 1955 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | November 14, 1955 → January 23, 1956 | −7.1% | March 9, 1956 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1955.
What $10,000 at the start of 1955 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1955, with dividends reinvested, grew to $15,295,218 by the end of 2025: 10.9% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,902,476.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1955?
The S&P 500 rose 26.4% in 1955, from 35.98 to 45.48; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +32.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1955?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1955 was −10.6%, reaching bottom on October 11, 1955.
Was 1955 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1955.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1955?
Yes: 41 closes set new all-time highs in 1955, the last on November 14, 1955.
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.