The S&P 500 in 1958
The S&P 500 rose 38.1% in 1958, from 39.99 to 55.21; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +43.7%. That ranks 1958 4th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +38.1%
- Total return
- +43.7%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −4.4%February 25, 1958
- Year-end close
- 55.21December 31, 1958
- Highest close
- 55.21December 31, 1958
- Lowest close
- 40.33January 2, 1958
- Record closes
- 22
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +1.7%November 26, 1958
- Worst day
- −1.9%November 25, 1958
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 13.8
How 1958 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 55.21 on December 31, 1958; the lowest was 40.33 on January 2, 1958.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −4.4%, bottoming on February 25, 1958.
22 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 31, 1958.
The best session was November 26, 1958 (+1.7%); the worst was November 25, 1958 (−1.9%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 4 months of 1958: January 1958 to April 1958.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 13.8 in January 1958.
Drawdowns that touched 1958
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suez and the 1957 Recession | August 3, 1956 → October 22, 1957 | −21.5% | September 24, 1958 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1958.
What $10,000 at the start of 1958 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1958, with dividends reinvested, grew to $11,990,273 by the end of 2025: 11.0% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,711,631.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1958?
The S&P 500 rose 38.1% in 1958, from 39.99 to 55.21; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +43.7%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1958?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1958 was −4.4%, reaching bottom on February 25, 1958.
Was 1958 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1958.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1958?
Yes: 22 closes set new all-time highs in 1958, the last on December 31, 1958.
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.