The S&P 500 in 1963
The S&P 500 rose 18.9% in 1963, from 63.10 to 75.02; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +22.6%. That ranks 1963 33rd-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +18.9%
- Total return
- +22.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.5%November 22, 1963
- Year-end close
- 75.02December 31, 1963
- Highest close
- 75.02December 31, 1963
- Lowest close
- 62.69January 2, 1963
- Record closes
- 11
- Trading days
- 251
- Best day
- +4.0%November 26, 1963
- Worst day
- −2.8%November 22, 1963
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 19.3
How 1963 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 75.02 on December 31, 1963; the lowest was 62.69 on January 2, 1963.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.5%, bottoming on November 22, 1963.
11 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 31, 1963.
The best session was November 26, 1963 (+4.0%); the worst was November 22, 1963 (−2.8%).
No month of 1963 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 19.3 in January 1963.
Drawdowns that touched 1963
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Kennedy Slide | December 12, 1961 → June 26, 1962 | −28.0% | September 3, 1963 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | October 28, 1963 → November 22, 1963 | −6.5% | December 17, 1963 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1963.
What $10,000 at the start of 1963 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1963, with dividends reinvested, grew to $6,424,939 by the end of 2025: 10.8% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $1,084,684.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1963?
The S&P 500 rose 18.9% in 1963, from 63.10 to 75.02; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +22.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1963?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1963 was −6.5%, reaching bottom on November 22, 1963.
Was 1963 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1963.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1963?
Yes: 11 closes set new all-time highs in 1963, the last on December 31, 1963.
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.