The S&P 500 in 1971
The S&P 500 rose 10.8% in 1971, from 92.15 to 102.09; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +14.2%. That ranks 1971 48th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +10.8%
- Total return
- +14.2%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −13.9%November 23, 1971
- Year-end close
- 102.09December 31, 1971
- Highest close
- 104.77April 28, 1971
- Lowest close
- 90.16November 23, 1971
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +3.2%August 16, 1971
- Worst day
- −1.5%June 18, 1971
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 16.5
How 1971 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 104.77 on April 28, 1971; the lowest was 90.16 on November 23, 1971.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −13.9%, bottoming on November 23, 1971.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was August 16, 1971 (+3.2%); the worst was June 18, 1971 (−1.5%).
No month of 1971 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 16.5 in January 1971.
Drawdowns that touched 1971
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation and the 1969–70 Recession | November 29, 1968 → May 26, 1970 | −36.1% | March 6, 1972 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1971.
What $10,000 at the start of 1971 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1971, with dividends reinvested, grew to $3,412,062 by the end of 2025: 11.2% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $742,736.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1971?
The S&P 500 rose 10.8% in 1971, from 92.15 to 102.09; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +14.2%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1971?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1971 was −13.9%, reaching bottom on November 23, 1971.
Was 1971 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1971.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1971?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1971.
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.