The S&P 500 in 1972
The S&P 500 rose 15.6% in 1972, from 102.09 to 118.05; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.8%. That ranks 1972 38th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +15.6%
- Total return
- +18.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −5.1%October 16, 1972
- Year-end close
- 118.05December 29, 1972
- Highest close
- 119.12December 11, 1972
- Lowest close
- 101.67January 3, 1972
- Record closes
- 32
- Trading days
- 251
- Best day
- +1.4%September 27, 1972
- Worst day
- −1.3%May 9, 1972
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 17.3
How 1972 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 119.12 on December 11, 1972; the lowest was 101.67 on January 3, 1972.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −5.1%, bottoming on October 16, 1972.
32 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 11, 1972.
The best session was September 27, 1972 (+1.4%); the worst was May 9, 1972 (−1.3%).
No month of 1972 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 17.3 in January 1972.
Drawdowns that touched 1972
| 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 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | August 14, 1972 → October 16, 1972 | −5.1% | November 1, 1972 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1972.
What $10,000 at the start of 1972 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1972, with dividends reinvested, grew to $2,987,272 by the end of 2025: 11.1% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $670,400.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1972?
The S&P 500 rose 15.6% in 1972, from 102.09 to 118.05; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1972?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1972 was −5.1%, reaching bottom on October 16, 1972.
Was 1972 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1972.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1972?
Yes: 32 closes set new all-time highs in 1972, the last on December 11, 1972.
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.