The S&P 500 in 1975
The S&P 500 rose 31.6% in 1975, from 68.56 to 90.19; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +37.0%. That ranks 1975 7th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +31.6%
- Total return
- +37.0%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −14.1%September 16, 1975
- Year-end close
- 90.19December 31, 1975
- Highest close
- 95.61July 15, 1975
- Lowest close
- 70.04January 8, 1975
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +3.3%January 27, 1975
- Worst day
- −2.4%March 24, 1975
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 8.9
How 1975 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 95.61 on July 15, 1975; the lowest was 70.04 on January 8, 1975.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −14.1%, bottoming on September 16, 1975.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was January 27, 1975 (+3.3%); the worst was March 24, 1975 (−2.4%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 3 months of 1975: January 1975 to March 1975.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 8.9 in January 1975.
Drawdowns that touched 1975
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Shock and Stagflation | January 11, 1973 → October 3, 1974 | −48.2% | July 17, 1980 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1975.
What $10,000 at the start of 1975 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1975, with dividends reinvested, grew to $3,961,469 by the end of 2025: 12.4% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $998,375.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1975?
The S&P 500 rose 31.6% in 1975, from 68.56 to 90.19; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +37.0%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1975?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1975 was −14.1%, reaching bottom on September 16, 1975.
Was 1975 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1975.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1975?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1975.
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.