The S&P 500 in 1976
The S&P 500 rose 19.1% in 1976, from 90.19 to 107.46; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.8%. That ranks 1976 32nd-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +19.1%
- Total return
- +23.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −8.4%November 10, 1976
- Year-end close
- 107.46December 31, 1976
- Highest close
- 107.83September 21, 1976
- Lowest close
- 90.90January 2, 1976
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +1.8%January 5, 1976
- Worst day
- −1.8%May 24, 1976
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 11.2
How 1976 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 107.83 on September 21, 1976; the lowest was 90.90 on January 2, 1976.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −8.4%, bottoming on November 10, 1976.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was January 5, 1976 (+1.8%); the worst was May 24, 1976 (−1.8%).
No month of 1976 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 11.2 in January 1976.
Drawdowns that touched 1976
| 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 1976.
What $10,000 at the start of 1976 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1976, with dividends reinvested, grew to $2,891,583 by the end of 2025: 12.0% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $758,932.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1976?
The S&P 500 rose 19.1% in 1976, from 90.19 to 107.46; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +23.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1976?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1976 was −8.4%, reaching bottom on November 10, 1976.
Was 1976 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1976.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1976?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1976.
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.