The S&P 500 in 1986
The S&P 500 rose 14.6% in 1986, from 211.28 to 242.17; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.5%. That ranks 1986 40th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +14.6%
- Total return
- +18.5%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −9.4%September 29, 1986
- Year-end close
- 242.17December 31, 1986
- Highest close
- 254.00December 2, 1986
- Lowest close
- 203.49January 22, 1986
- Record closes
- 31
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +2.3%March 11, 1986
- Worst day
- −4.8%September 11, 1986
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 11.7
How 1986 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 254.00 on December 2, 1986; the lowest was 203.49 on January 22, 1986.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −9.4%, bottoming on September 29, 1986.
31 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 2, 1986.
The best session was March 11, 1986 (+2.3%); the worst was September 11, 1986 (−4.8%).
No month of 1986 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 11.7 in January 1986.
Drawdowns that touched 1986
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | July 2, 1986 → July 15, 1986 | −7.5% | August 26, 1986 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | September 4, 1986 → September 29, 1986 | −9.4% | December 2, 1986 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1986.
What $10,000 at the start of 1986 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1986, with dividends reinvested, grew to $771,769 by the end of 2025: 11.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $323,986.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1986?
The S&P 500 rose 14.6% in 1986, from 211.28 to 242.17; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.5%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1986?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1986 was −9.4%, reaching bottom on September 29, 1986.
Was 1986 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1986.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1986?
Yes: 31 closes set new all-time highs in 1986, the last on December 2, 1986.
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.