The S&P 500 in 1987
The S&P 500 rose 2.0% in 1987, from 242.17 to 247.08; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +5.8%. That ranks 1987 36th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +2.0%
- Total return
- +5.8%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −33.5%December 4, 1987
- Year-end close
- 247.08December 31, 1987
- Highest close
- 336.77August 25, 1987
- Lowest close
- 223.92December 4, 1987
- Record closes
- 47
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +9.1%October 21, 1987
- Worst day
- −20.5%October 19, 1987
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 14.9
How 1987 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 336.77 on August 25, 1987; the lowest was 223.92 on December 4, 1987.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −33.5%, bottoming on December 4, 1987.
47 closes set new all-time highs, the last on August 25, 1987.
The best session was October 21, 1987 (+9.1%); the worst was October 19, 1987 (−20.5%).
No month of 1987 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 14.9 in January 1987.
Drawdowns that touched 1987
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | April 6, 1987 → May 20, 1987 | −7.9% | June 15, 1987 |
| Black Monday | August 25, 1987 → December 4, 1987 | −33.5% | July 26, 1989 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1987.
What $10,000 at the start of 1987 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1987, with dividends reinvested, grew to $651,337 by the end of 2025: 11.3% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $282,661.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1987?
The S&P 500 rose 2.0% in 1987, from 242.17 to 247.08; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +5.8%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1987?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1987 was −33.5%, reaching bottom on December 4, 1987.
Was 1987 part of a bear market?
Yes. 1987 falls inside the 1987 bear market (Black Monday), when the S&P 500 fell 33.5% from its record close on August 25, 1987 to its low on December 4, 1987.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1987?
Yes: 47 closes set new all-time highs in 1987, the last on August 25, 1987.
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.