The S&P 500 in 1992
The S&P 500 rose 4.5% in 1992, from 417.09 to 435.71; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +7.6%. That ranks 1992 40th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +4.5%
- Total return
- +7.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.2%April 8, 1992
- Year-end close
- 435.71December 31, 1992
- Highest close
- 441.28December 18, 1992
- Lowest close
- 394.50April 8, 1992
- Record closes
- 18
- Trading days
- 254
- Best day
- +1.6%April 9, 1992
- Worst day
- −1.9%April 7, 1992
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 19.8
How 1992 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 441.28 on December 18, 1992; the lowest was 394.50 on April 8, 1992.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.2%, bottoming on April 8, 1992.
18 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 18, 1992.
The best session was April 9, 1992 (+1.6%); the worst was April 7, 1992 (−1.9%).
No month of 1992 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 19.8 in January 1992.
The VIX averaged 15.5 over the year and closed as high as 21.0 on October 7, 1992.
Drawdowns that touched 1992
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | January 15, 1992 → April 8, 1992 | −6.2% | July 29, 1992 |
| Pullback (5–10%) | September 14, 1992 → October 9, 1992 | −5.3% | November 20, 1992 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1992.
What $10,000 at the start of 1992 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1992, with dividends reinvested, grew to $317,285 by the end of 2025: 10.7% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $164,113.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1992?
The S&P 500 rose 4.5% in 1992, from 417.09 to 435.71; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +7.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1992?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1992 was −6.2%, reaching bottom on April 8, 1992.
Was 1992 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1992.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1992?
Yes: 18 closes set new all-time highs in 1992, the last on December 18, 1992.
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) · VIX daily closes
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.