The S&P 500 in 1995
The S&P 500 rose 34.1% in 1995, from 459.27 to 615.93; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +37.6%. That ranks 1995 6th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +34.1%
- Total return
- +37.6%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −2.5%December 20, 1995
- Year-end close
- 615.93December 29, 1995
- Highest close
- 621.69December 13, 1995
- Lowest close
- 459.11January 3, 1995
- Record closes
- 77
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +1.9%May 31, 1995
- Worst day
- −1.5%December 18, 1995
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 20.2
How 1995 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 621.69 on December 13, 1995; the lowest was 459.11 on January 3, 1995.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −2.5%, bottoming on December 20, 1995.
77 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 13, 1995.
The best session was May 31, 1995 (+1.9%); the worst was December 18, 1995 (−1.5%).
No month of 1995 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 20.2 in January 1995.
The VIX averaged 12.4 over the year and closed as high as 15.7 on October 5, 1995.
Drawdowns that touched 1995
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pullback (5–10%) | February 2, 1994 → April 4, 1994 | −8.9% | February 14, 1995 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1995.
What $10,000 at the start of 1995 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1995, with dividends reinvested, grew to $264,334 by the end of 2025: 11.1% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $149,041.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1995?
The S&P 500 rose 34.1% in 1995, from 459.27 to 615.93; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +37.6%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1995?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1995 was −2.5%, reaching bottom on December 20, 1995.
Was 1995 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1995.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1995?
Yes: 77 closes set new all-time highs in 1995, the last on December 13, 1995.
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.