The S&P 500 in 2002
The S&P 500 fell 23.4% in 2002, from 1,148.08 to 879.82; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −22.1%. That ranks 2002 6th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −23.4%
- Total return
- −22.1%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −33.8%October 9, 2002
- Year-end close
- 879.82December 31, 2002
- Highest close
- 1,172.51January 4, 2002
- Lowest close
- 776.76October 9, 2002
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +5.7%July 24, 2002
- Worst day
- −4.2%September 3, 2002
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 30.3
How 2002 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,172.51 on January 4, 2002; the lowest was 776.76 on October 9, 2002.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −33.8%, bottoming on October 9, 2002.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was July 24, 2002 (+5.7%); the worst was September 3, 2002 (−4.2%).
No month of 2002 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 30.3 in January 2002.
The VIX averaged 27.3 over the year and closed as high as 45.1 on August 5, 2002.
Drawdowns that touched 2002
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dot-Com Bust | March 24, 2000 → October 9, 2002 | −49.1% | May 30, 2007 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2002.
2002 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | −1.6% |
| February | −2.1% |
| March | +3.7% |
| April | −6.1% |
| May | −0.9% |
| June | −7.2% |
| July | −7.9% |
| August | +0.5% |
| September | −11.0% |
| October | +8.6% |
| November | +5.7% |
| December | −6.0% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2002 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2002, with dividends reinvested, grew to $93,998 by the end of 2025: 9.8% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $59,619.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2002?
The S&P 500 fell 23.4% in 2002, from 1,148.08 to 879.82; with dividends reinvested, the total return was −22.1%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2002?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2002 was −33.8%, reaching bottom on October 9, 2002.
Was 2002 part of a bear market?
Yes. 2002 falls inside the 2000–2002 bear market (The Dot-Com Bust), when the S&P 500 fell 49.1% from its record close on March 24, 2000 to its low on October 9, 2002.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2002?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 2002.
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) · Monthly returns · 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.