The S&P 500 in 2009
The S&P 500 rose 23.4% in 2009, from 903.25 to 1,115.10; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +26.5%. That ranks 2009 23rd-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +23.4%
- Total return
- +26.5%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −27.6%March 9, 2009
- Year-end close
- 1,115.10December 31, 2009
- Highest close
- 1,127.78December 28, 2009
- Lowest close
- 676.53March 9, 2009
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +7.1%March 23, 2009
- Worst day
- −5.3%January 20, 2009
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 15.2
How 2009 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,127.78 on December 28, 2009; the lowest was 676.53 on March 9, 2009.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −27.6%, bottoming on March 9, 2009.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was March 23, 2009 (+7.1%); the worst was January 20, 2009 (−5.3%).
The U.S. economy was in an NBER-dated recession in 6 months of 2009: January 2009 to June 2009.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 15.2 in January 2009.
The VIX averaged 31.5 over the year and closed as high as 56.7 on January 20, 2009.
Drawdowns that touched 2009
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Global Financial Crisis | October 9, 2007 → March 9, 2009 | −56.8% | March 28, 2013 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2009.
2009 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | −8.6% |
| February | −11.0% |
| March | +8.5% |
| April | +9.4% |
| May | +5.3% |
| June | 0.0% |
| July | +7.4% |
| August | +3.4% |
| September | +3.6% |
| October | −2.0% |
| November | +5.7% |
| December | +1.8% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2009 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2009, with dividends reinvested, grew to $104,755 by the end of 2025: 14.8% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $75,790.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2009?
The S&P 500 rose 23.4% in 2009, from 903.25 to 1,115.10; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +26.5%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2009?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2009 was −27.6%, reaching bottom on March 9, 2009.
Was 2009 part of a bear market?
Yes. 2009 falls inside the 2007–2009 bear market (The Global Financial Crisis), when the S&P 500 fell 56.8% from its record close on October 9, 2007 to its low on March 9, 2009.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2009?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 2009.
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.