The S&P 500 in 2012
The S&P 500 rose 13.4% in 2012, from 1,257.60 to 1,426.19; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +16.0%. That ranks 2012 43rd-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +13.4%
- Total return
- +16.0%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −9.9%June 1, 2012
- Year-end close
- 1,426.19December 31, 2012
- Highest close
- 1,465.77September 14, 2012
- Lowest close
- 1,277.06January 3, 2012
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 250
- Best day
- +2.5%June 29, 2012
- Worst day
- −2.5%June 1, 2012
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 21.2
How 2012 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 1,465.77 on September 14, 2012; the lowest was 1,277.06 on January 3, 2012.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −9.9%, bottoming on June 1, 2012.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was June 29, 2012 (+2.5%); the worst was June 1, 2012 (−2.5%).
No month of 2012 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 21.2 in January 2012.
The VIX averaged 17.8 over the year and closed as high as 26.7 on June 1, 2012.
Drawdowns that touched 2012
| 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 2012.
2012 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | +4.4% |
| February | +4.1% |
| March | +3.1% |
| April | −0.8% |
| May | −6.3% |
| June | +4.0% |
| July | +1.3% |
| August | +2.0% |
| September | +2.4% |
| October | −2.0% |
| November | +0.3% |
| December | +0.7% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2012 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2012, with dividends reinvested, grew to $70,507 by the end of 2025: 15.0% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $54,437.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2012?
The S&P 500 rose 13.4% in 2012, from 1,257.60 to 1,426.19; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +16.0%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2012?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2012 was −9.9%, reaching bottom on June 1, 2012.
Was 2012 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2012.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2012?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 2012.
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.