The S&P 500 in 2015
The S&P 500 fell 0.7% in 2015, from 2,058.90 to 2,043.94; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +1.4%. That ranks 2015 29th-worst of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- −0.7%
- Total return
- +1.4%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −12.3%August 25, 2015
- Year-end close
- 2,043.94December 31, 2015
- Highest close
- 2,130.82May 21, 2015
- Lowest close
- 1,867.61August 25, 2015
- Record closes
- 10
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +3.9%August 26, 2015
- Worst day
- −3.9%August 24, 2015
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 26.5
How 2015 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 2,130.82 on May 21, 2015; the lowest was 1,867.61 on August 25, 2015.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −12.3%, bottoming on August 25, 2015.
10 closes set new all-time highs, the last on May 21, 2015.
The best session was August 26, 2015 (+3.9%); the worst was August 24, 2015 (−3.9%).
No month of 2015 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 26.5 in January 2015.
The VIX averaged 16.7 over the year and closed as high as 40.7 on August 24, 2015.
Drawdowns that touched 2015
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greek default | May 21, 2015 → February 11, 2016 | −14.2% | July 11, 2016 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2015.
2015 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | −3.1% |
| February | +5.5% |
| March | −1.7% |
| April | +0.9% |
| May | +1.1% |
| June | −2.1% |
| July | +2.0% |
| August | −6.3% |
| September | −2.6% |
| October | +8.3% |
| November | +0.1% |
| December | −1.8% |
What $10,000 at the start of 2015 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2015, with dividends reinvested, grew to $40,383 by the end of 2025: 13.5% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $33,250.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2015?
The S&P 500 fell 0.7% in 2015, from 2,058.90 to 2,043.94; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +1.4%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2015?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2015 was −12.3%, reaching bottom on August 25, 2015.
Was 2015 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2015.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2015?
Yes: 10 closes set new all-time highs in 2015, the last on May 21, 2015.
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.