The S&P 500 in 2019
The S&P 500 rose 28.9% in 2019, from 2,506.85 to 3,230.78; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.5%. That ranks 2019 11th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +28.9%
- Total return
- +31.5%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −6.8%June 3, 2019
- Year-end close
- 3,230.78December 31, 2019
- Highest close
- 3,240.02December 27, 2019
- Lowest close
- 2,447.89January 3, 2019
- Record closes
- 35
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +3.4%January 4, 2019
- Worst day
- −3.0%August 5, 2019
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 28.4
How 2019 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 3,240.02 on December 27, 2019; the lowest was 2,447.89 on January 3, 2019.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −6.8%, bottoming on June 3, 2019.
35 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 27, 2019.
The best session was January 4, 2019 (+3.4%); the worst was August 5, 2019 (−3.0%).
No month of 2019 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 28.4 in January 2019.
The VIX averaged 15.4 over the year and closed as high as 25.5 on January 3, 2019.
Drawdowns that touched 2019
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rising rates | September 20, 2018 → December 24, 2018 | −19.8% | April 23, 2019 |
| Trade war | April 30, 2019 → June 3, 2019 | −6.8% | June 20, 2019 |
| Trade war | July 26, 2019 → August 14, 2019 | −6.1% | October 28, 2019 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2019.
2019 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | +7.9% |
| February | +3.0% |
| March | +1.8% |
| April | +3.9% |
| May | −6.6% |
| June | +6.9% |
| July | +1.3% |
| August | −1.8% |
| September | +1.7% |
| October | +2.0% |
| November | +3.4% |
| December | +2.9% |
S&P 500 index changes in 2019
| Effective | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| January 2, 2019 | FRC · First Republic Bank | SCG · SCANA |
| January 18, 2019 | TFX · Teleflex | PCG · Pacific Gas & Electric Company |
| February 15, 2019 | ATO · Atmos Energy | NFX · Newfield Exploration |
| February 27, 2019 | WAB · Wabtec | GT · The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company |
| March 19, 2019 | FOXA · Fox Corporation | FOXA · 21st Century Fox |
| March 19, 2019 | FOX · Fox Corporation | FOX · 21st Century Fox |
| April 2, 2019 | DOW · Dow | BHF · Brighthouse Financial |
| June 3, 2019 | DD · DuPont | DWDP · DuPont |
| June 3, 2019 | CTVA · Corteva | FLR · Fluor Corporation |
| June 7, 2019 | BMS · Bemis | MAT · Mattel |
| June 11, 2019 | AMCR · Amcor | BMS · Bemis |
| July 1, 2019 | MKTX · MarketAxess | LLL · L3 Technologies |
| July 15, 2019 | TMUS · T-Mobile US | RHT · Red Hat |
| August 9, 2019 | LDOS · Leidos | APC · Anadarko Petroleum |
| August 9, 2019 | IEX · IDEX Corporation | FL · Foot Locker |
| September 23, 2019 | CDW · CDW Corporation | TSS · TSYS |
| September 26, 2019 | NVR · NVR | JEF · Jefferies Financial Group |
| October 3, 2019 | LVS · Las Vegas Sands | NKTR · Nektar Therapeutics |
| November 21, 2019 | NOW · ServiceNow | CELG · Celgene |
| December 5, 2019 | WRB · W. R. Berkley Corporation | VIAB · Viacom |
| December 9, 2019 | ODFL · Old Dominion Freight Line | STI · SunTrust Banks |
| December 23, 2019 | LYV · Live Nation Entertainment | AMG · Affiliated Managers Group |
| December 23, 2019 | ZBRA · Zebra Technologies | TRIP · TripAdvisor |
| December 23, 2019 | STE · Steris | MAC · Macerich |
24 changes took effect in 2019.
What $10,000 at the start of 2019 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2019, with dividends reinvested, grew to $30,541 by the end of 2025: 17.3% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $27,309.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2019?
The S&P 500 rose 28.9% in 2019, from 2,506.85 to 3,230.78; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +31.5%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2019?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2019 was −6.8%, reaching bottom on June 3, 2019.
Was 2019 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2019.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2019?
Yes: 35 closes set new all-time highs in 2019, the last on December 27, 2019.
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 · Index changes · 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.