The S&P 500 in 2021
The S&P 500 rose 26.9% in 2021, from 3,756.07 to 4,766.18; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +28.7%. That ranks 2021 14th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +26.9%
- Total return
- +28.7%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −5.2%October 4, 2021
- Year-end close
- 4,766.18December 31, 2021
- Highest close
- 4,793.06December 29, 2021
- Lowest close
- 3,700.65January 4, 2021
- Record closes
- 70
- Trading days
- 252
- Best day
- +2.4%March 1, 2021
- Worst day
- −2.6%January 27, 2021
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 34.5
How 2021 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 4,793.06 on December 29, 2021; the lowest was 3,700.65 on January 4, 2021.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −5.2%, bottoming on October 4, 2021.
70 closes set new all-time highs, the last on December 29, 2021.
The best session was March 1, 2021 (+2.4%); the worst was January 27, 2021 (−2.6%).
No month of 2021 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 34.5 in January 2021.
The VIX averaged 19.7 over the year and closed as high as 37.2 on January 27, 2021.
Drawdowns that touched 2021
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| COVID-Omicron | September 2, 2021 → October 4, 2021 | −5.2% | October 21, 2021 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 2021.
2021 month by month
| Month | Return |
|---|---|
| January | −1.1% |
| February | +2.6% |
| March | +4.2% |
| April | +5.2% |
| May | +0.5% |
| June | +2.2% |
| July | +2.3% |
| August | +2.9% |
| September | −4.8% |
| October | +6.9% |
| November | −0.8% |
| December | +4.4% |
S&P 500 index changes in 2021
| Effective | Added | Removed |
|---|---|---|
| January 7, 2021 | ENPH · Enphase Energy | TIF · Tiffany & Co |
| January 21, 2021 | TRMB · Trimble | CXO · Concho Resources |
| February 12, 2021 | MPWR · Monolithic Power Systems | FTI · TechnipFMC |
| March 22, 2021 | NXPI · NXP | FLS · Flowserve |
| March 22, 2021 | PENN · Penn National Gaming | SLG · SL Green Realty |
| March 22, 2021 | GNRC · Generac Holdings | XRX · Xerox |
| March 22, 2021 | CZR · Caesars Entertainment | VNT · Vontier |
| April 20, 2021 | PTC · PTC | VAR · Varian Medical Systems |
| May 14, 2021 | CRL · Charles River Laboratories | FLIR · FLIR Systems |
| June 3, 2021 | OGN · Organon & Co. | — |
| June 4, 2021 | — | HFC · HollyFrontier |
| July 21, 2021 | MRNA · Moderna | ALXN · Alexion Pharmaceuticals |
| August 30, 2021 | TECH · Bio-Techne | MXIM · Maxim Integrated |
| September 20, 2021 | MTCH · Match Group | PRGO · Perrigo |
| September 20, 2021 | CDAY · Ceridian | UNM · Unum |
| September 20, 2021 | BRO · Brown & Brown | NOV · Nov |
| December 14, 2021 | EPAM · EPAM Systems | KSU · Kansas City Southern |
| December 20, 2021 | SBNY · Signature Bank | LEG · Leggett & Platt |
| December 20, 2021 | SEDG · SolarEdge | HBI · Hanesbrands |
| December 20, 2021 | FDS · FactSet | WU · Western Union |
20 changes took effect in 2021.
What $10,000 at the start of 2021 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 2021, with dividends reinvested, grew to $19,617 by the end of 2025: 14.4% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $18,226.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 2021?
The S&P 500 rose 26.9% in 2021, from 3,756.07 to 4,766.18; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +28.7%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 2021?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 2021 was −5.2%, reaching bottom on October 4, 2021.
Was 2021 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 2021.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 2021?
Yes: 70 closes set new all-time highs in 2021, the last on December 29, 2021.
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.