Dot-com Bubble Burst
March 2000 – October 2002
Duration: 31 monthsS&P 500 DRAWDOWN
−49%
peak to trough
What Happened
TRIGGER
Collapse of speculative internet stock valuations, 9/11 attacks accelerated decline
The bursting of the dot-com bubble wiped out $5 trillion in market value. After years of speculative frenzy in internet stocks, the Nasdaq peaked in March 2000 and ultimately fell 78% by October 2002. The S&P 500 lost 49%. The 9/11 terrorist attacks in September 2001 deepened the recession and extended the bear market. Many high-profile internet companies went bankrupt or lost over 90% of their value.
Key Facts
- 01Nasdaq Composite fell 78% from its March 2000 peak to October 2002 trough
- 02S&P 500 fell 49% from peak to trough over 31 months
- 03$5 trillion in market capitalization destroyed during the bust
- 04Pets.com, Webvan, and hundreds of dot-com companies went bankrupt
- 05Nasdaq did not recover its March 2000 high until April 2015 — 15 years
Worst Performers
top 5 biggest losersBest Performers
top 5 most resilientSector Breakdown
HARDEST HIT SECTORS
MOST RESILIENT SECTORS
Recovery Timeline
7 years for S&P 500 to recover (October 2007)
Time from trough to prior all-time high
PORTFOLIO STRESS TEST
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Historical data is educational only. Not financial advice. Past crisis returns do not predict future performance.