The worst 30 year return — using rolling monthly performance — occurred at the height of the market just before the Great Depression and stocks still returned almost 8% per year over the ensuing three decades.
Full Answer
What is the best and worst 20-year returns for stocks?
The S&P 500 Index, shown in bright red, delivered its worst twenty-year return of 6.4% a year over the twenty years ending in May 1979. The best twenty-year return of 18% a year occurred over the twenty years ending in March 2000.
What is the worst 30 year return in history?
This graph shows the rolling annual 30 year returns from the corresponding start dates. The worst 30 year return — using rolling monthly performance — occurred at the height of the market just before the Great Depression and stocks still returned almost 8% per year over the ensuing three decades.
What are the worst years in US stock market history?
Here’s the list of worst annual returns in the U.S. stock market going back to 1928: This list includes the only double-digit losses for the S&P in this time frame. It’s happened 11 times. There’s a running theme here — the worst years have occurred during market crashes, war or economic upheaval. This year has a little of each category.
How often do negative stock market returns occur?
Negative stock market returns occur, on average, about one out of every four years. Historical data shows that the positive years far outweigh the negative years. The average annualized return of the S&P 500 Index was about 11.69 percent from 1973 to 2016.

What is the average 30 year stock return?
10.72%Average Market Return for the Last 30 Years Looking at the S&P 500 for the years 1991 to 2020, the average stock market return for the last 30 years is 10.72% (8.29% when adjusted for inflation).
What were the worst years for the stock market?
TableNameDateWall Street Crash of 192924 Oct 1929Recession of 1937–19381937Kennedy Slide of 196228 May 1962Brazilian Markets Crash of 1971Jul 197148 more rows
What were the worst years for the S&P 500?
With its 20.6% loss year to date, the S&P 500 posted its fourth-worst first-half performance on record, only behind 1932, 1962, and 1970, when it lost 45.4%, 23.5%, and 21.0%, respectively.
What is the average return of stocks for the last 50 years?
10% per yearThe stock market has returned an average of 10% per year over the past 50 years. The past decade has been great for stocks. From 2012 through 2021, the average stock market return was 14.8% annually for the S&P 500 index (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC).
What is the biggest stock market crash in history?
The stock market crash of 1929 was the worst in history, as the market fell 89% from its peak. These are the most notable crashes in history, and how long it took to recover from them.
Will the stock market crash 2022?
The Bottom Line There's no way of knowing if the stock market will crash in 2022. While there are absolutely concerning indicators, there are also signs of strength in the underlying economy. Wise investors should keep investing for the long run and stick to their overall financial plan.
What is the average return of the S&P 500 over the last 25 years?
The index has returned a historic annualized average return of around 10.5% since its 1957 inception through 2021.
How much did the stock market drop in 2008?
The stock market crash of 2008 occurred on September 29, 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 777.68 points in intraday trading. Until the stock market crash of March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the largest point drop in history.
What is the average stock market return for the last 100 years?
The stock market has returned a 10% average annual rate for almost 100 years.
What is the average return on a 70 30 portfolio?
The 70/30 portfolio had an average annual return of 9.96% and a standard deviation of 14.05%. This means that the annual return, on average, fluctuated between -4.08% and 24.01%. Compare that with the 30/70 portfolio's average return of 7.31% and standard deviation of 7.08%.
How much money do I need to invest to make $1000 a month?
Assuming a deduction rate of 5%, savings of $240,000 would be required to pull out $1,000 per month: $240,000 savings x 5% = $12,000 per year or $1,000 per month.
What should my portfolio look like at 55?
The point is that you should remain diversified in both stocks and bonds, but in an age-appropriate manner. A conservative portfolio, for example, might consist of 70% to 75% bonds, 15% to 20% stocks, and 5% to 15% in cash or cash equivalents, such as a money-market fund.
S&P 500 Index Rolling Stock Market Returns
Rolling Returns Provide A Great Way To View Market Performance This bar chart shows the rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for the S&P 500 Index over 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Dana Anspach
1-Year Rolling Time Frames
1 Year Stock and Bond Index Rolling Returns This bar chart shows the one year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for various stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
3-Year Time Frames
3 Year Stock and Bond Index Rolling Returns This bar chart shows the three year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for various stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
5-Year Time Frames
5 Year Stock and Bond Index Rolling Returns This bar chart shows the five year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for various stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
10-Year Time Frames
10 Year Stock and Bond Index Rolling Returns This bar chart shows the ten year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for various stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
Various 15-Year Time Frames
15 Year Stock and Bond Rolling Index Returns This bar chart shows the fifteen year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for several stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
20-Year Time Frames
20 Year Rolling Index Returns This bar chart shows the twenty year rolling returns from 1973 - mid 2009 for several stock and bond indexes. Dana Anspach
How does down year affect the market?
The market's down years have an impact, but the degree to which they impact you often gets determined by whether you decide to stay invested or get out. An investor with a long-term view may have great returns over time, while one with a short-term view who gets in and then gets out after a bad year may have a loss.
How much money would you lose if you invested $1,000 in an index fund?
If you invested $1,000 at the beginning of the year in an index fund, you would have 37% less money invested at the end of the year or a loss of $370, but you only experience a real loss if you sell the investment at that time.
What is the average annualized return of the S&P 500?
Between 2000 and 2019, the average annualized return of the S&P 500 Index was about 8.87%. In any given year, the actual return you earn may be quite different than the average return, which averages out several years' worth of performance. You may hear the media talking a lot about market corrections and bear markets:
What is sequence risk in retirement?
The pattern of returns varies over different decades. In retirement, your investments may be exposed to a bad pattern where many negative years occur early on in retirement, which financial planners call sequence risk.
When does a bear market occur?
A bear market occurs when the market goes down over 20% from its previous high. Most bear markets last for about a year in length. 1 .
When to look at rolling returns?
You can alternatively view returns as rolling returns, which look at market returns of 12-month periods, such as February to the following January, March to the following February, or April to the following March. Check out these graphs of historical rolling returns, for a perspective that extends beyond a calendar year view.
Can you stay out of stocks during a bear market?
No one knows ahead of time when those negative stock market returns will occur. If you don't have the fortitude to stay invested through a bear market, then you may decide to either stay out of stocks or be prepared to lose money, because no one can consistently time the market to get in and out and avoid the down years.
How It Matters For Investors
"There always seems to be a level of griping, on both the buy- and sell-side, that conditions are challenging for one reason or another," a team of Morgan Stanley strategists, led by Andrew Sheets, observed in their report, as quoted by Bloomberg. They added, "but this year it really seems to be the case."
What the Future Holds
The Fed's plan to increase interest rates, partly through a reversal of quantitative easing (QE) in which they reduce their massive bond portfolio, promises to reduce the valuations of key asset classes. Meanwhile, rising inflation will cut into the real rates of return on many of those asset classes.
How long does the secular market last?
Typically secular markets last 18 years to 20 years. This timeframe is the equivalent to a generation. I thought the bull market ended in mid 2000 and the bear market ended in 12/2018.
How much inflation has the S&P 500 averaged in the last 20 years?
According to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve, inflation in the US has averaged nearly 2.175% per year over the last 20 years. Based on data compiled by Professor Robert Shiller, the average annual rate of return on the S&P 500 since 2000 comes to 4.59% with dividends reinvested each month (a drab 2.415% annual return after inflation), ...
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How Often Does The Stock Market Lose Money?
Time in The Market vs. Timing The Market
- The market's down yearshave an impact, but the degree to which they impact you often gets determined by whether you decide to stay invested or get out. An investor with a long-term view may have great returns over time, while one with a short-term view who gets in and then gets out after a bad year may have a loss. For example, in 2008, the S&P 500 lost about 37% of its value.8…
Calendar Returns vs. Rolling Returns
- Most investors don't invest on Jan. 1 and withdraw on Dec. 31, yet market returns tend to be reported on a calendar-year basis. You can alternatively view returns as rolling returns, which look at market returns of 12-month periods, such as February to the following January, March to the following February, or April to the following March. The table below shows calendar-year stock …
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Balance does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including the possible los…
How The Stock Market Has Done Over Time
Impact of Time
Real-Life Simulations – A Lump Sum.
Real-Life Simulations – The Steady Investor.
What About Inflation
Making The Most of Investing
- If there were a few lessons I would draw from this, they would be 1. invest for the long haul 2. make regular contributions, that reduces your exposure to dramatic market swings 3. the more you can spare early on the more it will grow over time 4. maximize whatever employer-matching scheme you may have 5. invest long-term in index-linked broad mark...