What is the long term return of the stock market?
The average stock market return is about 10% per year for nearly the last century, as measured by the S&P 500 index. In some years, the market returns more than that, and in other years it returns less.
Stock Market Average Yearly Return for the Last 30 Years
The average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 10.04% over the last 30 years, as of the end of December 2023. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 30-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 7.32%.
S&P 500 10 Year Return (I:SP50010Y)
S&P 500 10 Year Return is at 171.8%, compared to 158.1% last month and 172.1% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 114.0%.
Stock Market Historical Returns
Here's a sample breakdown of stock market returns over time, assuming you invested $100 at the beginning of the time period listed: 40 Years (1982 – 2022): 11.6% annual return. 30 Years (1992 – 2022): 9.64% annual return. 20 Years (2002 – 2022): 8.14% annual return.
Typically, the estimated long-term return is calculated as a yearly rate of return over a specified time frame. It is often presented net of estimated fees. In fixed-income portfolios it can easily be based on the yields of all the underlying securities in a portfolio.
The average stock market return for the last 20 years was 9.75% (7.03% when adjusted for inflation), which is lower than the average 10% return.
Period (start-of-year to end-of-2023) | Average annual S&P 500 return |
---|---|
15 years (2009-2023) | 12.63% |
20 years (2004-2023) | 9.00% |
25 years (1999-2023) | 7.18% |
30 years (1994-2023) | 9.67% |
It tracked a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 stock index made on Jan 1, 1980 through the end of 2022. If the money was left untouched, the $10,000 invested in 1980 was worth $1.26 million at the end of 2022.
According to our calculations, a $1000 investment made in February 2014 would be worth $5,971.20, or a gain of 497.12%, as of February 5, 2024, and this return excludes dividends but includes price increases. Compare this to the S&P 500's rally of 178.17% and gold's return of 55.50% over the same time frame.
A well-constructed dividend portfolio could potentially yield anywhere from 2% to 8% per year. This means, to earn $3,000 monthly from dividend stocks, the required initial investment could range from $450,000 to $1.8 million, depending on the yield. Furthermore, potential capital gains can add to your total returns.
What is a good rate of return on 401k?
Many retirement planners suggest the typical 401(k) portfolio generates an average annual return of 5% to 8% based on market conditions. But your 401(k) return depends on different factors like your contributions, investment selection and fees. Sometimes broader trends can overwhelm these factors.
Return on Stocks: On average, a ROI of 7% after inflation is often considered good, based on the historical returns of the market. Return on Bonds: For bonds, a good ROI is typically around 4-6%. Return on Gold: For gold investments, a ROI of more than 5% is seen as favorable.
A good return on investment is generally considered to be about 7% per year, which is also the average annual return of the S&P 500, adjusting for inflation.
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Certificates of deposit (CDs) and share certificates.
- Money market accounts.
- Treasury securities.
- Series I bonds.
- Municipal bonds.
- Corporate bonds.
- Money market funds.
The index has returned a historic annualized average return of around 10.26% since its 1957 inception through the end of 2023. While that average number may sound attractive, timing is everything: Get in at a high or out at a relative low, and you will not enjoy such returns.
Over time, a skilled day trader might average a 2%-3% return on their investment daily, assuming they do considerable research on potential investments. Therefore, someone with a $10,000 account might make $200-$300 per day.
Let's review the good times of late 2023. The S&P 500, which tracks the most valuable stocks in the U.S. market, rose 11.2 percent in the last quarter — and had a total return of 11.7 percent, including dividends. For the year, it gained 24.2 percent and returned 26.3 percent, including dividends.
But by examining historical data, we can make an educated guess. According to Standard and Poor's, the average annualized return of the S&P index, which later became the S&P 500, from 1926 to 2020 was 10%. 1 At 10%, you could double your initial investment every seven years (72 divided by 10).
For 60/40 Portfolio, the 2022 return was -17.0% and the 2023 YTD return is 14.0%. For U.S. High Yield, the 2022 return was -11.2% and the 2023 YTD return is 10.9%.
Consider if an investor put their money in the S&P 500. Historically, it has averaged 11.5% returns between 1928 and 2022. In 6.4 years, their money would double, assuming these average returns.
What was the worst 30 year return on the stock market?
The lowest annual return over any 30 year period going back to 1926 was 7.8%. That's what you got had you invested at the peak of the Roaring 20s boom in September 1929. You would have lost more than 80% of your investment in the ensuing crash and still made more than 850% in total over 30 years.
Think About This: $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 2000 would have grown to $32,527 over 20 years — an average return of 6.07% per year.
$1,000,000 in 1970 has the same purchasing power as $7,753,608.25 in 2024. Over the 54 years this is a change of $6,753,608.25. The average inflation rate of the dollar between 1970 and 2024 was 1.84% per year. The cumulative price increase of the dollar over this time was -100.00%.
The result is the number of years, approximately, it'll take for your money to double. For example, if an investment scheme promises an 8% annual compounded rate of return, it will take approximately nine years (72 / 8 = 9) to double the invested money.
Investment Return | Future Value of 200,000 in 10 Years |
---|---|
9.25% | 484,445 |
9.5% | 495,646 |
9.75% | 507,079 |
10% | 518,748 |
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