S&P 500 rolling ten year returns are better than you think

By Bespoke Investment Group

While the period from March 2000 through now has been classified as the dark ages for investing, the rolling ten year returns for the S&P 500 hit their highest levels since January 2008 this month. The chart below shows the historical rolling ten-year returns for the S&P 500 going back to 1938. As shown in the chart, the returns have been rebounding from multi-decade lows in the last couple of years and are now up to 51.9%. In other words, $100 invested in the S&P 500 ten years ago this month is worth $151.9 today.

Before we start calling it a golden age for equities, though, we would note that a big reason for the current positive level is the fact that this Summer also represents the 10-year anniversary of the end of the dot-com bear market that went from Spring 2000 through Summer 2002. Time sure flies when you’re having fun. Doesn’t it?

Data: Bespoke