Historical Annual Returns for the S&P 500 Index - Updated Through 2011

2011 was a volatile and below-average year for the S&P 500 Index.   The U.S. stock market struggled in large part as a result of the continuing turmoil within Europe.  The S&P 500 Index rose a mere 2.11% in 2011.

The annualized return for the S&P 500 Index (and its precursor S&P 90 Index) between 1926 and 2011 was about 9.77%.  The 5-year annualized return through the end of 2011 was about -0.25%, one of the worst 5-year annualized return shown on the charts below.  The 10-year annualized return through 2010 was about 2.92%, a slight improvement over the weak 1.41% return recorded in the 10-year period ending in 2010.

According to the Wall Street Journal, as of June 29, 2012, the P/E ratio of the S&P 500 Index based on estimated earnings over the next 12 months is approximately 12.95. As I have previously discussed, the average P/E ratio of the S&P 500 Index and other large caps stocks has supposedly been around 16 based on data dating back to the 1800s, so the S&P 500 Index may have some room to grow again in 2012. As of June 29th, 2012 the S&P 500 Index (including reinvested dividends) is up about 9.49% so far this year.

I have posted an updated chart for the returns of the S&P 500 Index during the period between 1926-2015.

Historical Returns for the S&P 400 Midcap Index (Updated Through 2011)

The S&P 400 Midcap Index is the most widely-followed of all U.S. Midcap stock market indices.  This index was first introduced in June 1991.  I have previously posted charts with annual returns through 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. The chart below has been updated to include returns from 1992-2011.  The chart below also shows five-year annualized returns, starting with the fifth full calendar year of the existence of the S&P 400 Midcap Index (i.e., 1996),  ten-year annualized returns, and fifteen-year annualized returns.

As shown, the S&P 400 Midcap Index closed down slightly in 2011, dropping about 1.73%.  The annualized returns of the Index from 1992-2011 were about 10.96%, the 5-year annualized returns through 2011 were about 3.32%, the 10-year annualized returns through 2011 were about 7.04%, and the 15-year annualized returns were about 9.98%. The total returns (including reinvested dividends) between December 31, 1991 and December 31, 2011 were an impressive 699.85%.

As I have mentioned in previous years, I am a big fan of midcap stocks and recommend that any long-term investor seriously consider investing money in midcap stocks, such as those tracking the S&P 400 Midcap Index (e.g., the Midcap SPDR ETF (symbol: MDY) tracks the S&P 400 Midcap Index). Midcaps tend to provide higher returns over time than large cap stocks, such as those comprising the S&P 500 Index, although such stocks are generally more volatile over shorter time periods.

** I have posted an updated chart for the period between 1992-2022.