Average Stock Market Return 2024. The graphic shows total return data for major u.s. 140 rows annual returns for the dow jones index starting with the year 1886.
Understanding the average stock market return over the long term can help guide your financial planning and determine how much of your portfolio to invest in stocks. The average return in the years following a robust up year was 9.0% โ not far behind the s&p 500โs average annual return since 1928 of 9.8%.