Where has it been profitable to invest and invest money in the last 30 years?
Which major asset class has delivered the highest returns over the long term? How do returns from investments like bonds and real estate actually add up?
To put investment returns into perspective, this chart shows $100 gains across asset classes over the long term.
Comparison of asset class returns
Below we show the return on a $100 investment in major asset classes - from US stocks to gold - between 1970 and 2023:
YearS&P 500 IndexCorporatebondsGold10-yearUS TreasuriesReal estateCash
1970
100$
100$
100$
100$
100$
100$
1980
$226
$181
$1578
$141
$229
...