Updated SBBI Data Shows $1,000 in U.S. Stocks Grew to $21.4 Million Over 100 Years
Updated
Updated · Claremont Courier · Jun 4
Updated SBBI Data Shows $1,000 in U.S. Stocks Grew to $21.4 Million Over 100 Years
1 articles · Updated · Claremont Courier · Jun 4
Summary
$1,000 invested in U.S. large-cap stocks in 1926 would have reached $21.444 million by the end of 2025, versus about $132,000 in long-term Treasuries and $25,000 in Treasury bills.
The updated SBBI data puts century-long compound annual returns at 10.5% for stocks and 5.0% for bonds, with that 5.5-point gap compounding into 162 times more wealth over 100 years.
Gould argues those gains came with severe drawdowns: the S&P 500 fell 20.5% in 1987, 49% in 2000-2002 and 57% in 2007-2009, while stocks also failed to beat inflation from 1966 to 1981.
That history, he says, undercuts aggressive 90/10 stock-bond allocations for many investors, who may sell after 40%-50% losses and miss the recovery.
The broader caution is that SBBI covers one century in one successful market, so Gould says investors should treat history as instructive—not predictive—and rely on diversification and risk control.