Jerome Powell ranks third among Fed chairs for S&P 500 returns

13 articles · Updated · Barron's · Apr 29

Powell oversaw a 12.9% annualized S&P 500 return from 2018 to 2026, trailing only Volcker and Miller.
His tenure included two bear markets, a global pandemic, high inflation, a banking crisis, and multiple geopolitical shocks, yet markets remained resilient.
Powell is noted for instilling investor confidence during aggressive rate hikes, with only five Fed chairs beating the index’s long-run average since the Depression era.

With Powell's era ending, can his successor overhaul Fed policy without shattering its hard-won credibility?

Is judging a Fed Chair by S&P 500 performance a dangerous precedent for the economy?

What happens to the Fed if Jerome Powell stays on the board under a new chair?

Has the 'buy-the-dip' investor era ended, or will markets keep betting on Fed support?

How can the next Fed Chair cut interest rates when inflation and energy prices remain high?

Have we truly fixed the banking system's weaknesses that were exposed in the 2023 crisis?