3Q13: Confidence in the Future
The US stock market gained 452 points from 1229 at the start of 1999 to now. This gain of slightly more than 39% is less than a 3% annualized average gain and combined with dividend payments gave investors an average annual return of 4.09%. The stock market in the US has historically returned closer to 10% with dividends reinvested and for this reason, we contend, these recent returns have been very unattractive to both institutional and individual investors. What have we learned in these last 15 years which can help us to succeed going forward?