Here's the Average Stock Market Return in the Last Decade and What Wall Street Expects in 2026

Key Points The S&P 500 is the most popular benchmark for the overall U.S. stock market. The index advanced 256% over the last decade, which equates to 13.5% annually. Wall Street’s average forecast says the S&P 500 will advance 10% in the rest of 2026. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › Nearly 5,500 companies were listed across U.S. stock exchanges as of the third quarter, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA). Many of those companies are includ ...