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Why Does the Stock Market Go Up Over the Long Term?

Stock markets have never risen in a straight line. But since 1900, the United States has had the best-performing stock market in the world, with an annualized average return of 6.7% after inflation (Credit Suisse Annual Yearbook 2022 edition).

While historical returns cannot guarantee future returns, they might enlighten us on what to expect. 

Why does the stock market rise over the long term?

Many believe that the Fed controls the stock market or that the Illuminati is pulling strings. While many factors influence the stock market in the short term, in reality, the main reason the stock market goes up over time is that the economy is growing and companies are making more money.

Here are some simple statistics on the U.S. economy and stock market since 1928:

  • The U.S. economy, as measured by the size of its GDP, has grown by an average of more than 3% per year after inflation.
  • Profits of S&P 500 companies have grown by an average of 2.62% per year, after inflation. 
  • The dividends of these companies have increased by an average of 1.72% per year, after inflation.

While many other factors can impact stock market returns, a growing economy can create a positive environment for companies to operate in and potentially increase their profits. 

Let’s look at one of the largest companies in the U.S., Apple.

In 2014, Apple sales totalled over $180 billion, with a net profit of $39.5 billion. By the end of 2022,  sales were approaching $400 billion and the company had net profits of nearly $100 billion.

Sales more than doubled while the company’s profit increased by 150%. During the same period, Apple paid out over $120 billion to shareholders in dividends. During this period, its share price increased enormously.

It’s not the Illuminati that has driven Apple’s stock up over the past nine years. The price has gone up because Apple is simply making a lot more money than it used to. All things being equal, a company that generates more profits should be worth more. 

Over the next 30 years, the economy will likely continue to grow, and it does not appear to need to grow very fast to produce good returns. In fact, an economy that grows at a more modest but stable rate may well be better for stock returns. 

Being an investor in the stock market means you participate in the profits through share ownership and cash flows of companies. You benefit from their innovation, investments and growth. If you believe that companies will continue to thrive in the future, you should invest in the stock market and not sit on the sidelines.

Author

  • Maxime Dubé, M.Sc., CFA
    Maxime holds a Masters degree in Finance from the Université de Sherbrooke and is a CFA charterholder since 2019. He joined the Claret team in 2016 as a junior investment research analyst and was promoted to portfolio manager in 2019.

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