2019 was an exceptional year to be long equities. The S&P 500 gained +30.40% which is the 6th time the market put up gain of +30% or more. This peaked our interest in subsequent market returns after an exceptional year. We compiled and analyzed the data for our readers.
Below is the market return after the S&P 500 gained +30% or more. The average return in the subsequent year was +20% with 100% success rate.
| Index |
Year |
% Change |
Subsequent Year % Change |
| S&P 500 |
1954 |
44% |
24% |
| S&P 500 |
1958 |
37% |
8% |
| S&P 500 |
1975 |
31% |
19% |
| S&P 500 |
1995 |
34% |
20% |
| S&P 500 |
1997 |
31% |
27% |
| S&P 500 |
2019 |
30% |
? |
Reducing the market return for the S&P 500 to +25%, the success rate dropped to 83.30% and the only 2 subsequent down years were 1981 and 1990. The average return under this assumption is +12%.
| Index |
Year |
% Change |
Subsequent Year % Change |
| S&P 500 |
1954 |
44.2% |
23.8% |
| S&P 500 |
1958 |
36.9% |
8.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1975 |
31.4% |
19.1% |
| S&P 500 |
1980 |
25.8% |
-9.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1985 |
26.4% |
14.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1989 |
27.3% |
-6.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1991 |
26.3% |
4.5% |
| S&P 500 |
1995 |
34.1% |
20.3% |
| S&P 500 |
1997 |
31.0% |
26.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1998 |
26.7% |
19.5% |
| S&P 500 |
2003 |
26.4% |
9.0% |
| S&P 500 |
2013 |
29.6% |
11.5% |
| S&P 500 |
2019 |
30.4% |
? |
Taking this return down to +20% didn’t change the success rate of having a positive return in the subsequent year. The success rate remain at 83.30% but the average return dropped slightly to +11%.
| Index |
Year |
% Change |
Subsequent Year % Change |
| S&P 500 |
1950 |
22.6% |
14.4% |
| S&P 500 |
1954 |
44.2% |
23.8% |
| S&P 500 |
1955 |
23.8% |
3.3% |
| S&P 500 |
1958 |
36.9% |
8.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1961 |
24.3% |
-11.8% |
| S&P 500 |
1967 |
20.1% |
7.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1975 |
31.4% |
19.1% |
| S&P 500 |
1980 |
25.8% |
-9.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1985 |
26.4% |
14.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1989 |
27.3% |
-6.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1991 |
26.3% |
4.5% |
| S&P 500 |
1995 |
34.1% |
20.3% |
| S&P 500 |
1996 |
20.3% |
31.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1997 |
31.0% |
26.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1998 |
26.7% |
19.5% |
| S&P 500 |
2003 |
26.4% |
9.0% |
| S&P 500 |
2009 |
23.5% |
12.6% |
| S&P 500 |
2013 |
29.6% |
11.5% |
| S&P 500 |
2019 |
30.4% |
? |
The last table shows subsequent return when the market rises +15% or more. Under this circumstances, the market rose 70.80% of the time with an average return of +6.90%.
| Index |
Year |
% Change |
Subsequent Year % Change |
| S&P 500 |
1950 |
22.6% |
14.4% |
| S&P 500 |
1954 |
44.2% |
23.8% |
| S&P 500 |
1955 |
23.8% |
3.3% |
| S&P 500 |
1958 |
36.9% |
8.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1961 |
24.3% |
-11.8% |
| S&P 500 |
1963 |
18.9% |
13.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1967 |
20.1% |
7.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1972 |
15.6% |
-17.4% |
| S&P 500 |
1975 |
31.4% |
19.1% |
| S&P 500 |
1976 |
19.1% |
-11.5% |
| S&P 500 |
1980 |
25.8% |
-9.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1983 |
17.3% |
1.4% |
| S&P 500 |
1985 |
26.4% |
14.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1989 |
27.3% |
-6.6% |
| S&P 500 |
1991 |
26.3% |
4.5% |
| S&P 500 |
1995 |
34.1% |
20.3% |
| S&P 500 |
1996 |
20.3% |
31.0% |
| S&P 500 |
1997 |
31.0% |
26.7% |
| S&P 500 |
1998 |
26.7% |
19.5% |
| S&P 500 |
1999 |
19.5% |
-10.1% |
| S&P 500 |
2003 |
26.4% |
9.0% |
| S&P 500 |
2009 |
23.5% |
12.6% |
| S&P 500 |
2013 |
29.6% |
11.5% |
| S&P 500 |
2017 |
18.7% |
-6.6% |
| S&P 500 |
2019 |
30.4% |
? |
Updated 1/28/2024 - Market Return After Exceptional Year – 2023