The performance of the U.S. stock market has been solid so far in 2026. After being down as much as 7% through late March, the S&P 500 Index has rebounded sharply. Overall, the index’s total return on the year sits near 10%. From 2015 to 2025, the index’s average annual return was approximately 14.5%. Thus, the S&P 500 will need a strong back half of the year to meet or eclipse this figure.
Despite providing investors with solid returns, the U.S. has been far from the best geography to invest in during 2026. Two Asian stock markets have stood far above all others this year, delivering gains of 50% or more.
