Vol. 2026 · Market Almanac
Periodic Table of Returns
Annual Asset Class Returns
2016—2025 · YTD May 31, 2026
Last year’s winner is rarely next year’s. Each column ranks major asset classes from best to worst for the year — a decade of market rotation in one grid.
Returns use representative ETFs for each asset class, including dividends. YTD is shown through the most recent month-end.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
YTD
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Hover any tile to trace that asset across all years. Click to pin.
Asset Class Index
Asset Class Index
Calendar years 2016–2025 · YTD May 31, 2026
US Large Cap
Lg Cap · SPY
YTD+9.81%
10-Yr Ann.+15.42%
Best · 2019+31.22%
Worst · 2022-18.17%
US Mid Cap
Mid Cap · IJH
YTD+15.37%
10-Yr Ann.+11.22%
Best · 2016+26.18%
Worst · 2022-13.13%
US Small Cap
Sm Cap · IWM
YTD+20.58%
10-Yr Ann.+8.98%
Best · 2019+25.39%
Worst · 2022-20.49%
Int'l Developed
Int'l Dev · EFA
YTD+10.44%
10-Yr Ann.+7.03%
Best · 2017+24.91%
Worst · 2022-14.46%
Emerging Markets
Emerg Mkt · EEM
YTD+30.04%
10-Yr Ann.+6.01%
Best · 2017+37.06%
Worst · 2022-20.56%
US Aggregate Bond
US Agg Bnd · AGG
YTD+0.66%
10-Yr Ann.+1.55%
Best · 2019+8.46%
Worst · 2022-13.04%
US Treasuries 7-10y
US Treas · IEF
YTD-0.27%
10-Yr Ann.+0.67%
Best · 2020+10.13%
Worst · 2022-15.16%
Foreign Government Bonds
Fgn Govt · BWX
YTD-2.22%
10-Yr Ann.+0.09%
Best · 2017+9.78%
Worst · 2022-19.13%
Gold
Gold · GLD
YTD-2.32%
10-Yr Ann.+12.39%
Best · 2025+34.70%
Worst · 2021-4.15%
US REITs
US REITs · VNQ
YTD+9.15%
10-Yr Ann.+5.37%
Best · 2021+40.52%
Worst · 2022-26.21%
| Asset Class | Ticker | YTD | 10-Yr Ann. | Best Year | Worst Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Large Cap Lg Cap | SPY | +9.81% | +15.42% | +31.22% 2019 | -18.17% 2022 |
US Mid Cap Mid Cap | IJH | +15.37% | +11.22% | +26.18% 2016 | -13.13% 2022 |
US Small Cap Sm Cap | IWM | +20.58% | +8.98% | +25.39% 2019 | -20.49% 2022 |
Int'l Developed Int'l Dev | EFA | +10.44% | +7.03% | +24.91% 2017 | -14.46% 2022 |
Emerging Markets Emerg Mkt | EEM | +30.04% | +6.01% | +37.06% 2017 | -20.56% 2022 |
US Aggregate Bond US Agg Bnd | AGG | +0.66% | +1.55% | +8.46% 2019 | -13.04% 2022 |
US Treasuries 7-10y US Treas | IEF | -0.27% | +0.67% | +10.13% 2020 | -15.16% 2022 |
Foreign Government Bonds Fgn Govt | BWX | -2.22% | +0.09% | +9.78% 2017 | -19.13% 2022 |
Gold Gold | GLD | -2.32% | +12.39% | +34.70% 2025 | -4.15% 2021 |
US REITs US REITs | VNQ | +9.15% | +5.37% | +40.52% 2021 | -26.21% 2022 |
10-year annualized return is the geometric mean of available calendar-year returns.