"Understanding the Last 10 Years of Stock Market Returns for Long-Term Investors"

The U.S. stock market has shown profitable returns over the last decade, with the S&P 500 returning 163%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average returning 131%, and the Nasdaq Composite returning 264%. These indexes are widely regarded as benchmarks for the entire U.S. stock market and offer opportunities for investors to gain exposure through index funds. Despite market volatility, historical data suggests that these major U.S. stock market indexes have been profitable investments and are likely to continue to be so in the future.