We selected 70+ stock, bond and other indices for calendar year return analysis. Cumulative and annualized returns are important, but so too are discreet calendar years.

While statistical tools may theoretically, adequately describe variation or consistency of returns, a visual impression can be quite helpful too. This analysis is primarily visual.

Within the list we used a traffic metaphor with colored backgrounds of red, yellow and green for each year for each index as follows:

red for returns < -5% yellow for returns between 5% and -5% green for returns > 5%

The file is physically large at 1104 X 1075 pixels (399 Kb data size). Depending on your screen resolution you may have to scroll around the image to see all of it.

Click image to enlarge.

Richard Shaw QVM Group LLC