Historical Returns on Key Investment Categories

Virtually all investment products fluctuate from year to year. Longer-term stocks have enjoyed a performance edge, outperforming bonds by a margin of almost 2 to 1 since 1926. But there is a tradeoff: Stocks' performance edge has come with more uncertainty and bumps in the road. But bonds—even U.S. Treasury bills—can have their ups and downs, too.

Price Fluctuation Varies by Investment Type